Thinking about starting a business in Colorado Springs, Colorado? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Colorado Springs.
Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Colorado Springs has some implications. If Colorado Springs already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Make sure you fully understand Colorado Springs demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Colorado Springs has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Colorado Springs demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Colorado Springs.
As a new Colorado Springs entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Colorado Springs 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 |
22 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
11 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
8 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
60 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
8 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
9 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
8 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
13 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
75 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
12 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
9 |
| Barber Shops |
5 |
| Beauty Salons |
143 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
9 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
105 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
15 |
| Book Stores |
16 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
7 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
11 |
| Business Associations |
25 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
10 |
| Cafeterias |
14 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
21 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
38 |
| Caterers |
13 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
20 |
| Child Day Care Services |
122 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
51 |
| Claims Adjusting |
7 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
12 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
13 |
| Collection Agencies |
10 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
26 |
| Commercial Photography |
7 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
8 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
20 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
17 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
159 |
| Computer Training |
13 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
7 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
20 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
19 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
8 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
17 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
6 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
40 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
138 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
23 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
16 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
6 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
10 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
6 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
16 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
9 |
| Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
12 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
5 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
91 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
50 |
| Educational Support Services |
25 |
| Electrical Contractors |
135 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
4 |
| Electronic Shopping |
14 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
50 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
11 |
| Engineering Services |
221 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
15 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
13 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
17 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
42 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
23 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
79 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
52 |
| Flight Training |
3 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
32 |
| Flooring Contractors |
40 |
| Florists |
27 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
23 |
| Food Service Contractors |
47 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
6 |
| Framing Contractors |
53 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
328 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
12 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
44 |
| General Automotive Repair |
157 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
22 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
5 |
| General Rental Centers |
10 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
66 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
10 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
6 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
25 |
| Graphic Design Services |
45 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Hardware Stores |
12 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
30 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Home Health Care Services |
29 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
7 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
29 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
18 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
7 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
277 |
| Interior Design Services |
25 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
7 |
| Internet Service Providers |
8 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
9 |
| Investment Advice |
62 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
113 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
53 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
41 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
12 |
| Landscaping Services |
146 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
18 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
352 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
8 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
5 |
| Machine Shops |
26 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
28 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
9 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
70 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
35 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
13 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
90 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
26 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
11 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
13 |
| Museums |
6 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
9 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
51 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
30 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
6 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
36 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
19 |
| Office Administrative Services |
46 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
20 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
129 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
104 |
| Offices of Dentists |
293 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
355 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
43 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
9 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
10 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
59 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
30 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
15 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
84 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
16 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
23 |
| Payroll Services |
9 |
| Periodical Publishers |
20 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
20 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
28 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
37 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
34 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
7 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
8 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
39 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
17 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
13 |
| Professional Organizations |
18 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
11 |
| Radio Stations |
15 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
75 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
11 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
5 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
62 |
| Residential Remodelers |
113 |
| Retail Bakeries |
7 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Roofing Contractors |
41 |
| Sales Financing |
13 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
8 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
84 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
21 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
6 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
8 |
| Shoe Stores |
47 |
| Siding Contractors |
13 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
22 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
56 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
94 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
29 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
11 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
60 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
29 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
3 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
46 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
5 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
7 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
60 |
| Temporary Shelters |
6 |
| Testing Laboratories |
15 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
17 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
32 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
15 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
4 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
25 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
47 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
28 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
47 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
10 |
| Veterinary Services |
65 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
35 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
13 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
7 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
37 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
7 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
45 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
55 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
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.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Colorado Springs, it's very important that you make sure no other Colorado company is using the business name you want to use.
Getting your Colorado Springs business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.
Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Colorado Springs or are selling to customers throughout Colorado, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Colorado Springs. 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 Colorado Springs businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Colorado Springsentrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Colorado Springs.
