Thinking about starting a business in Auburn, Washington? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Auburn.
Will You Be a Successful Entrepreneur?
Before you get too far along in the process, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Auburn. They are usually very willing to share their insights on the ups and downs of being an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. Others sometimes know you better than you know yourself.
Auburn, Washington Demographic Information
Auburn has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Auburn demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Auburn.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
56832 |
| 5-9 Employees |
21760 |
| 10-19 Employees |
16352 |
| 20-49 Employees |
10272 |
| 50-99 Employees |
3696 |
| 100-249 Employees |
2400 |
| 250-499 Employees |
384 |
| 500-999 Employees |
144 |
| 1000+ Employees |
96 |
| All Auburn Businesses |
111936 |
As a new Auburn entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Auburn for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
4 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
4 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
14 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
23 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Boat Building |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
28 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
5 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
6 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
7 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
8 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
7 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
9 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
19 |
| Electrical Contractors |
25 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
15 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
23 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
5 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
4 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
45 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
39 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
8 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
10 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
11 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
14 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
17 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
2 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
28 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
24 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
7 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
69 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
29 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
14 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
7 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
16 |
| Offices of Dentists |
34 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
28 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
14 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
9 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Racetracks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
5 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
8 |
| Residential Remodelers |
30 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
10 |
| Sales Financing |
4 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Sawmills |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
6 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Shoe Stores |
11 |
| Siding Contractors |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
12 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
24 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Temporary Help Services |
14 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
7 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
9 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
5 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
16 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Auburn Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Washington. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Auburn.
If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Naming the Company
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Auburn, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Washington business.
Forming a Company in Auburn, Washington
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Washington, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Washington. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as ESOP Formation. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Auburn, Washington, our web page covering Incorporating in Washington may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Washington.
Make Sure You Have a Business Plan
Having a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To learn more about business plans, read The Art of the Executive Summary. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Washington.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
The best business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Auburn, Washington, you should investigate some of the learning programs at local Washington educational institutions. You should also check if there are any Auburn networking organizations.
What's Next?
You have a dream -- starting a business in Auburn. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Auburn and elsewhere to achieve real success. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Auburn, Washington
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