Thinking about starting a business in Glenwood Springs, Colorado? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Glenwood Springs.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Running your own business is hard work, much more challenging than working as an employee. Are you positive you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Speak with other entrepreneurs in Glenwood Springs. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- You should read Business Failure. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
What Type of Business Should You Start?
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.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Vending Machine Parts & Supplies Dealership guide or our Starting a Colleges & Universities Business guide.
Always keep in mind that your new business will be in Glenwood Springs. Some businesses will do better in Glenwood Springs than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Glenwood Springs demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Glenwood Springs, Colorado Demographic Information
Glenwood Springs has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Glenwood Springs demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Glenwood Springs.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1835 |
| 5-9 Employees |
552 |
| 10-19 Employees |
342 |
| 20-49 Employees |
246 |
| 50-99 Employees |
54 |
| 100-249 Employees |
24 |
| 250-499 Employees |
0 |
| 500-999 Employees |
3 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Glenwood Springs Businesses |
3056 |
As a new Glenwood Springs entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Glenwood 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 |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
9 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
2 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
5 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
2 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
17 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
28 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
3 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
40 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
10 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
1 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
14 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
9 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
8 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
20 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
10 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
12 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
4 |
| Offices of Dentists |
17 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
30 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
2 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
2 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
8 |
| Residential Remodelers |
8 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
5 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
5 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
13 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
2 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
4 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
4 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
6 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Examine a list of Glenwood Springs businesses and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?
We highly recommend you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Understanding Franchise Contracts. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include MVP Baseball Academy and LA Boxing Franchise Corporation. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Child Education and Tutoring Franchises and Payday Loan Franchises.
Note on Glenwood Springs Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Glenwood Springs.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
Creating a business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, 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
Before you start writing a business plan, we suggest you skim Business Plan Outsourcing. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Colorado.
Selling Tips
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Glenwood Springs business, you need to focus on sales.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Closing Sales is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.
Next Steps
As an entrepreneur in Glenwood Springs, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Glenwood Springs and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Glenwood Springs, Colorado
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