Rural Jump-Start Program (OEDIT)
The Rural Jump-Start Program is a collaborative effort by the state, local governments, Institutes of Higher Education (IHE), and economic development organizations (EDO) to incentivize new businesses to start in or move to rural, economically distressed counties in Colorado, which are referred to as Rural Jump-Start zones, and hire new employees.
Rural Jump-Start began in 2016 as a tax incentive program, and in 2021 a grant program was created, for businesses located in a Rural Jump-Start zone. To be eligible, businesses cannot be operating in the State of Colorado at the time of application and cannot compete with similar businesses in the county where they are locating or an adjacent economically distressed county. If you are a business interested in participating in this program, please review all program qualifications, discussed in greater detail under the Business Eligibility section of the website before applying.
Tax benefits include relief from:
- State income tax for the new business;
- State sales and use tax for the new business;
- County personal property tax for the new business;
- Municipal personal property tax for the new business (in participating municipalities); and
- State income tax for qualified New Hires.
STARTING A BUSINESS IN MANCOS
The Town of Mancos wants to partner with you to help your business be successful. Please speak with the Community & Economic Development Director as you are looking to start a new business or are thinking about expanding.
As you start to plan your business opening, make sure you follow these steps to get started:
As you start to plan your business opening, make sure you follow these steps to get started:
1. Write a Business Plan
Most business owners have a plan for their business, but it can be helpful to write a formal business plan. Business plans can also be used when applying for funding in the form of loans, bank accounts, lines of credits, grants, and other sources. The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Fort Lewis College (Durango) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) both have resources on writing a business plan.
Conduct Market Research
Before starting a business, it is important to research your industry. Ask questions like:
Conduct Market Research
Before starting a business, it is important to research your industry. Ask questions like:
- What industry is my business a part of? How is that industry doing in the current business climate?
- Who are my customers and how will I reach them?
- What types of challenges do I think my business will face?
Conducting market research and writing a business plan can be difficult. The SBDC at Fort Lewis College (Durango) and Region 9 are both great resources to help you get started and sometimes offer classes and consultation appointments to assist business owners. You can also learn more about the demographics and economics of the local, regional, and state area by visiting some of the links below:
- Economic Snapshot 2024 from Region 9
- Economic Dashboards from Region 9
- Economic Indicator Reports from REDI@CSU
- Montezuma Roadmaps Resiliency Plan
Choose a Business Name
Choosing a name is, arguably, one of the most important steps in opening your business. Whether you already have a name picked out, or are still searching, ask yourself:
- How does my business name help (or hinder) customers find my business?
- Where will my business fall in a list of local businesses?
- Does the name need to include the location of the business?
Once you've decided on a business name, it's important to make sure the name is unique. You can check the availability of a business name at the Colorado Secretary of State website.
Choose a Business Structure
The most common business structures are a sole-proprietorship, partnerships, limited liability companies, corporations, and cooperatives. Choosing the right structure for your business is important. Remember that you can change the structure as your business develops or changes.
To learn more about the types of business structures, visit the Small Business Administration(SBA) website.
2. Choose a Business Location
Choosing a location for your business can be difficult. Before choosing a location, you will need to know the following information regarding a potential property and business idea:
- Is your property zoned for business?
- Is your business allowed in this zone?
- Will your business need a site plan or conditional use permit?
- What are the signage requirements?
- If you are planning to remodel or build on your potential property you will also need to know:
- What are the building requirements? Will a permit be required?
- Are there any state highway access permits needed?
Once you find the perfect property there is much to consider before signing the lease or going under contract. Among your other research, be sure to contact the Town of Mancos Community & Economic Development Department to determine if your type of business is allowed at this location, if there are parking requirements and if there are any required public improvements.
Helpful Links
Helpful Links
1. Decide what type of location is best for your type of business. Read this article for some insight on choosing between home-based, retail, mobile, commercial or industrial.
2. Start Searching for available space. You may check the zoning of the proposed space here:
The Town of Mancos Municipal Code defines what types of land use is allowed for a given area. Please call the Community & Economic Development Department at (970)394-4780 to ensure that your location and business meets the local zoning codes.
3. Register Your Business
Registering your business with the proper local, state, and federal entities is an important step in opening your business.
The Town of Mancos requires a Business License if your commercial operation has a physical location within Town limits. Certain businesses are required to be licensed through the State of Colorado. To check if your business type has
license requirements visit the Department of Regulatory Agencies website.
Secure a Business License through the Town of Mancos.
The Town of Mancos requires a Business License if your commercial operation has a physical location within Town limits. Certain businesses are required to be licensed through the State of Colorado. To check if your business type has
license requirements visit the Department of Regulatory Agencies website.
Secure a Business License through the Town of Mancos.
Liquor and Marijuana Business Licenses
Your business or special event may require a state issued license to sell alcohol or marijuana products. The Town of Mancos follows the State of Colorado Department of Revenue regulatory processes for both these types of business licenses including receiving the application paperwork and pubic hearing.
The Town is not responsible for the timeliness of final licensing approval from the State, so planning ahead for opening a business or having a special event is necessary. Information on fees can found on the Town's fee schedule. Currently, the Town charges application fees identical to the fees charged by the State.
