Need help starting a business in Fort Collins, Colorado? We've got the information you need to open a business in Fort Collins.
Choosing a business that is right for you is very important. To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Free Business Ideas.
Don't forget that you are starting a business in Fort Collins. Think about what needs are currently being underserved in Fort Collins. Make sure you fully understand Fort Collins demographics before you lock in on your business idea.
Fort Collins has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fort Collins demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fort Collins.
As a new Fort Collins entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fort Collins 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
|
11 |
|
Amusement Arcades
|
2 |
|
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
|
1 |
|
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
|
4 |
|
Architectural Services
|
26 |
|
Armored Car Services
|
1 |
|
Art Dealers
|
3 |
|
Automobile Driving Schools
|
3 |
|
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
|
1 |
|
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
|
6 |
|
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
|
16 |
|
Automotive Transmission Repair
|
5 |
|
Baked Goods Stores
|
1 |
|
Barber Shops
|
2 |
|
Beauty Salons
|
61 |
|
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
|
1 |
|
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
|
40 |
|
Boat Dealers
|
2 |
|
Book Publishers
|
5 |
|
Book Stores
|
8 |
|
Bowling Centers
|
1 |
|
Breweries
|
3 |
|
Building Inspection Services
|
2 |
|
Business Associations
|
10 |
|
Cable and Other Program Distribution
|
4 |
|
Cafeterias
|
8 |
|
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
|
4 |
|
Canvas and Related Product Mills
|
2 |
|
Car Washes
|
11 |
|
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
|
14 |
|
Caterers
|
8 |
|
Cemeteries and Crematories
|
2 |
|
Charter Bus Industry
|
3 |
|
Cheese Manufacturing
|
2 |
|
Child and Youth Services
|
9 |
|
Child Day Care Services
|
64 |
|
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
|
7 |
|
Civic and Social Organizations
|
17 |
|
Claims Adjusting
|
3 |
|
Clothing Accessories Stores
|
3 |
|
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
|
4 |
|
Collection Agencies
|
5 |
|
Commercial Bakeries
|
2 |
|
Commercial Flexographic Printing
|
1 |
|
Commercial Lithographic Printing
|
7 |
|
Commercial Photography
|
1 |
|
Commercial Screen Printing
|
8 |
|
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
|
1 |
|
Community Food Services
|
2 |
|
Computer and Software Stores
|
7 |
|
Computer Facilities Management Services
|
6 |
|
Computer Systems Design Services
|
55 |
|
Computer Training
|
1 |
|
Confectionery and Nut Stores
|
3 |
|
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
|
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
|
1 |
|
Consumer Lending
|
7 |
|
Convenience Stores
|
3 |
|
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
|
1 |
|
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
|
1 |
|
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
|
1 |
|
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
|
2 |
|
Couriers
|
5 |
|
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
|
3 |
|
Credit Bureaus
|
1 |
|
Credit Unions
|
4 |
|
Custom Computer Programming Services
|
66 |
|
Dance Companies
|
1 |
|
Dental Laboratories
|
3 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
|
4 |
|
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
|
6 |
|
Digital Printing
|
3 |
|
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
|
3 |
|
Direct Mail Advertising
|
4 |
|
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
|
7 |
|
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
|
3 |
|
Discount Department Stores
|
4 |
|
Display Advertising
|
2 |
|
Document Preparation Services
|
5 |
|
Drafting Services
|
1 |
|
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
|
26 |
|
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
|
1 |
|
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
|
26 |
|
Educational Support Services
|
5 |
|
Electric Power Distribution
|
3 |
|
Electrical Contractors
|
53 |
|
Electronic Auctions
|
1 |
|
Electronic Shopping
|
17 |
|
Elementary and Secondary Schools
|
8 |
|
Emergency and Other Relief Services
|
2 |
|
Employment Placement Agencies
|
9 |
|
Engineering Services
|
97 |
|
Environmental Consulting Services
|
26 |
|
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
|
2 |
|
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
|
2 |
|
Facilities Support Services
