Are you starting a business in Portland, Oregon? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Portland.
Before quitting your day job, consider your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Portland has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Portland demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Portland.
As a new Portland entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Portland 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Advertising Agencies |
103 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
4 |
| Ambulance Services |
7 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
|
Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
18 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
10 |
| Architectural Services |
190 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
41 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
14 |
|
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
26 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
116 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
23 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
6 |
| Barber Shops |
13 |
| Beauty Salons |
242 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
5 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
|
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
55 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Boat Building |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
34 |
| Book Publishers |
15 |
| Book Stores |
54 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
|
Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
10 |
| Breweries |
6 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
34 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
77 |
|
Business to Business Electronic Markets |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
8 |
| Cafeterias |
18 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
14 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
8 |
| Car Washes |
50 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
38 |
| Caterers |
40 |
|
Cement Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
19 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
70 |
| Child Day Care Services |
242 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
32 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
78 |
| Claims Adjusting |
22 |
|
Clothing Accessories Stores |
25 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
3 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
20 |
| Collection Agencies |
27 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
18 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
80 |
|
Commercial Photography |
36 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
14 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
7 |
| Community Food Services |
26 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
39 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
16 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
200 |
|
Computer Terminal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Training |
13 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
18 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
|
Consumer Lending |
47 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
27 |
| Convenience Stores |
181 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
38 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
5 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
11 |
|
Couriers |
47 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
6 |
| Credit Unions |
60 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
7 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
4 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
216 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
3 |
|
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
4 |
| Dance Companies |
4 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
33 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
14 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
8 |
| Digital Printing |
9 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
43 |
|
Direct Mail Advertising |
18 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
42 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
9 |
| Discount Department Stores |
8 |
| Display Advertising |
5 |
| Document Preparation Services |
27 |
| Drafting Services |
14 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
233 |
|
Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
44 |
| Educational Support Services |
37 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
43 |
| Electrical Contractors |
151 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Electronic Shopping |
51 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
93 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
14 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
28 |
| Engineering Services |
264 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
49 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
15 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
23 |
|
Facilities Support Services |
8 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
83 |
| Family Planning Centers |
8 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
48 |
|
Finfish Fishing |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
106 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
6 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
92 |
| Flat Glass Manufacturing |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
48 |
| Flooring Contractors |
92 |
|
Florists |
55 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
4 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
23 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
75 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
4 |
|
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
8 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
70 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
111 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
|
Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
11 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
941 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
28 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
24 |
| Furniture Stores |
106 |
| General Automotive Repair |
265 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
62 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
10 |
|
General Rental Centers |
14 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
67 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
112 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
18 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
12 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
63 |
| Graphic Design Services |
153 |
|
Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
39 |
| Hardware Stores |
34 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
|
Heating Oil Dealers |
7 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
11 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
43 |
| Home Centers |
10 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
39 |
| Home Health Care Services |
37 |
|
Home Health Equipment Rental |
6 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
123 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
26 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
24 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
19 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
15 |
|
Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
5 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
7 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
5 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
503 |
| Interior Design Services |
74 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
15 |
| Internet Service Providers |
22 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
16 |
| Investment Advice |
76 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
3 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
3 |
| Iron Foundries |
3 |
|
Janitorial Services |
224 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
15 |
| Jewelry Stores |
99 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
8 |
| Land Subdivision |
49 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
48 |
| Landscaping Services |
260 |
|
Language Schools |
16 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
30 |
| Libraries and Archives |
6 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
719 |
| Limousine Service |
11 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
|
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
36 |
| Locksmiths |
18 |
| Logging |
3 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
8 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
66 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
38 |
|
Manifold Business Forms Printing |
9 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
6 |
| Marinas |
16 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
97 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
57 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
8 |
|
Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
15 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
12 |
| Medical Laboratories |
18 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
20 |
|
Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
4 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
6 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
23 |
| Mobile Food Services |
12 |
|
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
162 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
61 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
20 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
17 |
|
Museums |
13 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
28 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
24 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
6 |
| Nail Salons |
7 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
69 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders |
44 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
29 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
37 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
44 |
| Office Administrative Services |
68 |
|
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
26 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
36 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
274 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
180 |
| Offices of Dentists |
497 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
870 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
62 |
|
Offices of Other Holding Companies |
25 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
22 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
91 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
6 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
52 |
|
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
4 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
7 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Packing and Crating |
4 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
7 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
28 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
186 |
|
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
201 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
41 |
| Payroll Services |
21 |
| Periodical Publishers |
41 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
9 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
41 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
49 |
|
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
11 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
77 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
51 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Political Organizations |
27 |
| Portfolio Management |
73 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
7 |
| Prepress Services |
10 |
| Primary Aluminum Production |
1 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
10 |
| Private Mail Centers |
30 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
17 |
| Professional Organizations |
30 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
56 |
|
Pulp Mills |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
41 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
22 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
4 |
| Real Estate Credit |
101 |
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
13 |
| Record Production |
2 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
6 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
9 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
13 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
|
Residential Property Managers |
184 |
| Residential Remodelers |
293 |
| Retail Bakeries |
27 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
28 |
| Roofing Contractors |
61 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
20 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
42 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
4 |
| Sawmills |
3 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
18 |
| Schiffli Machine Embroidery |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
|
Securities Brokerage |
127 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
39 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
19 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
6 |
| Shoe Stores |
85 |
|
Siding Contractors |
36 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
40 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
58 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
291 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
6 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
| Software Publishers |
85 |
| Software Reproducing |
3 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
37 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
5 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
10 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
19 |
| Specialty Canning |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
95 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
50 |
|
Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
2 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
7 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
88 |
| Taxi Service |
5 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
6 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
16 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
14 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
122 |
|
Temporary Shelters |
21 |
| Testing Laboratories |
28 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
17 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
71 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Tire Dealers |
53 |
| Tire Retreading |
5 |
|
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
5 |
| Tobacco Stores |
25 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
8 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
21 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
13 |
| Travel Agencies |
89 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
3 |
|
Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
3 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Underwear and Nightwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
85 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
30 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
109 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
20 |
| Veterinary Services |
94 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental |
74 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
51 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
29 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
20 |
| Web Search Portals |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
298 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
5 |
| Wineries |
6 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
100 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
113 |
| Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
4 |
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Oregon, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Oregon. In fact, you are allowed to 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'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 Where to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Portland, Oregon, our information on Incorporating in Oregon may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Oregon.
Whether your goal is to attract Portland customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Portland or are selling to customers throughout Oregon, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
Good business owners know that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Portland, Oregon, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Oregon universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Portland networking organizations.
Here, we'll keep a running list of interviews we've had with Portland entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Portland. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Portland and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Portland, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Portland.
