Contemplating starting a business in Salem, Oregon? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Salem.
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Free Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Salem. Some businesses will do better in Salem than others. Don't forget to review Salem demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Salem has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Salem demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Salem.
As a new Salem entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Salem 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 and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
16 |
|
Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
37 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
9 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
|
Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
67 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
11 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
5 |
| Book Stores |
12 |
|
Bowling Centers |
4 |
| Building Inspection Services |
9 |
| Business Associations |
34 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
10 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
5 |
| Car Washes |
15 |
|
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
10 |
| Caterers |
6 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
13 |
| Child Day Care Services |
55 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
25 |
|
Claims Adjusting |
6 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
5 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
10 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
|
Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
11 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
18 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
5 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
6 |
|
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
15 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
9 |
| Convenience Stores |
39 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
5 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
|
Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
19 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
21 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
9 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
6 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
4 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
9 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
6 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
|
Document Preparation Services |
9 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
31 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
34 |
| Educational Support Services |
4 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
46 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
|
Electronic Shopping |
10 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
20 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
2 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
10 |
| Engineering Services |
29 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
|
Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
8 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
1 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
6 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors |
29 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
24 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
16 |
| Flooring Contractors |
30 |
| Florists |
12 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
|
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
12 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
36 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
1 |
|
Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
170 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
25 |
| General Automotive Repair |
60 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
18 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
2 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
28 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
13 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
6 |
|
Graphic Design Services |
14 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Hardware Stores |
8 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
4 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
16 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
|
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
15 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
71 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
10 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
6 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
|
Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
146 |
| Interior Design Services |
4 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
6 |
| Investment Advice |
10 |
|
Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
60 |
| Jewelry Stores |
20 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
18 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
2 |
| Landscaping Services |
71 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
23 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
161 |
| Limousine Service |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Logging |
6 |
| Machine Shops |
15 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
8 |
|
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
7 |
| Masonry Contractors |
16 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
5 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
31 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
5 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
7 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
6 |
|
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
21 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
13 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
7 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
8 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
17 |
| Office Administrative Services |
22 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
52 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
35 |
| Offices of Dentists |
127 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
198 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
36 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
7 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
9 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
59 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
4 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
7 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
7 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
9 |
|
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
14 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
14 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
7 |
| Portfolio Management |
4 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
7 |
| Professional Organizations |
8 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
16 |
| Quick Printing |
8 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
3 |
| Real Estate Credit |
18 |
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
8 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
33 |
| Residential Remodelers |
50 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
|
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Rice Milling |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
27 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
3 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
13 |
| Seafood Canning |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
33 |
|
Security Guards and Patrol Services |
5 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
6 |
| Shoe Stores |
18 |
| Siding Contractors |
17 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
32 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
44 |
|
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
7 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
8 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
28 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
11 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
30 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
27 |
| Taxi Service |
3 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
22 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
|
Testing Laboratories |
4 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
16 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
21 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
6 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
6 |
| Travel Agencies |
12 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
24 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
21 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
|
Veterinary Services |
22 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
16 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
22 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
6 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
26 |
| Wineries |
7 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
13 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
3 |
Visit the business district of Salem and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. But is franchising the right option for you?
We highly recommend you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. We have many articles on franchises, such as Growth Trends in Franchising. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
Having a business plan is essential to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Failure to write a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Getting your Salem business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Getting a Small Business Loan.
Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Salem 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? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Salem. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Salem and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Salem, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Salem.
