Are you starting a business in Bismarck, North Dakota? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Bismarck.
Do You Have What It Takes?
Most new companies don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Bismarck. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
- You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.
Bismarck, North Dakota Demographic Information
Bismarck has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Bismarck demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Bismarck.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
11055 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4221 |
| 10-19 Employees |
3330 |
| 20-49 Employees |
2025 |
| 50-99 Employees |
639 |
| 100-249 Employees |
288 |
| 250-499 Employees |
126 |
| 500-999 Employees |
27 |
| 1000+ Employees |
18 |
| All Bismarck Businesses |
21729 |
As a new Bismarck entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Bismarck 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 |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
|
Architectural Services |
7 |
| Art Dealers |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
15 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
|
Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
34 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
|
Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
31 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
|
Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
15 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
27 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
4 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
7 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
|
Computer Systems Design Services |
13 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
|
Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
14 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
|
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
15 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
13 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
|
Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
30 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
17 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
|
Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
11 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
|
Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
9 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
|
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
49 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
22 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
4 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
13 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
7 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Home Health Care Services |
6 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
64 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
4 |
| Janitorial Services |
20 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
10 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
|
Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
30 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
43 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
|
Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
4 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
|
Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
5 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
5 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
24 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
44 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
69 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
7 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Paging |
1 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
16 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
6 |
|
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
19 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
5 |
| Political Organizations |
5 |
| Portfolio Management |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
18 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
8 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
6 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
|
Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
11 |
| Residential Remodelers |
16 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
9 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
|
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
2 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
22 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
8 |
| Siding Contractors |
5 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
15 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
5 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
5 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
7 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
|
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
4 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
|
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
7 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
Browse the Yellow Pages for Bismarck and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Benefits of Owning A Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Recognition Express and FASTSIGNS. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Children's Franchises and Pest Control Franchises.
Note on Bismarck Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Bismarck, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Choosing a Business Name
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
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.
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Bismarck, it's imperative that you check now that no other North Dakota company is using the business name you want to use.
Company Formation in Bismarck, North Dakota
It's essential 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.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporation 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. Just because you are starting a business in North Dakota, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in North Dakota. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Bismarck, North Dakota, our information on Incorporating in North Dakota may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in North Dakota.
Marketing Your New Business
Whether your goal is to attract Bismarck customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
You can learn all about marketing on our site. Examples of Marketing Strategies discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Now It's Up To You
Most new Bismarck businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Bismarck and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Bismarck entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Bismarck, North Dakota
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Bismarck.
- Resources for Bismarck, North Dakota Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Bismarck entrepreneurs.
- North Dakota Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in North Dakota.
- North Dakota Small Business Development Center - The North Dakota Small Business Development Center's mission is to provide high quality business assistance in the form of counseling, training, and research to existing and prospective North Dakota small businesses.
- Bismarck, North Dakota Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Bismarck, North Dakota newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Bismarck area.
- Bismarck, North Dakota Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Bismarck, North Dakota area radio stations.
- Bismarck, North Dakota Payroll Services - This list includes Bismarck, North Dakota payroll services, national payroll services for Bismarck, and helpful information on choosing a Bismarck payroll service.
- Bismarck, North Dakota Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Bismarck, North Dakota, such as business brokers in Bismarck and other helpful information on how to buy a Bismarck business.
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