Are you starting a business in Missoula, Montana? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Missoula.
Running your own business is hard work, and can be orders of magnitude more strenuous than working as an employee. Are you sure you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:
Missoula has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Missoula demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Missoula.
As a new Missoula entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Missoula 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 |
3 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
24 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
5 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
21 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
7 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
28 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
6 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
8 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
6 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
7 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
5 |
| Child Day Care Services |
52 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
19 |
| Claims Adjusting |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
5 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
9 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
17 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
10 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
20 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
33 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
11 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
23 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
39 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
13 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
21 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
12 |
| Flooring Contractors |
9 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
2 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
8 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
11 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
82 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
15 |
| General Automotive Repair |
34 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
4 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
14 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
10 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Home Health Care Services |
13 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
9 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
5 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
82 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
5 |
| Investment Advice |
7 |
| Janitorial Services |
28 |
| Jewelry Stores |
13 |
| Land Subdivision |
8 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
35 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
72 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Logging |
21 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
5 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
12 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
4 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
14 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
8 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
15 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
31 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
16 |
| Offices of Dentists |
54 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
108 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
6 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
10 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
4 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
19 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
6 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
7 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
7 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
8 |
| Real Estate Credit |
14 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
5 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
17 |
| Residential Remodelers |
25 |
| Retail Bakeries |
4 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
11 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
3 |
| Sawmills |
2 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
5 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Securities Brokerage |
20 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
10 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
18 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
38 |
| Software Publishers |
3 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
26 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
10 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
11 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
8 |
| Used Car Dealers |
13 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
3 |
| Veterinary Services |
16 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
6 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
It's very important that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Montana, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Montana. As it turns out, 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. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Incorporating Online. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Missoula, Montana, our information on Incorporating in Montana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Montana.
Whether your goal is to attract Missoula customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a great marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Advertising in Magazines is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Missoula 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.
The best business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Missoula, Montana, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Montana universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into networking groups or organizations in which Missoula entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
As an entrepreneur in Missoula, 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 Missoula 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 Missoula.
