Washington Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Olympia, Washington

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

Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?

Running your own business is demanding, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you sure you are ready to take on this challenge?

Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:

  • Talk to other entrepreneurs in Olympia. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • We recommend reading Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
  • Seek the advice of somebody who knows you well. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

Olympia, Washington Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
6990
5-9 Employees
2324
10-19 Employees
1740
20-49 Employees
993
50-99 Employees
261
100-249 Employees
144
250-499 Employees
21
500-999 Employees
6
1000+ Employees
3
All Olympia Businesses
12482

As a new Olympia entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Olympia 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
7
Air Traffic Control
1
Amusement Arcades
2
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
2
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
8
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
5
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
19
Automotive Transmission Repair
4
Baked Goods Stores
2
Barber Shops
2
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
1
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
7
Blood and Organ Banks
1
Boat Building
1
Boat Dealers
9
Book Publishers
2
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
3
Building Inspection Services
4
Business Associations
27
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
7
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
2
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
5
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
2
Caterers
3
Cemeteries and Crematories
2
Child and Youth Services
3
Child Day Care Services
46
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
3
Claims Adjusting
2
Clothing Accessories Stores
2
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
3
Collection Agencies
4
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
5
Commercial Screen Printing
1
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Community Food Services
3
Computer and Software Stores
6
Computer Facilities Management Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
18
Computer Training
3
Confectionery and Nut Stores
3
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
6
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
7
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
6
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
3
Credit Unions
21
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
25
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
1
Dental Laboratories
5
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
3
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
1
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
2
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
4
Document Preparation Services
11
Drafting Services
7
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
13
Educational Support Services
3
Electric Power Distribution
2
Electrical Contractors
46
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
8
Elementary and Secondary Schools
8
Environmental Consulting Services
13
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
3
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
4
Family Clothing Stores
10
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fine Arts Schools
6
Finish Carpentry Contractors
18
Fish and Seafood Markets
4
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
15
Flight Training
1
Floor Covering Stores
3
Flooring Contractors
25
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
8
Food Service Contractors
6
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
1
Framing Contractors
18
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
2
Full-Service Restaurants
111
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
4
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
2
Furniture Stores
10
General Automotive Repair
45
General Freight Trucking, Local
9
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Warehousing and Storage
5
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
17
Glass and Glazing Contractors
6
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
3
Grantmaking Foundations
5
Graphic Design Services
10
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
3
Hardware Stores
5
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
1
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
10
Home Centers
5
Home Health Care Services
5
Home Health Equipment Rental
2
Homes for the Elderly
17
Household Appliance Stores
6
Human Rights Organizations
1
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
4
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
64
Interior Design Services
3
Internet Service Providers
1
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
6
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Janitorial Services
47
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Land Subdivision
8
Landscape Architectural Services
2
Landscaping Services
61
Language Schools
2
Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
13
Limited-Service Restaurants
106
Limousine Service
2
Linen Supply
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
4
Locksmiths
3
Logging
15
Machine Shops
6
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
4
Marinas
8
Marketing Consulting Services
3
Masonry Contractors
11
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Meat Markets
1
Meat Processed from Carcasses
1
Men's Clothing Stores
2
Metal Can Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
2
Mobile Food Services
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
13
Motion Picture and Video Production
4
Motor Vehicle Towing
5
Museums
2
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
7
Nail Salons
6
Navigational Services to Shipping
1
New Car Dealers
14
New Housing Operative Builders
16
Newspaper Publishers
2
Nonresidential Property Managers
4
Nursing Care Facilities
6
Office Administrative Services
12
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
2
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
7
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
22
Offices of Dentists
90
Offices of Lawyers
108
Offices of Optometrists
10
Offices of Podiatrists
3
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
13
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
2
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
6
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
27
Parking Lots and Garages
1
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Payroll Services
1
Periodical Publishers
3
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
2
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
4
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
11
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
11
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
5
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
3
Private Mail Centers
7
Professional Organizations
17
Quick Printing
1
Radio Stations
4
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
16
Real Estate Investment Trusts
4
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
15
Residential Remodelers
56
Retail Bakeries
3
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Roofing Contractors
15
Savings Institutions
14
Seafood Canning
1
Securities Brokerage
20
Septic Tank and Related Services
5
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
2
Shellfish Fishing
3
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
12
Sign Manufacturing
6
Site Preparation Contractors
31
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
54
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
2
Solid Waste Collection
2
Sporting Goods Stores
19
Sports and Recreation Instruction
13
Steel Investment Foundries
1
Support Activities for Forestry
10
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
7
Telecommunications Resellers
2
Television Broadcasting
1
Temporary Help Services
11
Temporary Shelters
1
Testing Laboratories
2
Textile Bag Mills
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
4
Tire Dealers
7
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
10
Tobacco Stores
2
Tour Operators
2
Travel Agencies
5
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
2
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
5
Used Merchandise Stores
12
Vending Machine Operators
2
Veterinary Services
19
Video Tape and Disc Rental
8
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
11
Voluntary Health Organizations
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
6
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
7
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
14
Women's Clothing Stores
16
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Olympia, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. But is franchising the right option for you?

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as Before Buying a Franchise. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Off the Grill Franchising and The Counter. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Food and Drink Franchises and Insurance Franchises.

Note on Olympia Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Olympia.

The Role of the Business Plan

A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Indeed, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read The Art of the Executive Summary. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Washington.

Startup Financing Basics

Raising money to fund your new Olympia business is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.

For Olympia entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, we have assembled a List of Washington Angel Investors and our List of Washington Venture Capital Firms.

Bring in Revenues

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

Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Sales Training is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Some Interesting Olympia Entrepreneurs

Enjoy these interviews we've had with Olympia entrepreneurs.

Moving Forward

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

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Olympia and throughout the United States . 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 Olympia, Washington

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

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Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms

Franchise Opportunities

Contributors

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