Washington Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Yakima, Washington

Contemplating starting a business in Yakima, Washington? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Yakima.

Yakima, Washington Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
4827
5-9 Employees
2028
10-19 Employees
1380
20-49 Employees
839
50-99 Employees
330
100-249 Employees
150
250-499 Employees
24
500-999 Employees
6
1000+ Employees
3
All Yakima Businesses
9587

As a new Yakima entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Yakima 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
Air Traffic Control
1
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement Arcades
1
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
3
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
7
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
5
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
26
Automotive Transmission Repair
3
Baked Goods Stores
1
Beauty Salons
23
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
2
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
3
Blood and Organ Banks
2
Boat Building
1
Boat Dealers
2
Book Stores
5
Bowling Centers
3
Business Associations
10
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
2
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
11
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
1
Caterers
3
Cemeteries and Crematories
4
Charter Bus Industry
1
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
7
Child Day Care Services
34
Claims Adjusting
5
Clothing Accessories Stores
2
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
8
Collection Agencies
6
Commercial Lithographic Printing
3
Commercial Screen Printing
3
Community Food Services
1
Computer Systems Design Services
3
Computer Training
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
6
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
4
Convenience Stores
12
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
3
Couriers
5
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
2
Credit Unions
8
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
5
Custom Roll Forming
1
Dental Laboratories
7
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
5
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
3
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
2
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
4
Drafting Services
1
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
25
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
11
Educational Support Services
1
Electric Power Distribution
3
Electrical Contractors
38
Elementary and Secondary Schools
8
Emergency and Other Relief Services
3
Employment Placement Agencies
3
Engineering Services
15
Environmental Consulting Services
2
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
3
Family Clothing Stores
14
Family Planning Centers
4
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
9
Fine Arts Schools
2
Finish Carpentry Contractors
12
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
11
Flooring Contractors
8
Florists
10
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
5
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
2
Food Service Contractors
3
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
1
Framing Contractors
3
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
3
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
4
Full-Service Restaurants
78
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
3
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
2
Furniture Stores
10
General Automotive Repair
34
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
2
General Warehousing and Storage
4
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
12
Glass and Glazing Contractors
4
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
4
Grantmaking Foundations
3
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
6
Hardware Stores
6
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
6
Home Centers
2
Home Health Care Services
7
Homes for the Elderly
22
Household Appliance Stores
6
Industrial Launderers
2
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
54
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
1
Internet Service Providers
2
Investigation Services
2
Janitorial Services
24
Jewelry Stores
12
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
1
Land Subdivision
1
Landscape Architectural Services
1
Landscaping Services
20
Libraries and Archives
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
99
Limousine Service
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
2
Locksmiths
2
Logging
2
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Mail-Order Houses
1
Manifold Business Forms Printing
1
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
8
Marketing Consulting Services
3
Marking Device Manufacturing
1
Masonry Contractors
5
Meat Markets
5
Medical Laboratories
2
Men's Clothing Stores
3
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Miscellaneous Intermediation
2
Mobile Food Services
3
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
5
Motion Picture and Video Production
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
3
Motorcycle Dealers
3
Museums
4
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
2
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
1
Navigational Services to Shipping
1
New Car Dealers
15
New Housing Operative Builders
3
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
4
Nursing Care Facilities
8
Office Administrative Services
5
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
7
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
19
Offices of Chiropractors
16
Offices of Dentists
49
Offices of Lawyers
88
Offices of Optometrists
9
Offices of Other Holding Companies
2
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
10
One-Hour Photofinishing
3
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Optical Goods Stores
6
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
3
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
3
Packing and Crating
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
4
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
26
Parking Lots and Garages
1
Passenger Car Rental
2
Payroll Services
2
Periodical Publishers
1
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
7
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
3
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
9
Photography Studios, Portrait
4
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
5
Private Mail Centers
1
Professional Organizations
2
Quick Printing
6
Racetracks
1
Radio Stations
8
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
1
Real Estate Credit
8
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Remediation Services
1
Residential Property Managers
14
Residential Remodelers
30
Retail Bakeries
1
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Roofing Contractors
12
Sales Financing
3
Sawmills
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
12
Security Guards and Patrol Services
2
Septic Tank and Related Services
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
4
Shoe Stores
12
Sign Manufacturing
11
Site Preparation Contractors
21
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
34
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
1
Solid Waste Collection
1
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
11
Sports and Recreation Instruction
3
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Support Activities for Forestry
1
Tax Preparation Services
9
Taxi Service
2
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Answering Services
1
Television Broadcasting
7
Temporary Help Services
7
Temporary Shelters
2
Testing Laboratories
5
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
2
Tire Dealers
15
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
4
Tobacco Stores
3
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
1
Translation and Interpretation Services
4
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
31
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
8
Used Merchandise Stores
12
Vending Machine Operators
2
Veterinary Services
15
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
14
Voluntary Health Organizations
3
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
6
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
13
Wineries
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
6
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

As you drive around Yakima, you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?

Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as How to Franchise a Business. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.

Sample franchise opportunities include Tilden Car Care Centers and CarX Muffler & Brake. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Wedding Franchises and Food and Drink Franchises.

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

Forming a Company in Yakima, Washington

It's essential that you form your business as a legal structure. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.

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

Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Washington, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Washington. In fact, you can 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. To learn the fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as How to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Yakima, Washington, our information on Incorporating in Washington may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Washington.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

A business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. You can also get face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Washington.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Getting your Yakima business the capital it needs to succeed 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 Business Credit Evaluation.

For Yakima entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Washington Angel Investors and our List of Washington Venture Capital Firms.

Promoting Your New Venture

To rise above the crowd in Yakima and build your business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your doing well.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Making the Most of Trade Shows is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset

Successful business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.

As an entrepreneur who lives in Yakima, Washington, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Washington universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Yakima entrepreneurs.

Now It's Up To You

You have a dream -- starting a business in Yakima. 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.

We are here to help Yakima businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Yakima, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Yakima, Washington

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

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