Iowa Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Des Moines, Iowa

Thinking about starting a business in Des Moines, Iowa? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Des Moines.

Which Business to Choose?

Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.

For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Soda Fountain Shops Business guide or our How to Start a Woolen Fabrics Retail Business guide.

Don't forget that you are starting a business in Des Moines. Some businesses will do better in Des Moines than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Des Moines demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.

Des Moines, Iowa Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
24339
5-9 Employees
10314
10-19 Employees
7740
20-49 Employees
5397
50-99 Employees
2124
100-249 Employees
1413
250-499 Employees
342
500-999 Employees
225
1000+ Employees
108
All Des Moines Businesses
52002

As a new Des Moines entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Des Moines 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
10
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
4
Apprenticeship Training
5
Armored Car Services
2
Art Dealers
4
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
5
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
50
Automotive Transmission Repair
5
Baked Goods Stores
4
Beauty Salons
59
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
6
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Dealers
3
Book Publishers
1
Book Stores
10
Bowling Centers
6
Building Inspection Services
1
Business Associations
34
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
4
Cafeterias
5
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Car Washes
15
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
11
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
1
Caterers
10
Cemeteries and Crematories
4
Charter Bus Industry
3
Child and Youth Services
6
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
4
Civic and Social Organizations
47
Claims Adjusting
4
Clothing Accessories Stores
5
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
10
Collection Agencies
4
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
22
Commercial Photography
9
Commercial Screen Printing
1
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
2
Computer Systems Design Services
23
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
1
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
5
Consumer Lending
34
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
8
Convenience Stores
5
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Couriers
23
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
29
Custom Computer Programming Services
22
Custom Roll Forming
1
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
8
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
21
Direct Mail Advertising
4
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
1
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Display Advertising
2
Document Preparation Services
9
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
80
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
12
Educational Support Services
4
Electric Power Distribution
14
Electron Tube Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
8
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Employment Placement Agencies
9
Engineering Services
20
Envelope Manufacturing
1
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
4
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
8
Facilities Support Services
4
Family Clothing Stores
22
Family Planning Centers
4
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
2
Finish Carpentry Contractors
26
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
12
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
10
Flooring Contractors
10
Florists
16
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
29
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
1
Framing Contractors
17
Freight Transportation Arrangement
7
Full-Service Restaurants
140
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
9
Furniture Stores
17
General Automotive Repair
55
General Freight Trucking, Local
19
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
8
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
9
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
31
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
9
Grantmaking Foundations
14
Graphic Design Services
15
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
6
Hardware Stores
15
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
3
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
6
Home Centers
4
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
6
Home Health Care Services
6
Homes for the Elderly
3
Household Appliance Stores
6
Hunting and Trapping
2
Industrial Launderers
4
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
96
Interior Design Services
9
International Trade Financing
2
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
3
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
5
Investment Advice
18
Janitorial Services
62
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
27
Junior Colleges
2
Land Subdivision
6
Landscape Architectural Services
5
Landscaping Services
49
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
9
Limited-Service Restaurants
172
Limousine Service
2
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Locksmiths
3
Luggage Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
9
Mail-Order Houses
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
2
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
4
Masonry Contractors
8
Materials Recovery Facilities
3
Meat Markets
1
Media Representatives
3
Medical Laboratories
1
Men's Clothing Stores
5
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Mobile Food Services
1
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
5
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
7
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motorcycle Dealers
5
Museums
5
Musical Groups and Artists
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
8
Nail Salons
8
New Car Dealers
18
New Housing Operative Builders
4
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
7
Nursing Care Facilities
12
Office Administrative Services
17
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
9
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
6
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
26
Offices of Dentists
85
Offices of Lawyers
183
Offices of Optometrists
13
Offices of Other Holding Companies
7
Offices of Podiatrists
6
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
14
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Optical Goods Stores
19
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
4
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
8
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
39
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
6
Periodical Publishers
11
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
8
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
3
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
6
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
28
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
2
Political Organizations
12
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
6
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
2
Printing Ink Manufacturing
4
Professional Employer Organizations
2
Professional Organizations
21
Public Relations Agencies
11
Quick Printing
13
Radio Networks
2
Radio Stations
12
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
4
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
7
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
3
Remediation Services
4
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
20
Retail Bakeries
4
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
5
Roofing Contractors
18
Rooming and Boarding Houses
7
Sales Financing
3
Savings Institutions
10
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities Brokerage
29
Security Guards and Patrol Services
9
Septic Tank and Related Services
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
2
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
22
Sign Manufacturing
6
Site Preparation Contractors
11
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
40
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
3
Solid Waste Collection
6
Soybean Processing
2
Sporting Goods Stores
16
Sports and Recreation Instruction
3
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Tax Preparation Services
18
Taxi Service
1
Telecommunications Resellers
1
Telephone Answering Services
2
Television Broadcasting
3
Temporary Help Services
23
Temporary Shelters
10
Testing Laboratories
3
Textile Bag Mills
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
6
Tire Dealers
23
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
2
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Tobacco Stores
4
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
4
Travel Agencies
14
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
35
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
6
Used Merchandise Stores
19
Vending Machine Operators
9
Video Tape and Disc Rental
18
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
16
Voluntary Health Organizations
5
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Weft Knit Fabric Mills
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
35
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
26
Women's Clothing Stores
18
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

The Role of the Business Plan

Writing a business plan is vital in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Business Plan Contests. You should also take advantage of free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Iowa.

Raising Funding for Your Startup

Getting your Des Moines business the capital it needs to succeed requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

Recognizing this challenge, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled How Equity Dilution Works.

For Des Moines entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Iowa Angel Investors and our List of Iowa Venture Capital Firms.

Letting the World Know You Exist

Whether your goal is to attract Des Moines customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Pros and Cons of Advertising is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

The Art of Selling

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Des Moines business, you need to focus on sales.

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.

Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads 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.

What's Next?

As an entrepreneur in Des Moines, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Des Moines and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Des Moines, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Des Moines, Iowa

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

  • Resources for Des Moines, Iowa Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Des Moines entrepreneurs.
  • Iowa Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Iowa.
  • Iowa Small Business Development Center - The Iowa SBDC conducts research, counsels, and trains business people in management, financing, and operating small businesses. They provide comprehensive information services and access to experts in a variety of fields. This is a great resource for Iowa entrepreneurs!

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