Colorado Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Colorado Springs, Colorado

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

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

Before quitting your day job, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.

While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Colorado Springs. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
  • You should read The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

What Type of Business Should You Start?

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Good Business Ideas.

If you still are not sure what type of business to start, peruse the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start an Artificial Flowers & Trees Retail Business guide or our Opening a Retirement Benefits Business guide.

Always keep in mind that starting a business in Colorado Springs has some implications. If Colorado Springs already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Make sure you fully understand Colorado Springs demographics before you lock in on your business idea.

Colorado Springs, Colorado Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
23969
5-9 Employees
7103
10-19 Employees
4995
20-49 Employees
3575
50-99 Employees
1143
100-249 Employees
654
250-499 Employees
147
500-999 Employees
39
1000+ Employees
48
All Colorado Springs Businesses
41673

As a new Colorado Springs entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Colorado Springs 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
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement Arcades
11
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
3
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
8
Apprenticeship Training
5
Architectural Services
60
Armored Car Services
1
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
4
Automobile Driving Schools
9
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
8
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
13
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
75
Automotive Transmission Repair
12
Baked Goods Stores
9
Beauty Salons
143
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
9
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
4
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
105
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Boat Dealers
2
Book Stores
16
Books Printing
1
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Bowling Centers
7
Breweries
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
2
Building Inspection Services
11
Business to Business Electronic Markets
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
10
Cafeterias
14
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
6
Canvas and Related Product Mills
2
Car Washes
21
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
38
Cemeteries and Crematories
5
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
20
Child Day Care Services
122
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
10
Civic and Social Organizations
51
Claims Adjusting
7
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
13
Collection Agencies
10
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Gravure Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
26
Commercial Photography
7
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Computer and Software Stores
20
Computer Facilities Management Services
17
Computer Storage Device Manufacturing
2
Computer Systems Design Services
159
Computer Training
13
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
7
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
4
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
20
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
7
Convenience Stores
19
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
8
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
3
Couriers
17
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
6
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
2
Credit Unions
40
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
138
Dance Companies
3
Dental Laboratories
23
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
16
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
6
Digital Printing
2
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Mail Advertising
6
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
16
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
2
Discount Department Stores
9
Display Advertising
7
Document Preparation Services
12
Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing
1
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
5
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
91
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
50
Educational Support Services
25
Electrical Contractors
135
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
14
Elementary and Secondary Schools
50
Emergency and Other Relief Services
4
Employment Placement Agencies
11
Engineering Services
221
Environmental Consulting Services
15
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
13
Facilities Support Services
17
Family Clothing Stores
42
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
2
Fine Arts Schools
23
Finish Carpentry Contractors
79
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Flight Training
3
Floor Covering Stores
32
Flooring Contractors
40
Florists
27
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
23
Food Service Contractors
47
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
6
Framing Contractors
53
Freight Transportation Arrangement
3
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
1
Full-Service Restaurants
328
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
12
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
6
General Automotive Repair
157
General Freight Trucking, Local
22
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
5
General Rental Centers
10
General Warehousing and Storage
7
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
66
Glass and Glazing Contractors
10
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
6
Grantmaking Foundations
25
Graphic Design Services
45
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
9
Hardware Stores
12
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
2
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
30
Home Centers
5
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
10
Home Health Equipment Rental
7
Homes for the Elderly
29
Household Appliance Stores
18
Human Rights Organizations
7
Industrial Building Construction
2
Industrial Design Services
1
Industrial Launderers
4
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
277
Interior Design Services
25
International Trade Financing
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
7
Internet Service Providers
8
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investment Advice
62
Iron and Steel Forging
1
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Janitorial Services
113
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
3
Jewelry Stores
53
Junior Colleges
7
Land Subdivision
41
Landscape Architectural Services
12
Landscaping Services
146
Language Schools
1
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
18
Limited-Service Restaurants
352
Linen Supply
3
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
4
Locksmiths
8
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
5
Machine Shops
26
Mail-Order Houses
28
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
9
Marketing Consulting Services
70
Marking Device Manufacturing
3
Masonry Contractors
35
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Meat Markets
4
Media Representatives
3
Men's Clothing Stores
14
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Stamping
2
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
13
Mobile Food Services
6
Motion Picture and Video Production
26
Motor Vehicle Towing
11
Motorcycle Dealers
13
Museums
6
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
9
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
8
Natural Gas Distribution
1
New Car Dealers
51
New Housing Operative Builders
30
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
6
Nonresidential Property Managers
36
Office Administrative Services
46
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
13
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
20
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
129
Offices of Chiropractors
104
Offices of Dentists
293
Offices of Optometrists
43
Offices of Other Holding Companies
9
Offices of Podiatrists
10
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
59
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
3
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
3
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
15
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
84
Parking Lots and Garages
16
Passenger Car Rental
23
Payroll Services
9
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
1
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
20
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
28
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
4
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
37
Photography Studios, Portrait
34
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Plate Work Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
8
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
39
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Private Mail Centers
17
Professional Employer Organizations
13
Professional Organizations
18
Public Relations Agencies
5
Quick Printing
11
Radio Stations
15
Real Estate Credit
75
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
11
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
5
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
62
Retail Bakeries
7
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
12
Roofing Contractors
41
Sales Financing
13
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
4
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
8
Securities Brokerage
84
Security Guards and Patrol Services
21
Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing
1
Septic Tank and Related Services
6
Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
8
Shoe Stores
47
Sign Manufacturing
22
Site Preparation Contractors
56
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
94
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
29
Solid Waste Collection
11
Solid Waste Landfill
2
Sporting Goods Stores
60
Sports and Recreation Instruction
29
Sports Teams and Clubs
3
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Storage Battery Manufacturing
2
Tax Preparation Services
46
Taxi Service
1
Telemarketing Bureaus
7
Telephone Answering Services
4
Television Broadcasting
4
Temporary Help Services
60
Temporary Shelters
6
Testing Laboratories
15
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
1
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
4
Tire Dealers
32
Tire Retreading
1
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
15
Tobacco Stores
6
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
1
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tradebinding and Related Work
4
Translation and Interpretation Services
9
Travel Agencies
25
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
47
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
28
Used Merchandise Stores
47
Veterinary Services
65
Video Tape and Disc Rental
35
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
13
Voluntary Health Organizations
7
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
7
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
37
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
45
Women's Clothing Stores
55
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
1
Wood Preservation
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
3

Naming the Company

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

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.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Branding Advice.

On a final note, given that you are planning on starting a business in Colorado Springs, it's very important that you make sure no other Colorado company is using the business name you want to use.

Getting Money to Start a Business

Getting your Colorado Springs business the capital it needs to succeed 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.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.

For Colorado Springs entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, browse our List of Colorado Angel Investors and our List of Colorado Venture Capital Firms.

How to Sell

Being able to sell is essential to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Colorado Springs or are selling to customers throughout Colorado, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.

Writing Great Proposals offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Colorado Springs Entrepreneur Interviews

We're compiling a number of interviews with Colorado Springs entrepreneurs. Enjoy!

Next Steps

You have a dream -- starting a business in Colorado Springs. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

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

We are here to help Colorado Springs businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Colorado Springs entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Colorado Springs, Colorado

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

More Business Startup Guides for Colorado

Starting a Business in Cheyenne Wells
Starting a Business in Commerce City

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Colorado
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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