Are you starting a business in Juneau, Alaska? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Juneau.
Are You Ready for Entrepreneurship?
Being an entrepreneur is hard work, much harder than working as an employee. Are you certain you want to start a business?
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Juneau. Listen closely to their experiences and see if you think you too can be successful.
- Peruse Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. Ask them directly: Do I have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Listen carefully to their answer, as they presumably know your strengths and weaknesses.
Juneau, Alaska Demographic Information
Juneau has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Juneau demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Juneau.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
3586 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1248 |
| 10-19 Employees |
876 |
| 20-49 Employees |
504 |
| 50-99 Employees |
108 |
| 100-249 Employees |
42 |
| 250-499 Employees |
18 |
| 500-999 Employees |
0 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Juneau Businesses |
6382 |
As a new Juneau entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Juneau 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 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
8 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
7 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
3 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Bituminous Coal Underground Mining |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Business Associations |
10 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
11 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
12 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
7 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
4 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
10 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
2 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
9 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
17 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finfish Fishing |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
1 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
25 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
| General Automotive Repair |
7 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
21 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
2 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
8 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
12 |
| Jewelry Stores |
11 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
5 |
| Lead Ore and Zinc Ore Mining |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
21 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Logging |
3 |
| Marinas |
6 |
| Masonry Contractors |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
1 |
| Office Administrative Services |
2 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
5 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
7 |
| Offices of Dentists |
19 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
24 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
1 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
4 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
7 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
5 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
1 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
2 |
| Residential Remodelers |
14 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
5 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Seafood Canning |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
9 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
2 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
3 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
2 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Juneau, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Credit and Franchise Purchasing. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Samurai Sam's Teriyaki Grill and Ductbusters. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthcare Franchises and Miscellaneous Franchises.
Note on Juneau Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Juneau.
What About Buying an Existing Juneau Business?
If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Alaska. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Juneau.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Naming the Company
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.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Juneau, it's critical that you ensure that no other Alaska company is using the business name you want to use.
Don't Skip the Business Plan
A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Alaska.
Never Give Up
As an entrepreneur in Juneau, 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 Juneau and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Juneau entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Juneau, Alaska
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Juneau.
- Resources for Juneau, Alaska Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Juneau entrepreneurs.
- Alaska Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Alaska.
- Alaska Small Business Development Center - The Alaska Small Business Development Center, which is hosted by the University of Alaska and funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, has assisted businesses by providing free, confidential technical business assistance and low-cost business training in Alaska for twenty years.
- Juneau, Alaska Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Juneau, Alaska newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Juneau area.
- Juneau, Alaska Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Juneau, Alaska area radio stations.
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