Are you starting a business in Boulder, Colorado? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Boulder.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.
Remember that your new business will be in Boulder. Some businesses will do better in Boulder than others. Don't forget to review Boulder demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Boulder has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Boulder demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Boulder.
As a new Boulder entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Boulder 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
9 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
89 |
| Art Dealers |
6 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
5 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
15 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
4 |
| Beauty Salons |
51 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
25 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
10 |
| Book Stores |
13 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
14 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
12 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
8 |
| Child Day Care Services |
44 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
13 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
5 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
8 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
6 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
8 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
5 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
5 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
118 |
| Computer Training |
5 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
5 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
8 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Credit Unions |
12 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
128 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
5 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
5 |
| Educational Support Services |
8 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
28 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
3 |
| Electronic Shopping |
20 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
18 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
7 |
| Engineering Services |
117 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
41 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
10 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
15 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
23 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
29 |
| Flight Training |
3 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
12 |
| Flooring Contractors |
6 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
9 |
| Food Service Contractors |
12 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
7 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
147 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
18 |
| General Automotive Repair |
61 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
24 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
20 |
| Graphic Design Services |
35 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
5 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
9 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Home Health Care Services |
8 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
8 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
9 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
5 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
89 |
| Interior Design Services |
20 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
9 |
| Internet Service Providers |
9 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
29 |
| Janitorial Services |
31 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Jewelry Stores |
20 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
13 |
| Landscaping Services |
57 |
| Language Schools |
5 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
7 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
108 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
20 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
53 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
19 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
24 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
18 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
5 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Nail Salons |
4 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
7 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
10 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
19 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
28 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
9 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
69 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
48 |
| Offices of Dentists |
104 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
207 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
16 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
7 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
17 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
6 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
10 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
22 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
19 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
8 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
11 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
20 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
8 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
10 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
16 |
| Quick Printing |
10 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
27 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
32 |
| Residential Remodelers |
61 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
9 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
11 |
| Sales Financing |
6 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
39 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
5 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
45 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
33 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
42 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
25 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
26 |
| Temporary Shelters |
4 |
| Testing Laboratories |
8 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
4 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
7 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
18 |
| Used Car Dealers |
6 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
17 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
24 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
9 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
42 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wineries |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
17 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
26 |
| Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
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 starting a business in Boulder, it's imperative that you check now that you will be the only Colorado company using the business name you have chosen.
Creating a business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan
To grow your Boulder business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Boulder, Colorado, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Colorado educational institutions. We also recommend you look into networking groups or organizations in which Boulder entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
Most new Boulder businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Boulder businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Boulder, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Boulder.