|
2 |
|
Family Clothing Stores
|
15 |
|
Family Planning Centers
|
5 |
|
Farm Management Services
|
1 |
|
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
|
5 |
|
Fiber Optic Cable Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Fine Arts Schools
|
12 |
|
Finfish Fishing
|
1 |
|
Finish Carpentry Contractors
|
38 |
|
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
|
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
|
28 |
|
Flight Training
|
2 |
|
Floor Covering Stores
|
11 |
|
Flooring Contractors
|
15 |
|
Florists
|
11 |
|
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
|
7 |
|
Food Service Contractors
|
11 |
|
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
|
2 |
|
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
|
1 |
|
Framing Contractors
|
29 |
|
Freight Transportation Arrangement
|
5 |
|
Full-Service Restaurants
|
127 |
|
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
|
5 |
|
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
|
Furniture Stores
|
25 |
|
General Automotive Repair
|
53 |
|
General Freight Trucking, Local
|
6 |
|
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
|
1 |
|
General Rental Centers
|
5 |
|
General Warehousing and Storage
|
5 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
|
17 |
|
Glass and Glazing Contractors
|
5 |
|
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
|
6 |
|
Grantmaking Foundations
|
9 |
|
Graphic Design Services
|
21 |
|
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
|
5 |
|
Hardware Stores
|
6 |
|
Historical Sites
|
2 |
|
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
|
11 |
|
Home Centers
|
1 |
|
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
|
1 |
|
Home Health Care Services
|
4 |
|
Home Health Equipment Rental
|
2 |
|
Homes for the Elderly
|
7 |
|
Household Appliance Stores
|
6 |
|
Human Rights Organizations
|
2 |
|
Industrial Design Services
|
1 |
|
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
|
109 |
|
Interior Design Services
|
13 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
|
4 |
|
Internet Service Providers
|
3 |
|
Investigation Services
|
3 |
|
Investment Advice
|
19 |
|
Janitorial Services
|
40 |
|
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Jewelry Stores
|
19 |
|
Junior Colleges
|
2 |
|
Kidney Dialysis Centers
|
2 |
|
Land Subdivision
|
9 |
|
Landscape Architectural Services
|
15 |
|
Landscaping Services
|
89 |
|
Language Schools
|
2 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
|
13 |
|
Limited-Service Restaurants
|
154 |
|
Limousine Service
|
2 |
|
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
|
3 |
|
Locksmiths
|
2 |
|
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
|
2 |
|
Machine Shops
|
11 |
|
Mail-Order Houses
|
3 |
|
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
|
3 |
|
Marinas
|
1 |
|
Marketing Consulting Services
|
22 |
|
Masonry Contractors
|
18 |
|
Materials Recovery Facilities
|
2 |
|
Meat Markets
|
1 |
|
Media Representatives
|
1 |
|
Medical Laboratories
|
2 |
|
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Men's Clothing Stores
|
3 |
|
Miscellaneous Intermediation
|
6 |
|
Mobile Food Services
|
4 |
|
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
|
32 |
|
Motion Picture and Video Production
|
3 |
|
Motor Vehicle Towing
|
2 |
|
Motorcycle Dealers
|
8 |
|
Museums
|
2 |
|
Musical Groups and Artists
|
3 |
|
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
|
5 |
|
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Nail Salons
|
3 |
|
New Car Dealers
|
11 |
|
New Housing Operative Builders
|
15 |
|
Newspaper Publishers
|
4 |
|
Nonresidential Property Managers
|
10 |
|
Nursing Care Facilities
|
10 |
|
Office Administrative Services
|
9 |
|
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
|
6 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
|
6 |
|
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
|
1 |
|
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
|
64 |
|
Offices of Chiropractors
|
52 |
|
Offices of Dentists
|
106 |
|
Offices of Lawyers
|
104 |
|
Offices of Optometrists
|
20 |
|
Offices of Other Holding Companies
|
2 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists
|
8 |
|
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
|
20 |
|
One-Hour Photofinishing
|
1 |
|
Optical Goods Stores
|
7 |
|
Packaging and Labeling Services
|
1 |
|
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Packing and Crating
|
1 |
|
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
|
6 |
|
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
|
40 |
|
Passenger Car Leasing
|
1 |
|
Passenger Car Rental
