Thinking about starting a business in Carson City, Nevada? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Carson City.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Carson City. Get their take on what it's really like to be 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. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Free Business Ideas.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Starting a Dance Club guide or our Starting a Tatoo Parlor guide.
Remember that starting a business in Carson City has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Carson City than others. Don't forget to review Carson City demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Carson City, Nevada Demographic Information
Carson City has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Carson City demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Carson City.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
4577 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1311 |
| 10-19 Employees |
903 |
| 20-49 Employees |
555 |
| 50-99 Employees |
198 |
| 100-249 Employees |
108 |
| 250-499 Employees |
9 |
| 500-999 Employees |
9 |
| 1000+ Employees |
3 |
| All Carson City Businesses |
7673 |
As a new Carson City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Carson City 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 |
2 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
21 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
13 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Casino Hotels |
3 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
3 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
4 |
| Child Day Care Services |
21 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
8 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
24 |
| Computer Training |
4 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
8 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
38 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
5 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
18 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
4 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
19 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
30 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
53 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
23 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
3 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
5 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
7 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
5 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
36 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
17 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
25 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
12 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
23 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
13 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
45 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
4 |
| Machine Shops |
18 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
31 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
11 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
7 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
8 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
10 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
43 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
25 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
27 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
45 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
7 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
13 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
6 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
4 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
12 |
| Residential Remodelers |
17 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
7 |
| Savings Institutions |
1 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
5 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
14 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
12 |
| Software Publishers |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
11 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
15 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
8 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
9 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
22 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
Have You Considered Franchising?
As you drive around Carson City, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Understanding Franchise Contracts. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Subway Franchises and Starbucks Franchises. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Accounting Franchises and Moving Franchises.
Note on Carson City Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Carson City, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Carson City Business?
We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Nevada. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Carson City.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Buying a Business.
Selecting a Name For Your Venture
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.
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.
For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Company.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Carson City, it's very important that you make sure no other Nevada company is using the business name you want to use.
Company Formation in Carson City, Nevada
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Nevada, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Nevada. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as C Corp Versus S Corp. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Carson City, Nevada, our information on Incorporating in Nevada may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Nevada.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is critical to the health of your new business. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Business Plan Contests. You can also get face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Nevada.
Raising Money for Your New Venture
Getting your Carson City business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Find Start-Up Capital.
For Carson City entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, we have assembled a List of Nevada Angel Investors and our List of Nevada Venture Capital Firms.
Getting the Word Out About Your New Company
Whether your goal is to attract Carson City customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your successs.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Sponsoring Local Events is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Building Up Your Sales
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Carson City or are selling to customers throughout Nevada, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
The Art of Customer Referrals is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Learning More About Entrepreneurship
Good entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Carson City, Nevada, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Nevada universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Carson City networking organizations.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Carson City. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
We are here to help Carson City businesses to be successful. 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 Carson City, Nevada
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Carson City.
- Resources for Carson City, Nevada Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Carson City entrepreneurs.
- Nevada Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Nevada.
- Nevada Small Business Development Center - The Nevada Small Business Development Center is a statewide business assistance outreach program of the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. They provide an abundance of free and low cost information, assistance, counseling and training for Nevada Businesses.
- Carson City, Nevada Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Carson City, Nevada newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Carson City area.
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