Thinking about starting a business in Scottsdale, Arizona? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Scottsdale.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Free Business Ideas.
Remember that your new startup will be located in Scottsdale. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Scottsdale. A critical consideration is whether Scottsdale demographics mesh well with your startup concept.
Scottsdale has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Scottsdale demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Scottsdale.
As a new Scottsdale entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Scottsdale 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 |
39 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
12 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
113 |
| Art Dealers |
54 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
9 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
23 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
2 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
140 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
8 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
9 |
| Book Stores |
14 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
24 |
| Business Associations |
16 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
2 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
21 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
12 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
8 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Child and Youth Services |
7 |
| Child Day Care Services |
42 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
19 |
| Claims Adjusting |
15 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
17 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
4 |
| Collection Agencies |
14 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
9 |
| Commercial Photography |
4 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
4 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
19 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
92 |
| Computer Training |
7 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
8 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
18 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
8 |
| Convenience Stores |
11 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
20 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
3 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
11 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
5 |
| Credit Bureaus |
2 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
10 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
122 |
| Dental Laboratories |
15 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
22 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
6 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
29 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
12 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
30 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
4 |
| Discount Department Stores |
6 |
| Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
13 |
| Drafting Services |
9 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
40 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
18 |
| Educational Support Services |
12 |
| Electrical Contractors |
83 |
| Electronic Auctions |
4 |
| Electronic Shopping |
33 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
24 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
21 |
| Engineering Services |
110 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
11 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
12 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
20 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
46 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
20 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
22 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
53 |
| Flight Training |
12 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
18 |
| Flooring Contractors |
15 |
| Florists |
26 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
28 |
| Food Service Contractors |
23 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
26 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
21 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
314 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
12 |
| Furniture Stores |
76 |
| General Automotive Repair |
55 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
6 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
55 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
7 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
44 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
9 |
| Graphic Design Services |
48 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Hardware Stores |
6 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
13 |
| Home Centers |
5 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Home Health Care Services |
19 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
24 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
3 |
| Industrial Design Services |
7 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
317 |
| Interior Design Services |
96 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
10 |
| Internet Service Providers |
14 |
| Investigation Services |
10 |
| Investment Advice |
80 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
76 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Jewelry Stores |
83 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
50 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
28 |
| Landscaping Services |
113 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
17 |
| Libraries and Archives |
2 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
219 |
| Limousine Service |
6 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
4 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
6 |
| Machine Shops |
5 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
18 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
131 |
| Masonry Contractors |
26 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
1 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
6 |
| Media Representatives |
7 |
| Medical Laboratories |
20 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
20 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
123 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
1 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
20 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
12 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
10 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Nail Salons |
21 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
42 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
28 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
3 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
51 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
14 |
| Office Administrative Services |
128 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
15 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
146 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
89 |
| Offices of Dentists |
228 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
235 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
19 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
29 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
12 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
44 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
16 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
4 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
9 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
43 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
6 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
3 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
11 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
28 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
13 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
18 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
44 |
| Phosphatic Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
18 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
30 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
20 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
17 |
| Professional Organizations |
15 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
24 |
| Quick Printing |
13 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
6 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
130 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
8 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
70 |
| Residential Remodelers |
76 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
19 |
| Sales Financing |
19 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
2 |
| Savings Institutions |
24 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
5 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
58 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
6 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
3 |
| Shoe Stores |
32 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
5 |
| Silver Ore Mining |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
12 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
2 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
52 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
25 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
6 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
41 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
24 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
29 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
4 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
9 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
42 |
| Testing Laboratories |
9 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
4 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
28 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
17 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
25 |
| Tobacco Stores |
7 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
15 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
42 |
| Used Car Dealers |
17 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
13 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
28 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
53 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
15 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
4 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Web Search Portals |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
155 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
18 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
18 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
75 |
| Wood Preservation |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.
As a final piece of advice, remember that because you are opening a business in Scottsdale, it's very important that you make sure your company name has not already been claimed by another Arizona business.
It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will decide among many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. 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. If you are starting a business in Arizona, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Arizona. In fact, you can 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 are many nuances to forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Nevada Incorporation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Scottsdale, Arizona, our web page covering Incorporating in Arizona may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Arizona.
Creating a business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan
To grow your Scottsdale business, you need a solid marketing plan.
Good business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
With your business being located in Scottsdale, Arizona, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Arizona universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any Scottsdale networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Scottsdale. 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.
We are here to help Scottsdale businesses to be successful. 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 Scottsdale.
