Contemplating starting a business in Sandy, Utah? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Sandy.
What Business Are You Starting?
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Free Business Ideas.
For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Model Car Racing Centers Business guide or our Opening a Duplicating Machines & Supplies Business guide.
Remember that you are opening your new business in Sandy. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Sandy. Make sure you fully understand Sandy demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Sandy, Utah Demographic Information
Sandy has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Sandy demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Sandy.
| Business Size | # of Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
16770 |
| 5-9 Employees |
4335 |
| 10-19 Employees |
2877 |
| 20-49 Employees |
1881 |
| 50-99 Employees |
630 |
| 100-249 Employees |
387 |
| 250-499 Employees |
99 |
| 500-999 Employees |
27 |
| 1000+ Employees |
27 |
| All Sandy Businesses |
27033 |
As a new Sandy entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Sandy 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 |
8 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
4 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
|
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
10 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
29 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
3 |
|
Book Publishers |
3 |
| Book Stores |
6 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
4 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
1 |
|
Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Caterers |
5 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
22 |
|
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
3 |
| Claims Adjusting |
5 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
5 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
2 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
1 |
|
Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
8 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
9 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
6 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
|
Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
4 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
14 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
|
Custom Computer Programming Services |
32 |
| Dental Laboratories |
11 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
1 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
8 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
1 |
|
Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
4 |
| Drafting Services |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
4 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
14 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
43 |
|
Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
7 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
27 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
3 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
|
Family Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
16 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
16 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
18 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
7 |
| Flooring Contractors |
8 |
| Florists |
1 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
20 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
55 |
|
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
22 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
5 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
4 |
| Graphic Design Services |
11 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
|
Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
93 |
| Interior Design Services |
8 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
20 |
| Janitorial Services |
24 |
| Jewelry Stores |
18 |
|
Land Subdivision |
12 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
5 |
| Landscaping Services |
51 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
64 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
|
Machine Shops |
6 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
21 |
| Masonry Contractors |
17 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
|
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
40 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
12 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders |
14 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
8 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
32 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
14 |
|
Offices of Chiropractors |
11 |
| Offices of Dentists |
59 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
28 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
4 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
2 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
11 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
|
Open-End Investment Funds |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
3 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
36 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
2 |
| Payroll Services |
5 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
|
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
3 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
8 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
9 |
| Portfolio Management |
6 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
|
Public Relations Agencies |
4 |
| Quick Printing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
11 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
21 |
| Residential Remodelers |
35 |
|
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
5 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
10 |
|
Siding Contractors |
8 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
10 |
| Skiing Facilities |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
15 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
10 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
19 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
|
Sports Teams and Clubs |
2 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
7 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
3 |
|
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
15 |
| Tire Dealers |
8 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
10 |
|
Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
3 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
2 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
52 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
4 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
13 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?
As you drive around Sandy, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
We highly recommend you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Franchising Pros and Cons. 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 Wing Zone and Camp Bow Wow / Digs! for Dogs. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Health and Diet Franchises and Ice Cream Franchises.
Note on Sandy Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Sandy, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Company Formation in Sandy, Utah
It's very important that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The primary advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
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 Utah, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Utah. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. 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 How to Incorporate. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Sandy, Utah, our information on Incorporating in Utah may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Utah.
Where to Get Money to Start a Company
Getting your Sandy business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Sandy entrepreneurs who need startup capital, you'll want to take a look at our List of Utah Angel Investors and our List of Utah Venture Capital Firms.
How to Sell
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Sandy or are selling to customers throughout Utah, 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.
Selling Products on eBay is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.
Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset
The best business owners know that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Sandy, Utah, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Utah educational institutions. It's also beneficial to see if there are any networking organizations for Sandy entrepreneurs.
Moving Forward
You have a dream -- starting a business in Sandy. 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 Sandy and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Sandy 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 Sandy, Utah
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Sandy.
- Resources for Sandy, Utah Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Sandy entrepreneurs.
- Utah Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Utah.
- Utah Small Business Development Center - The Utah Small Business Development Centers will lead the way in entrepreneurial education, advocacy, and business development statewide.
- Sandy, Utah Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Sandy, Utah newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Sandy area.
- Sandy, Utah Payroll Services - This list includes Sandy, Utah payroll services, national payroll services for Sandy, and helpful information on choosing a Sandy payroll service.
- Sandy, Utah Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Sandy, Utah, such as business brokers in Sandy and other helpful information on how to buy a Sandy business.
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