Montana Business Startup Guides
Open a Business in Boulder, Montana
Need help starting a business in Boulder, Montana? We've got the information you need to open a business in Boulder.
Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?
An entrepreneurial life is difficult, much harder than working as an employee. Are you positive you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?
With so much at stake when you start a business, we strongly recommend you do the following before you proceed:
- Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Boulder. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
- Take a look at Starting a Company. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
- Talk it over with a close friend or partner. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.
Boulder, Montana Demographic Information
Boulder has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Boulder demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Boulder.
Businesses
As a new Boulder entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Boulder 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.
Businesses
Is Franchising a Better Option?
As you drive around Boulder, it's apparent that franchising has become a very popular way to start a business. Is it perhaps smarter to franchise a business instead of doing it from scratch.
We advise the entrepreneurs we work with to investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising My Business. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.
Sample franchise opportunities include Sbarro Inc. and The Learning Experience. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Rental Franchises and Dating Service Franchises.
Note on Boulder Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Boulder, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.
Forming a Company in Boulder, Montana
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
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 Montana, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Montana. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate wherever you want. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There are many nuances to forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Company Formation. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Boulder, Montana, our web page covering Incorporating in Montana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Montana.
Do You Need a Business Plan?
A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, 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.
If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading The Art of the Executive Summary. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Montana.
Startup Financing Basics
Raising money to fund your new Boulder business is not an easy task. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Take advantage of our many articles on securing funding, such as Getting a Small Business Loan.
For Boulder entrepreneurs who need startup capital, check out our List of Montana Angel Investors and our List of Montana Venture Capital Firms.
Learning More About Entrepreneurship
Successful business owners recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Boulder, Montana, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Montana universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any Boulder networking organizations.
Moving Forward
As an entrepreneur in Boulder, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Boulder businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Boulder, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Boulder, Montana
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Boulder.
- Resources for Boulder, Montana Entrepreneurs - Browse a variety of resources we've collected to assist Boulder entrepreneurs.
- Montana Entrepreneurial Resources - We've gathered state-level entrepreneurial resources to help new entrepreneurs who are based in Montana.
- Montana Small Business Development Center - The Montana Small Business Development Centers focus on the creation, retention and expansion of Montana small businesses.
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