Contemplating starting a business in Sandpoint, Idaho? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Sandpoint.
Is Becoming an Entrepreneur Right for You?
Most new ventures don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Sandpoint. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- We recommend reading Should You Become an Entrepreneur?. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Have a candid conversation with friends and family. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Sandpoint, Idaho Demographic Information
Sandpoint has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Sandpoint demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Sandpoint.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
1677 |
| 5-9 Employees |
440 |
| 10-19 Employees |
336 |
| 20-49 Employees |
177 |
| 50-99 Employees |
24 |
| 100-249 Employees |
9 |
| 250-499 Employees |
6 |
| 500-999 Employees |
9 |
| 1000+ Employees |
0 |
| All Sandpoint Businesses |
2678 |
As a new Sandpoint entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Sandpoint 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 |
1 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
6 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
9 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
7 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
2 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
4 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
8 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
16 |
| Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
6 |
| Engineering Services |
7 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
4 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
3 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
1 |
| Florists |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
1 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
22 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
2 |
| General Automotive Repair |
7 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
1 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
8 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
1 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Stores |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
1 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
2 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
2 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
13 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Janitorial Services |
3 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
3 |
| Landscaping Services |
9 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
13 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Logging |
7 |
| Machine Shops |
1 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
3 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
8 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
1 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
2 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
3 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
2 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
10 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
4 |
| Offices of Dentists |
14 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
19 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
6 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
8 |
| Periodical Publishers |
3 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
2 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
1 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
7 |
| Residential Remodelers |
12 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
3 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
2 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Silver Ore Mining |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
4 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
1 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
3 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
2 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
4 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
1 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
What About Franchising Opportunities?
Examine a list of Sandpoint businesses and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Common Franchisee Mistakes. 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 Sirloin Stockade and Worldwide Express. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Seafood Restaurant Franchises and Baby Franchises.
Note on Sandpoint Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Sandpoint, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Sandpoint Business?
We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Idaho. Follow that link and you can assess several good businesses for sale in Sandpoint.
If you are headed down the path of buying a business, you may want to read this article: Buying a Business.
Raising Money for Your Startup
Getting your Sandpoint business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.
For Sandpoint entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, browse our List of Idaho Angel Investors and our List of Idaho Venture Capital Firms.
Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge
Successful entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
With your business being located in Sandpoint, Idaho, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Idaho universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any Sandpoint networking organizations.
Moving Forward
Most new Sandpoint 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 Sandpoint and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Sandpoint 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 Sandpoint, Idaho
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Sandpoint.
- Resources for Sandpoint, Idaho Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Sandpoint entrepreneurs.
- Idaho Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Idaho.
- Idaho Small Business Development Center - The Idaho Small Business Development Center (Idaho SBDC) is a university-based organization offering a wealth of free and low-cost services to help small businesses and entrepreneurs be successful.
- Sandpoint, Idaho Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Sandpoint, Idaho newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Sandpoint area.
- Sandpoint, Idaho Radio Advertising Prices - To help you in your marketing efforts, we've gathered radio advertising rates for Sandpoint, Idaho area radio stations.
- Sandpoint, Idaho Payroll Services - This list includes Sandpoint, Idaho payroll services, national payroll services for Sandpoint, and helpful information on choosing a Sandpoint payroll service.
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