Are you starting a business in Olympia, Washington? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Olympia.
Running your own business is demanding, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Olympia has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Olympia demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Olympia.
As a new Olympia entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Olympia 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 |
7 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
8 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
19 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
41 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
7 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
9 |
| Book Publishers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
7 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Business Associations |
27 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
7 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
2 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
46 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
22 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
4 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Photography |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
18 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
3 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
6 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
3 |
| Convenience Stores |
7 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
6 |
| Couriers |
9 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
21 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
25 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
5 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
4 |
| Document Preparation Services |
11 |
| Drafting Services |
7 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
22 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
13 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
46 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8 |
| Engineering Services |
34 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
13 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
| Finfish Fishing |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
18 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
4 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
15 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
25 |
| Florists |
8 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
18 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
111 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
10 |
| General Automotive Repair |
45 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
9 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
17 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
10 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
10 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
5 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
17 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
64 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
47 |
| Jewelry Stores |
13 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
8 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
61 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
13 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
106 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Logging |
15 |
| Machine Shops |
6 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
8 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
| Marinas |
8 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
11 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
13 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Nail Salons |
6 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
14 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
16 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
12 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
22 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
39 |
| Offices of Dentists |
90 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
108 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
10 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
13 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
27 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
3 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
11 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
11 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
5 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
17 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
17 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
16 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
4 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
56 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
15 |
| Savings Institutions |
14 |
| Sawmills |
2 |
| Seafood Canning |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
20 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
5 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
3 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Siding Contractors |
11 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
31 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
54 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
19 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
13 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
10 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
7 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
2 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
11 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
2 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Tour Operators |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
19 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
19 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
11 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
6 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
7 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
14 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
As you drive around Olympia, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Before Buying a Franchise. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Raising money to fund your new Olympia business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Olympia business, you need to focus on sales.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
As an entrepreneur in Olympia, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Olympia and throughout the United States . 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 Olympia.
