Are you starting a business in Park City, Utah? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Park City.
What Business to Start
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read How to Evaluate a Business Idea.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Musical Instruments Amplifier Repair Business guide or our Opening a Dental Insurance Agency guide.
Always keep in mind that Park City is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Park City than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Park City demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Park City, Utah Demographic Information
Park City has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Park City demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Park City.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
14945 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4320 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2415 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1635 |
| 50-99 Employees |
795 |
| 100-249 Employees |
285 |
| 250-499 Employees |
30 |
| 500-999 Employees |
15 |
| 1000+ Employees |
30 |
| All Park City Businesses |
24470 |
As a new Park City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Park City 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 |
9 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
16 |
| Art Dealers |
19 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
9 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Car Washes |
2 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
4 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
12 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
2 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
2 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
9 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
7 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
10 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
13 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
22 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
3 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
1 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
3 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
70 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
6 |
| General Automotive Repair |
2 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
13 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
7 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
13 |
| Interior Design Services |
9 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
13 |
| Janitorial Services |
10 |
| Jewelry Stores |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
12 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
25 |
| Lead Ore and Zinc Ore Mining |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
26 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
17 |
| Masonry Contractors |
5 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
6 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
10 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
3 |
| New Car Dealers |
2 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
7 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
9 |
| Office Administrative Services |
15 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
7 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
9 |
| Offices of Dentists |
16 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
20 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
1 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
3 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
27 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
4 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
2 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Portfolio Management |
3 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
2 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
8 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
27 |
| Residential Remodelers |
25 |
| Roofing Contractors |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
5 |
| Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
13 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
15 |
| Skiing Facilities |
5 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
4 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
25 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
2 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
2 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
3 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Used Car Dealers |
1 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
3 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
9 |
| Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
As you drive around Park City, you'll see that franchises make up a large percentage of local businesses. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Franchise Due Diligence. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
You can review hundreds of franchise opportunities by browing our Franchise Directory.
Representative franchise opportunities include Saladworks, Inc. and Sutton. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Closet Design and Construction Franchises and Payroll Service Franchises.
Note on Park City Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Park City.
Company Formation in Park City, Utah
It's essential that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as 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. Just because you are starting a business in Utah, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Utah. 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's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Registered Agents. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Park City, Utah, our web page covering Incorporating in Utah may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Utah.
Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan
A business plan is essential to the health of your new business. 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.
To learn more about business plans, read Free Business Plan Templates. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Utah.
Building Up Your Sales
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Park City business, you need to focus on sales.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Compensating Sales People offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
What's Next?
As an entrepreneur in Park City, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Park City businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Park City 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 Park City, Utah
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Park City.
- Resources for Park City, Utah Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Park City entrepreneurs.
- Utah Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Utah.
- Utah Small Business Development Center - The Utah Small Business Development Centers will lead the way in entrepreneurial education, advocacy, and business development statewide.
- Park City, Utah Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Park City, Utah newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Park City area.
- Park City, Utah Payroll Services - This list includes Park City, Utah payroll services, national payroll services for Park City, and helpful information on choosing a Park City payroll service.
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