Idaho Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Boise, Idaho

Need help starting a business in Boise, Idaho? We've got the information you need to open a business in Boise.

Boise, Idaho Demographic Information

Boise has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Boise demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Boise.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
13614
5-9 Employees
4704
10-19 Employees
3420
20-49 Employees
2124
50-99 Employees
753
100-249 Employees
384
250-499 Employees
108
500-999 Employees
39
1000+ Employees
21
All Boise Businesses
25167

As a new Boise entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Boise 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
24
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Amusement Arcades
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
6
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
48
Armored Car Services
2
Art Dealers
6
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
12
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
29
Automotive Transmission Repair
7
Baked Goods Stores
5
Barber Shops
6
Beauty Salons
60
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
10
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Book Publishers
6
Book Stores
11
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
4
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
6
Business and Secretarial Schools
2
Business Associations
31
Cable and Other Program Distribution
2
Cafeterias
5
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
5
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
16
Caterers
10
Charter Bus Industry
4
Child and Youth Services
13
Child Day Care Services
84
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
5
Civic and Social Organizations
44
Clothing Accessories Stores
3
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
7
Collection Agencies
7
Commercial Bakeries
4
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
12
Commercial Screen Printing
4
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Community Food Services
3
Computer and Software Stores
13
Computer Facilities Management Services
6
Computer Systems Design Services
54
Computer Training
5
Confectionery and Nut Stores
2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
3
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
3
Consumer Lending
21
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
4
Convenience Stores
6
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
20
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
8
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
24
Custom Roll Forming
1
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
3
Dance Companies
2
Dental Laboratories
11
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
6
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
5
Digital Printing
1
Direct Mail Advertising
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
9
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Discount Department Stores
5
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
8
Drafting Services
8
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
53
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
51
Educational Support Services
9
Electric Power Distribution
10
Electrical Contractors
73
Electronic Resistor Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
16
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
1
Engineering Services
92
Environmental Consulting Services
20
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
7
Family Clothing Stores
20
Family Planning Centers
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
5
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
8
Finfish Fishing
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
49
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
2
Floor Covering Stores
10
Flooring Contractors
30
Florists
15
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
12
Food Service Contractors
19
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
3
Framing Contractors
51
Freight Transportation Arrangement
14
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
2
Full-Service Restaurants
202
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
6
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
2
Furniture Stores
29
General Automotive Repair
57
General Freight Trucking, Local
13
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
3
General Warehousing and Storage
9
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
28
Glass and Glazing Contractors
5
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
7
Grantmaking Foundations
10
Graphic Design Services
30
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Stores
8
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
2
Historical Sites
1
HMO Medical Centers
4
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
15
Home Centers
6
Home Health Care Services
21
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
16
Household Appliance Stores
12
Human Rights Organizations
5
Hydroelectric Power Generation
2
Industrial Building Construction
7
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Launderers
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
176
Interior Design Services
14
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
5
Internet Service Providers
8
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
2
Investment Advice
38
Janitorial Services
80
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
2
Jewelry Stores
27
Junior Colleges
2
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Land Subdivision
26
Landscaping Services
118
Language Schools
2
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
14
Libraries and Archives
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
187
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
8
Locksmiths
4
Logging
5
Machine Shops
14
Mail-Order Houses
5
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
1
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
22
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Meat Markets
4
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
7
Men's Clothing Stores
6
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
4
Mobile Food Services
5
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
39
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
10
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motorcycle Dealers
11
Museums
5
Musical Groups and Artists
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
7
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
3
Natural Gas Distribution
1
New Housing Operative Builders
19
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
19
Nursing Care Facilities
19
Office Administrative Services
32
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
19
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
78
Offices of Chiropractors
69
Offices of Dentists
162
Offices of Lawyers
232
Offices of Optometrists
20
Offices of Podiatrists
5
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
52
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
3
Optical Goods Stores
12
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
2
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
10
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
84
Parking Lots and Garages
18
Passenger Car Rental
7
Payroll Services
6
Periodical Publishers
15
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
1
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
9
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
20
Photography Studios, Portrait
19
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
10
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
2
Private Mail Centers
10
Professional Employer Organizations
7
Professional Organizations
14
Public Relations Agencies
13
Quick Printing
11
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
1
Real Estate Credit
38
Real Estate Investment Trusts
10
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
3
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
42
Residential Remodelers
56
Retail Bakeries
1
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
8
Roofing Contractors
19
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
28
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
8
School and Employee Bus Transportation
2
Securities Brokerage
47
Security Guards and Patrol Services
8
Septic Tank and Related Services
1
Sewage Treatment Facilities
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
5
Shoe Stores
22
Siding Contractors
24
Sign Manufacturing
9
Site Preparation Contractors
28
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
59
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
13
Software Reproducing
1
Solid Waste Collection
3
Sound Recording Studios
1
Specialty Canning
1
Sporting Goods Stores
40
Sports and Recreation Instruction
10
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
25
Taxi Service
3
Telemarketing Bureaus
8
Telephone Answering Services
4
Television Broadcasting
5
Temporary Help Services
46
Temporary Shelters
4
Testing Laboratories
8
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
5
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
4
Tire Dealers
26
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
11
Tobacco Stores
6
Tour Operators
1
Tradebinding and Related Work
1
Travel Agencies
12
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
2
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
4
Used Car Dealers
20
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
11
Used Merchandise Stores
24
Veterinary Services
24
Video Tape and Disc Rental
7
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
11
Voluntary Health Organizations
8
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
7
Web Search Portals
1
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
25
Women's Clothing Stores
27
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
1
Wood Preservation
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Boise Business?

We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Idaho. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Boise.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.

Forming a Company in Boise, Idaho

It's very important that you choose the right legal structure for your new entity. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporation is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Idaho, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Idaho. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Boise, Idaho, our information on Incorporating in Idaho may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Idaho.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Getting your Boise business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.

Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Only Idiots Send Venture Capitalists Business Plans.

For Boise entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Idaho Angel Investors and our List of Idaho 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 Boise or are selling to customers throughout Idaho, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Cold Call Selling 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.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills

Successful entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

Given that you are starting a business in Boise, Idaho, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Idaho universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also smart to see if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Boise entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Next Steps

You have a dream -- starting a business in Boise. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Boise and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Boise, Idaho

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Boise.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Idaho

Starting a Business in Blackfoot
Starting a Business in Bonners Ferry

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Idaho
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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