Are you starting a business in Provo, Utah? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Provo.
Provo, Utah Demographic Information
Provo has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Provo demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Provo.
| Business Size | # of Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
3415 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1254 |
| 10-19 Employees |
903 |
| 20-49 Employees |
543 |
| 50-99 Employees |
189 |
| 100-249 Employees |
114 |
| 250-499 Employees |
39 |
| 500-999 Employees |
18 |
| 1000+ Employees |
12 |
| All Provo Businesses |
6487 |
As a new Provo entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Provo 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 |
2 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
6 |
| Art Dealers |
4 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
9 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
20 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Business Associations |
1 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
9 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
10 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
8 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
9 |
| Convenience Stores |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
6 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
27 |
| Dental Laboratories |
7 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
3 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
3 |
| Electrical Contractors |
12 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
8 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
18 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
16 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
6 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
51 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
| General Automotive Repair |
27 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
45 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
6 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
11 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
13 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
11 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
17 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
92 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
24 |
| Masonry Contractors |
8 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
3 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
23 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
13 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
9 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
3 |
| Office Administrative Services |
14 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
11 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
8 |
| Offices of Dentists |
76 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
70 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
5 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
4 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
6 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
5 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
7 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
5 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
2 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
5 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
4 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
15 |
| Residential Remodelers |
14 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
4 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
12 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
4 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
11 |
| Software Publishers |
10 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
9 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
7 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
10 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
7 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
1 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
2 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
10 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around Provo, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Versus Business Opportunity. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Breadsmith and Carpet Network. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Restaurant Franchises and Modeling Franchises.
Note on Provo Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Provo.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Provo Business?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Utah. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Provo.
For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Company Formation in Provo, Utah
It's very important that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporation 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. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Provo, 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 vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Mistakes. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Utah.
Marketing Your New Business
To rise above the crowd in Provo and advance your business, you need a excellent marketing plan.
There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Effective Direct Mail Campaigns discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Now It's Up To You
Most new Provo businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Provo and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Provo, Utah
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Provo.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Utah
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