Are you starting a business in Kent, Washington? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Kent.
Most new companies don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Good Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that you are opening your new business in Kent. Some businesses will do better in Kent than others. Study Kent demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Kent has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Kent demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Kent.
As a new Kent entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Kent 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
4 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
20 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
9 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
37 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
4 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
12 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
64 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
4 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
9 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
5 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
15 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
4 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
11 |
| Couriers |
8 |
| Credit Unions |
8 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
15 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
15 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
36 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
24 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
2 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
27 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
10 |
| Flooring Contractors |
16 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
11 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
17 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
35 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
102 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
13 |
| General Automotive Repair |
34 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
36 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
25 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
| Home Health Care Services |
8 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
24 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
44 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
43 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
43 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
10 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
95 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
7 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
30 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
6 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
7 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
4 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
14 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
8 |
| New Car Dealers |
3 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
6 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
25 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
28 |
| Offices of Dentists |
60 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
34 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
10 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
40 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
18 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
5 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
8 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
15 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
23 |
| Residential Remodelers |
44 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
9 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
6 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
9 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
6 |
| Shoe Stores |
6 |
| Siding Contractors |
21 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
18 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
42 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
19 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
8 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
9 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
18 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
11 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
15 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
11 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
34 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
19 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. The primary advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
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 Washington, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Washington. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Getting an EIN. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Kent, Washington, our information on Incorporating in Washington may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Washington.
Creating a business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan
Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your Kent business will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Business Line of Credit.
Most new Kent businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Kent businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Kent, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Kent.
