Are you starting a business in Grand Junction, Colorado? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Grand Junction.
Running your own business is difficult, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you positive you are ready to take on this challenge?
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
Grand Junction has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Grand Junction demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Grand Junction.
As a new Grand Junction entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Grand Junction 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 |
5 |
| Air Traffic Control |
2 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
3 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
10 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
32 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
24 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
6 |
| Business Associations |
7 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
12 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
7 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
35 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
16 |
| Claims Adjusting |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
6 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
11 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
14 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
7 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
| Couriers |
11 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
9 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
8 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
7 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
12 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
16 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
50 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
53 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
12 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
2 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
13 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
7 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
9 |
| Flooring Contractors |
7 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
5 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
15 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
6 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
76 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
22 |
| General Automotive Repair |
43 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
15 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
12 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
6 |
| Home Centers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
9 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
9 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
3 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
66 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
9 |
| Janitorial Services |
28 |
| Jewelry Stores |
12 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
38 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
9 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
79 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
5 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
16 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
23 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
9 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
7 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
8 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
9 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
37 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
26 |
| Offices of Dentists |
63 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
77 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
20 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
9 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
16 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
4 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
10 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
5 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
18 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
6 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
12 |
| Residential Remodelers |
18 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
3 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
24 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
11 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
4 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
24 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
24 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
10 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
8 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
6 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
5 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
22 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
14 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
18 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
8 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
3 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
15 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wineries |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Examine a list of Grand Junction businesses and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as How to Get More Franchisees. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
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.
Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Grand Junction, it's critical that you ensure that no other Colorado company is using the business name you want to use.
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. 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 the state of your choosing. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
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 should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Grand Junction, Colorado, our information on Incorporating in Colorado may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Colorado.
Creating a business plan is critical to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan
As an entrepreneur in Grand Junction, 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 Grand Junction 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Grand Junction.