Are you starting a business in Santa Fe, New Mexico? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Santa Fe.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Always keep in mind that starting a business in Santa Fe has some implications. If Santa Fe already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Don't forget to review Santa Fe demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Santa Fe has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Santa Fe demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Santa Fe.
As a new Santa Fe entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Santa Fe 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 |
6 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
46 |
| Art Dealers |
120 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
38 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
15 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
14 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
13 |
| Book Stores |
12 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
5 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
12 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
6 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
3 |
| Caterers |
9 |
| Child and Youth Services |
11 |
| Child Day Care Services |
23 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
15 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
11 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
7 |
| Collection Agencies |
2 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
4 |
| Commercial Photography |
12 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
6 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
11 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
11 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
4 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Couriers |
8 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
6 |
| Credit Unions |
12 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
27 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
7 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
2 |
| Drafting Services |
4 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
11 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
29 |
| Educational Support Services |
17 |
| Electrical Contractors |
57 |
| Electronic Shopping |
8 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
23 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
3 |
| Engineering Services |
35 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
13 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
4 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
26 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
10 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
16 |
| Flight Training |
3 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
13 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
9 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
7 |
| Food Service Contractors |
16 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
16 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
150 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
4 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
20 |
| General Automotive Repair |
37 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
32 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
2 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
32 |
| Graphic Design Services |
17 |
| Greeting Card Publishers |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
7 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
11 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
3 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
5 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
54 |
| Interior Design Services |
14 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
16 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
26 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
13 |
| Jewelry Stores |
47 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
17 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
20 |
| Landscaping Services |
44 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
17 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
73 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
2 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
13 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
18 |
| Masonry Contractors |
17 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
4 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
15 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
8 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
14 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
9 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
16 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
13 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
6 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
12 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
3 |
| Office Administrative Services |
28 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
9 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
42 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
18 |
| Offices of Dentists |
73 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
138 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
11 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
15 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
12 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
29 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
9 |
| Periodical Publishers |
11 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
9 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
12 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
13 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Political Organizations |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
11 |
| Prepress Services |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
5 |
| Professional Organizations |
3 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
3 |
| Quick Printing |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Radio Stations |
4 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
13 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
17 |
| Residential Remodelers |
44 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
23 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
9 |
| Sawmills |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
25 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
7 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
5 |
| Shoe Stores |
20 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
8 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
27 |
| Software Publishers |
5 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
21 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
17 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
9 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
5 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
13 |
| Tire Dealers |
9 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
6 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
9 |
| Used Car Dealers |
2 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
37 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
1 |
| Veterinary Services |
22 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
5 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
4 |
| Web Search Portals |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
2 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
10 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
35 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Santa Fe 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. On our site, you can read many articles about franchising, such as Benefits of Owning A Franchise. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Companies like Starbucks, Apple, Target, Microsoft and Intuit all have strong company names that are easy to remember and have become well-loved brands. Wouldn't it be nice if your new company name got on a similar track?
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Santa Fe, it's imperative that you check now that no other New Mexico company is using the business name you want to use.
Mastering the art of selling is priority one if you want your new Santa Fe business to do well.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
The best entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby New Mexico universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Santa Fe entrepreneurs.
Most new Santa Fe businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Santa Fe and throughout the United States . 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.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Santa Fe.
