Are you starting a business in Salt Lake City, Utah? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Salt Lake City.
An entrepreneurial life is hard work, much more challenging than working as an employee. Are you sure you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Salt Lake City has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Salt Lake City demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Salt Lake City.
As a new Salt Lake City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Salt Lake 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
64 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
|
Amusement Arcades |
7 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
18 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
111 |
| Armored Car Services |
7 |
| Art Dealers |
11 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
6 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
8 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
26 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
86 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
22 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
11 |
| Barber Shops |
5 |
|
Beauty Salons |
186 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
7 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
16 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
10 |
|
Book Stores |
31 |
| Books Printing |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
6 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
10 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
3 |
|
Business Associations |
47 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
6 |
| Cafeterias |
11 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
10 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
4 |
| Car Washes |
35 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
|
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
20 |
| Caterers |
31 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
7 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
25 |
| Child Day Care Services |
107 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
60 |
|
Claims Adjusting |
14 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
21 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
22 |
| Collection Agencies |
23 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
11 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
44 |
|
Commercial Photography |
15 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
17 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
8 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
45 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
7 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
68 |
|
Computer Training |
4 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
4 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
12 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
49 |
|
Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
7 |
| Convenience Stores |
52 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
18 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
4 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Copper Ore and Nickel Ore Mining |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
|
Couriers |
32 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
9 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
6 |
| Credit Unions |
106 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
120 |
|
Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
3 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
29 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
20 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
6 |
| Digital Printing |
12 |
|
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
37 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
10 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
24 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
13 |
| Display Advertising |
11 |
| Document Preparation Services |
20 |
|
Drafting Services |
22 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
86 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
67 |
| Educational Support Services |
16 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
41 |
| Electrical Contractors |
153 |
|
Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Shopping |
26 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
29 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
27 |
| Engineering Services |
186 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Environmental Consulting Services |
33 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
14 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Facilities Support Services |
11 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
67 |
| Family Planning Centers |
5 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
|
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
27 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
75 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
61 |
| Flight Training |
3 |
|
Floor Covering Stores |
38 |
| Flooring Contractors |
52 |
| Florists |
30 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
2 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
18 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
51 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
9 |
| Framing Contractors |
42 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
42 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants |
376 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
15 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Furniture Stores |
85 |
| General Automotive Repair |
195 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
45 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
10 |
| General Rental Centers |
9 |
|
General Warehousing and Storage |
40 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
74 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
15 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
6 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
23 |
| Graphic Design Services |
78 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
|
Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
30 |
| Hardware Stores |
16 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
3 |
|
Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
31 |
| Home Centers |
9 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
24 |
| Home Health Care Services |
39 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
14 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
26 |
|
Human Rights Organizations |
7 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
5 |
| Industrial Design Services |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
9 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
7 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
417 |
| Interior Design Services |
42 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
11 |
| Internet Service Providers |
24 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
7 |
| Investment Advice |
95 |
|
Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Iron Ore Mining |
1 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
174 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
64 |
| Junior Colleges |
6 |
|
Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
44 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
18 |
| Landscaping Services |
147 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
15 |
| Libraries and Archives |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
511 |
|
Limousine Service |
3 |
| Linen Supply |
4 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
15 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Machine Shops |
58 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
33 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
5 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
70 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
5 |
| Masonry Contractors |
48 |
|
Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
7 |
| Meat Markets |
7 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
4 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
3 |
| Media Representatives |
5 |
| Medical Laboratories |
21 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Men's Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
21 |
| Mobile Food Services |
4 |
|
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
136 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
50 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
20 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
13 |
| Museums |
5 |
|
Music Publishers |
2 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
6 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
15 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
12 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
5 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
|
New Car Dealers |
46 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
25 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
7 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
64 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
32 |
|
Office Administrative Services |
128 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
28 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
31 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
182 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
68 |
| Offices of Dentists |
393 |
|
Offices of Lawyers |
532 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
29 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
16 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
26 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
69 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
6 |
|
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
7 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
45 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
6 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
9 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
4 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
15 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
93 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
43 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
30 |
| Payroll Services |
41 |
| Periodical Publishers |
21 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
3 |
|
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
20 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
20 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
11 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
46 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
37 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
4 |
|
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
4 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Political Organizations |
10 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
37 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Prepress Services |
5 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
13 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
15 |
| Professional Organizations |
26 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
25 |
| Quick Printing |
21 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
|
Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
22 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
97 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Record Production |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
5 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
10 |
|
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
8 |
| Repossession Services |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
93 |
| Residential Remodelers |
115 |
| Retail Bakeries |
30 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
13 |
|
Roofing Contractors |
53 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
10 |
| Sales Financing |
31 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
30 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
12 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
|
Securities Brokerage |
81 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
13 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
5 |
| Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
26 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
55 |
|
Siding Contractors |
17 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
28 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
49 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
88 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
3 |
|
Software Publishers |
36 |
| Software Reproducing |
5 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
13 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
71 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
24 |
|
Sports Teams and Clubs |
5 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Tax Preparation Services |
42 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
17 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
21 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
6 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
2 |
| Television Broadcasting |
10 |
| Temporary Help Services |
93 |
|
Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
21 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
7 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
11 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
44 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Tire Dealers |
55 |
| Tire Retreading |
4 |
|
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
27 |
| Tobacco Stores |
16 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
11 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
13 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
50 |
|
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
2 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
4 |
| Used Car Dealers |
68 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
22 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
33 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
15 |
| Veterinary Services |
42 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental |
34 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
16 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
21 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
10 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
9 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
158 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
79 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
60 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
5 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
3 |
Visit the business district of Salt Lake City and it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Selling A Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
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 corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. 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 can incorporate in any state you would like to. 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 Nevada Incorporation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Salt Lake City, Utah, our information on Incorporating in Utah may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Utah.
Having a business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
To rise above the crowd in Salt Lake City and build your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Newspaper Advertising Costs is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
As an entrepreneur in Salt Lake City, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Salt Lake City and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Salt Lake City entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Salt Lake City.
