Are you starting a business in Sparks, Nevada? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Sparks.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Most startup companies do not succeed, in part because the founder did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you start your business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
- Reach out to other entrepreneurs in Sparks. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- Peruse Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. This is one of our more popular articles for folks who want to go into business for themselves.
- Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Sparks, Nevada Demographic Information
Sparks has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Sparks demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Sparks.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
14228 |
| 5-9 Employees |
6296 |
| 10-19 Employees |
4532 |
| 20-49 Employees |
3708 |
| 50-99 Employees |
1152 |
| 100-249 Employees |
672 |
| 250-499 Employees |
156 |
| 500-999 Employees |
60 |
| 1000+ Employees |
12 |
| All Sparks Businesses |
30816 |
As a new Sparks entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Sparks 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 |
4 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
4 |
| Architectural Services |
4 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
|
Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
5 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
18 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
1 |
| Beauty Salons |
13 |
|
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing |
1 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
|
Business Associations |
5 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
9 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Casino Hotels |
3 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
3 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
18 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
4 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
|
Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
5 |
| Community Food Services |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
6 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
|
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
8 |
| Convenience Stores |
12 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
5 |
| Couriers |
11 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
5 |
|
Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
4 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
4 |
| Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
|
Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
2 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
17 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
|
Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
13 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
1 |
| Electrical Contractors |
50 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
3 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Engineering Services |
16 |
|
Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
|
Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
8 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
6 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
|
Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
10 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
10 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
49 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
3 |
| Furniture Stores |
5 |
| General Automotive Repair |
46 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local |
13 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
1 |
| General Rental Centers |
1 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
25 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
4 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
5 |
|
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
|
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
2 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
6 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
42 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
38 |
| Jewelry Stores |
3 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
|
Land Subdivision |
3 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
38 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
78 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
|
Machine Shops |
8 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
4 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
7 |
| Masonry Contractors |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation |
2 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
6 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
|
Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| New Car Dealers |
1 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
3 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities |
2 |
| Office Administrative Services |
10 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
4 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
12 |
| Offices of Dentists |
34 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
5 |
|
Offices of Optometrists |
9 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
2 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
2 |
|
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
20 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
5 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
3 |
|
Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
7 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
3 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Private Mail Centers |
3 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
1 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
|
Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
8 |
| Residential Remodelers |
26 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
4 |
| Roofing Contractors |
15 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
|
Savings Institutions |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
8 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
7 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
7 |
|
Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
18 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
6 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Sporting Goods Stores |
7 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
7 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
12 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
|
Testing Laboratories |
11 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
18 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
10 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
1 |
| Tobacco Stores |
2 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
3 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
2 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
5 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
8 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
1 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
Should You Franchise?
As you drive around Sparks, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
Our advice is to consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Benefits of Owning A Franchise. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.
A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.
Sample franchise opportunities include CruiseOne and Made In Japan Teriyaki Experience. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Seafood Restaurant Franchises and Employment and Staffing Franchises.
Note on Sparks Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Sparks, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Is Buying an Existing Sparks Business a Good Strategy?
An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Nevada. Follow that link and you might discover several good businesses for sale in Sparks.
Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.
Naming the Company
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.
Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.
To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Business.
On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Sparks, it's imperative that you check now that no other Nevada company is using the business name you want to use.
Getting the Word Out About Your New Startup
Whether your goal is to attract Sparks customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your business achieving its goals.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Six Tips for Getting Customer Testimonials discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Bring in Revenues
Mastering the art of selling is a must if you want your new Sparks business to do well.
Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
The Art of Customer Referrals 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.
Next Steps
Most new Sparks businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Sparks and throughout the United States . We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Sparks, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Sparks, Nevada
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Sparks.
- Resources for Sparks, Nevada Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Sparks entrepreneurs.
- Nevada Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Nevada.
- Nevada Small Business Development Center - The Nevada Small Business Development Center is a statewide business assistance outreach program of the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. They provide an abundance of free and low cost information, assistance, counseling and training for Nevada Businesses.
- Sparks, Nevada Newspaper Ad Rates - This is a nearly comprehensive list of advertising rates for Sparks, Nevada newspapers, including ad costs for newspapers serving the Sparks area.
- Sparks, Nevada Payroll Services - This list includes Sparks, Nevada payroll services, national payroll services for Sparks, and helpful information on choosing a Sparks payroll service.
- Sparks, Nevada Businesses for Sale - This list includes resources for buying a business in Sparks, Nevada, such as business brokers in Sparks and other helpful information on how to buy a Sparks business.
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