|
7 |
|
Payroll Services
|
5 |
|
Periodical Publishers
|
11 |
|
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
|
9 |
|
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
|
14 |
|
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
|
2 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
|
16 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait
|
18 |
|
Political Organizations
|
1 |
|
Portfolio Management
|
8 |
|
Poultry Processing
|
1 |
|
Prepress Services
|
1 |
|
Private Mail Centers
|
9 |
|
Professional Employer Organizations
|
2 |
|
Professional Organizations
|
8 |
|
Public Relations Agencies
|
2 |
|
Quick Printing
|
7 |
|
Racetracks
|
1 |
|
Radio Stations
|
10 |
|
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
|
2 |
|
Real Estate Credit
|
25 |
|
Real Estate Investment Trusts
|
1 |
|
Recreational Goods Rental
|
1 |
|
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
|
3 |
|
Remediation Services
|
3 |
|
Repossession Services
|
1 |
|
Residential Property Managers
|
42 |
|
Residential Remodelers
|
47 |
|
Retail Bakeries
|
2 |
|
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
|
4 |
|
Roofing Contractors
|
17 |
|
Rooming and Boarding Houses
|
9 |
|
Sales Financing
|
2 |
|
Savings Institutions
|
10 |
|
Sawmills
|
1 |
|
Securities Brokerage
|
36 |
|
Security Guards and Patrol Services
|
5 |
|
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
|
2 |
|
Septic Tank and Related Services
|
1 |
|
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Shoe Stores
|
17 |
|
Siding Contractors
|
7 |
|
Sign Manufacturing
|
11 |
|
Site Preparation Contractors
|
14 |
|
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
|
50 |
|
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Software Publishers
|
14 |
|
Solid Waste Collection
|
5 |
|
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
|
1 |
|
Sound Recording Studios
|
1 |
|
Special Needs Transportation
|
1 |
|
Sporting Goods Stores
|
43 |
|
Sports and Recreation Instruction
|
14 |
|
Sports Teams and Clubs
|
2 |
|
Support Activities for Forestry
|
1 |
|
Surface Active Agent Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Tax Preparation Services
|
18 |
|
Telecommunications Resellers
|
4 |
|
Telemarketing Bureaus
|
4 |
|
Telephone Answering Services
|
2 |
|
Temporary Help Services
|
30 |
|
Temporary Shelters
|
2 |
|
Testing Laboratories
|
8 |
|
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
|
4 |
|
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
|
4 |
|
Tire Dealers
|
11 |
|
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
|
5 |
|
Tobacco Stores
|
4 |
|
Tortilla Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Tour Operators
|
7 |
|
Travel Agencies
|
17 |
|
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Truss Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Used Car Dealers
|
14 |
|
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
|
7 |
|
Used Merchandise Stores
|
15 |
|
Vending Machine Operators
|
2 |
|
Veterinary Services
|
46 |
|
Video Tape and Disc Rental
|
7 |
|
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
|
8 |
|
Voluntary Health Organizations
|
6 |
|
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
|
2 |
|
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
|
1 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
|
28 |
|
Window Treatment Stores
|
3 |
|
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
|
9 |
|
Women's Clothing Stores
|
21 |
|
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
|
1 |
|
Wood Preservation
|
1 |
|
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
|
5 |
Examine a list of Fort Collins businesses and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.
Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Scams. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Fort Collins, it's imperative that you check now that no other Colorado company is using the business name you want to use.
To rise above the crowd in Fort Collins and accelerate your business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
The best business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Fort Collins, Colorado, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Colorado universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Fort Collins entrepreneurs.
Here, we'll keep a running list of interviews we've had with Fort Collins entrepreneurs.
Most new Fort Collins 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.
We are here to help Fort Collins businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Fort Collins, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fort Collins.
