Thinking about starting a business in Castle Rock, Colorado? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Castle Rock.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Running your own business is hard work, much harder than working as an employee. Are you positive you want to go into business for yourself?
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Castle Rock. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- Peruse Why Small Businesses Fail. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Castle Rock, Colorado Demographic Information
Castle Rock has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Castle Rock demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Castle Rock.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
6018 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1524 |
| 10-19 Employees |
870 |
| 20-49 Employees |
498 |
| 50-99 Employees |
144 |
| 100-249 Employees |
60 |
| 250-499 Employees |
12 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Castle Rock Businesses |
9126 |
As a new Castle Rock entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Castle Rock 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 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
21 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
10 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
1 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
27 |
| Computer Training |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
17 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
24 |
| Electronic Shopping |
5 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
5 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
12 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
2 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
12 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
36 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
8 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
2 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
4 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
34 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Janitorial Services |
15 |
| Jewelry Stores |
10 |
| Land Subdivision |
6 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
14 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
41 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
15 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
4 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
14 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
10 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
22 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
16 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
7 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
9 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Periodical Publishers |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
2 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
9 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
3 |
| Residential Remodelers |
25 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
13 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
12 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
11 |
| Software Publishers |
5 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
6 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
21 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
14 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Castle Rock Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Colorado. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Castle Rock.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Naming the Business
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: Branding Advice.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are starting a business in Castle Rock, it's critical that you ensure that no other Colorado company is using the business name you want to use.
Forming a Company in Castle Rock, Colorado
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. 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. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Colorado, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Colorado. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
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 Getting an EIN. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Castle Rock, Colorado, our information on Incorporating in Colorado may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Colorado.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is essential 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. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Colorado.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Good business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Castle Rock, Colorado, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Colorado universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also beneficial to see if there are any networking organizations for Castle Rock entrepreneurs.
Next Steps
As an entrepreneur in Castle Rock, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Castle Rock businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Castle Rock, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Castle Rock, Colorado
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Castle Rock.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Colorado
Starting a Business in Carbondale
Starting a Business in Central City
Browse All
Business Startup Guides for Colorado