If you have any questions about the Town fees or what type of license you need, or timelines to complete the process, please contact the Town Clerk and Treasure, Jamie Higgins, at (970) 533-7725.
Your business or special event may require a state issued license to sell alcohol or marijuana products. The Town of Mancos follows the State of Colorado Department of Revenue regulatory processes for both these types of business licenses including receiving the application paperwork and pubic hearing.
The Town is not responsible for the timeliness of final licensing approval from the State, so planning ahead for opening a business or having a special event is necessary. Information on fees can found on the Town's fee schedule. Currently, the Town charges application fees identical to the fees charged by the State.
If you have any questions about the Town fees or what type of license you need, or timelines to complete the process, please contact the Town Clerk and Treasure, Jamie Higgins, at (970) 533-7725.
Sales Tax
Sales of services are generally not subject to Colorado sales tax. To learn more about the State of Colorado sales tax regulations visit the Colorado Department of Revenue website and review their sales tax guide.
Secure a Colorado Sales Tax License, if required
Secure a Colorado Sales Tax License, if required
For any questions on sale tax, please contact the Town Clerk and Treasure, Jamie Higgins, at (970) 533-7725.
Register with the State of Colorado and the Federal Government
Registering your business with the federal and state governments is an important step in opening your business.
Registering your business with the federal and state governments is an important step in opening your business.
- To register your business with the State, visit the Colorado Secretary of State website. The State system MyBizColorado is also an easy way to register and manage a business.
- To register your business with the Federal Government, visit the IRS website.
4. Apply for Insurance and Permits
Business Insurance
Small business owners will want to consider getting business insurance to protect their investment and their customers. There are several local agencies that offer small business insurance. You can also read more about insurance and find resources at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website.
Permits
If you are constructing a new building, or heavily remodeling an existing one you will need to get a building permit from the Town of Mancos. You may need a Special Use Permit to operate the businesses depending on the current zoning for the property, or it may not be an allowable use. If you are installing a sign, you will also need to complete a sign application. For any questions about landuse and building permits, please contact the Community & Economic Development Department at (970) 394-4780.
Small business owners will want to consider getting business insurance to protect their investment and their customers. There are several local agencies that offer small business insurance. You can also read more about insurance and find resources at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies website.
Permits
If you are constructing a new building, or heavily remodeling an existing one you will need to get a building permit from the Town of Mancos. You may need a Special Use Permit to operate the businesses depending on the current zoning for the property, or it may not be an allowable use. If you are installing a sign, you will also need to complete a sign application. For any questions about landuse and building permits, please contact the Community & Economic Development Department at (970) 394-4780.
5. Connect with Local Resources
Connect with the Town of Mancos Community & Economic Development Department at (970)394-4780 for specific questions about starting a business in Mancos.
- Review the incentive programs in the Town of Mancos on this page to learn more.
- Review the local, State and Federal Resources on this page to learn more.
6. Fund Your Businesses
For tips on how to fund your business at the Small Business Administration (SBA) website.
Here are some regional places to start when looking for funding:
Here are some regional places to start when looking for funding:
- Get a loan or line of credit from a bank.
- Talk to Region 9 Economic Development District about loans and other funding.
- Look into business grants through the Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) and other sources.
- Start a crowd-funding campaign or learn about bootstrapping.
7. Register for Tax Credits
While you are applying for licenses and registering your business, make sure to learn about and register your business for potential tax credits as well.
Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
Any business located in the Town of Mancos, or the entirety of Montezuma County, can qualify for Enhanced Enterprise Zone Tax Credits. The Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program is an initiative from the State of Colorado to encourage development in economically distressed areas of the state. Eligible businesses can earn tax credits for job training costs, creating new employment opportunities, purchasing equipment, rehabilitating vacant commercial properties, and many
others! Business must pre-certify before earning tax credits. You can learn more about EZ Tax Credits in Mancos by reaching out to Region 9 Economic Development District or directly from the State of Colorado. Review the State Guidebook on EZ Tax Credits.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits
If your business is in a registered historical building in the Town of Mancos, any remodeling or updating to the internal infrastructure could be eligible for state historic tax credits. You can learn more about available tax credits and grants by visiting the History Colorado website.
Enterprise Zone Tax Credits
Any business located in the Town of Mancos, or the entirety of Montezuma County, can qualify for Enhanced Enterprise Zone Tax Credits. The Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program is an initiative from the State of Colorado to encourage development in economically distressed areas of the state. Eligible businesses can earn tax credits for job training costs, creating new employment opportunities, purchasing equipment, rehabilitating vacant commercial properties, and many
others! Business must pre-certify before earning tax credits. You can learn more about EZ Tax Credits in Mancos by reaching out to Region 9 Economic Development District or directly from the State of Colorado. Review the State Guidebook on EZ Tax Credits.
Historic Preservation Tax Credits
If your business is in a registered historical building in the Town of Mancos, any remodeling or updating to the internal infrastructure could be eligible for state historic tax credits. You can learn more about available tax credits and grants by visiting the History Colorado website.
Commercial Real Estate
The Town of Mancos partners closely with Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado. Region 9 has generously provided a Commercial Property search engine to support all local communities and parties interested in commercial real estate. If you have any questions about zoning and development opportunities in the Town of Mancos, please contact the Community & Economic Development Director.