Thinking about starting a business in Billings, Montana? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Billings.
Billings has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Billings demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Billings.
As a new Billings entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Billings 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 |
8 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
4 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
24 |
|
Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
10 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
34 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
7 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
38 |
|
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Beet Sugar Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
11 |
|
Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
13 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
|
Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
15 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
5 |
| Caterers |
7 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
|
Child and Youth Services |
9 |
| Child Day Care Services |
66 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
18 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
7 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
|
Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
7 |
|
Computer Facilities Management Services |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
10 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
10 |
|
Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
5 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
9 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
|
Credit Unions |
10 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
18 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
|
Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drafting Services |
5 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
42 |
|
Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
29 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
47 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
3 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
|
Engineering Services |
52 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
8 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
3 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
21 |
| Family Planning Centers |
4 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
|
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
11 |
| Flooring Contractors |
9 |
| Florists |
7 |
|
Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
10 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
16 |
|
Freight Transportation Arrangement |
11 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
93 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
19 |
| General Automotive Repair |
52 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
14 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
6 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
19 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
7 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
|
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
9 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
11 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
8 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
13 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
109 |
| Interior Design Services |
5 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
11 |
| Janitorial Services |
54 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
15 |
|
Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
12 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
53 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
14 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
112 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
5 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
4 |
|
Masonry Contractors |
14 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
5 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
4 |
|
Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
5 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
18 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
16 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
|
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
15 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
10 |
| Office Administrative Services |
12 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
10 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
53 |
|
Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
71 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
108 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
17 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
16 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
|
Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
31 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
|
Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
8 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
2 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
10 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
11 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
7 |
| Racetracks |
2 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
6 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
12 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
|
Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
7 |
| Remediation Services |
4 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
9 |
| Residential Remodelers |
42 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
6 |
|
Sales Financing |
4 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
7 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
31 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
|
Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
20 |
| Siding Contractors |
16 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
20 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
25 |
|
Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
17 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
8 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
|
Support Activities for Forestry |
2 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
16 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
4 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
|
Temporary Help Services |
17 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
6 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
6 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
14 |
|
Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
12 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
37 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
18 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
17 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
8 |
|
Voluntary Health Organizations |
6 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
26 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
11 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
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.
We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Billings, it's very important that you make sure no Montana company has already registered the company name you have selected.
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
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 popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Montana, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Montana. In fact, you are allowed to 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 Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Billings, Montana, our web page covering Incorporating in Montana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Montana.
To grow your Billings business, you need a solid marketing plan.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Billings or are selling to customers throughout Montana, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Billings. 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.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Billings and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Billings, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Billings.