Contemplating starting a business in Denver, Colorado? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Denver.
Most new businesses fail, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
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:
Denver has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Denver demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Denver.
As a new Denver entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Denver 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
96 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
18 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
12 |
| Architectural Services |
233 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
41 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
9 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
8 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
33 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
132 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
29 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
15 |
| Barber Shops |
15 |
| Beauty Salons |
305 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
9 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
252 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
9 |
| Book Publishers |
21 |
| Book Stores |
32 |
| Books Printing |
3 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
11 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
22 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
5 |
| Business Associations |
107 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
19 |
| Cafeterias |
17 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
9 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
5 |
| Car Washes |
68 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
56 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
2 |
| Caterers |
51 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
9 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
66 |
| Child Day Care Services |
205 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
118 |
| Claims Adjusting |
22 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
12 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
33 |
| Collection Agencies |
38 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
19 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
83 |
| Commercial Photography |
37 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
21 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
4 |
| Community Food Services |
9 |
| Commuter Rail Systems |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
44 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
23 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
293 |
| Computer Training |
16 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
15 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
24 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
14 |
| Convenience Stores |
71 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
45 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
4 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
4 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Copper Ore and Nickel Ore Mining |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
| Couriers |
31 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
14 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
55 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
9 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
263 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
4 |
| Dance Companies |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
35 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
28 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
15 |
| Digital Printing |
14 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
48 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
31 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
55 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
14 |
| Display Advertising |
15 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
37 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
16 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
14 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
243 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
103 |
| Educational Support Services |
48 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
23 |
| Electrical Contractors |
258 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
51 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
75 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
11 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
43 |
| Engineering Services |
374 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
67 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
25 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
13 |
| Facilities Support Services |
17 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
55 |
| Family Planning Centers |
9 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
41 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
151 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
102 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
54 |
| Flooring Contractors |
85 |
| Florists |
62 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
3 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
5 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
30 |
| Food Service Contractors |
84 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
5 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
10 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
116 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
63 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
867 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
21 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
54 |
| Furniture Stores |
86 |
| General Automotive Repair |
251 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
60 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
12 |
| General Rental Centers |
14 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
46 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
124 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
20 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
8 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
13 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
81 |
| Graphic Design Services |
146 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
34 |
| Hardware Stores |
25 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
4 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
12 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
35 |
| Home Centers |
11 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
58 |
| Home Health Care Services |
73 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
9 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
47 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
21 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
30 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
17 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
6 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
653 |
| Interior Design Services |
118 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
21 |
| Internet Service Providers |
33 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
35 |
| Investment Advice |
148 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
265 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
7 |
| Jewelry Stores |
77 |
| Junior Colleges |
5 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
11 |
| Land Subdivision |
33 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
49 |
| Landscaping Services |
230 |
| Language Schools |
10 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
27 |
| Libraries and Archives |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
754 |
| Limousine Service |
10 |
| Linen Supply |
7 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
23 |
| Locksmiths |
14 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
4 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
4 |
| Machine Shops |
51 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
28 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
11 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
155 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
90 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
5 |
| Meat Markets |
14 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
14 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
8 |
| Media Representatives |
13 |
| Medical Laboratories |
17 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
27 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
8 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
76 |
| Mobile Food Services |
18 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
245 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
69 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
15 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
21 |
| Museums |
16 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
21 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
50 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
10 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
3 |
| New Car Dealers |
50 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
30 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
8 |
| News Syndicates |
7 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
33 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
116 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
49 |
| Office Administrative Services |
133 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
37 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
28 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
334 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
137 |
| Offices of Dentists |
480 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,232 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
54 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
43 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
19 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
87 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
5 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
53 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
9 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
5 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
6 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
22 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
164 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
152 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
43 |
| Payroll Services |
25 |
| Periodical Publishers |
35 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
5 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
41 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
55 |
| Petrochemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
13 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
62 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
39 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
3 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
28 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
152 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
13 |
| Primary Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
25 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
22 |
| Professional Organizations |
59 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
90 |
| Quick Printing |
47 |
| Radio Networks |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
45 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
8 |
| Real Estate Credit |
198 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
10 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
9 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
11 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
21 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
6 |
| Residential Property Managers |
183 |
| Residential Remodelers |
248 |
| Retail Bakeries |
20 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
22 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
111 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
5 |
| Sales Financing |
32 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
5 |
| Savings Institutions |
50 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
5 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
22 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
154 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
41 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
14 |
| Shoe Stores |
66 |
| Siding Contractors |
30 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
35 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
58 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
197 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
7 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
67 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
9 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
3 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
8 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
7 |
| Specialty Canning |
4 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
85 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
31 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
9 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
2 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
94 |
| Taxi Service |
6 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
13 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
19 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
15 |
| Television Broadcasting |
14 |
| Temporary Help Services |
217 |
| Temporary Shelters |
18 |
| Testing Laboratories |
28 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
16 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
37 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Tire Dealers |
64 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tire Retreading |
2 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
46 |
| Tobacco Stores |
36 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
6 |
| Tour Operators |
11 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
8 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
17 |
| Travel Agencies |
84 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
3 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
82 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
43 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
89 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
25 |
| Veterinary Services |
93 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
59 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
43 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
35 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
7 |
| Web Search Portals |
8 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
268 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
17 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
160 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
104 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
7 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Preservation |
3 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
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.
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.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Denver, it's imperative that you check now that your company name has not already been claimed by another Colorado business.
It's essential that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will choose from many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation 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. If you are starting a business in Colorado, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Colorado. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Denver, Colorado, our web page covering Incorporating in Colorado may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Colorado.
Whether your goal is to attract Denver customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
Most new Denver businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Denver and throughout the United States . 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Denver.
