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Front Range ranks best within state, Eastern Plains worst
"Starting my business here was a smooth process and a rewarding choice. "
- Wedding planner, Colorado Springs
Press Release (Thumbtack.com) Thumbtack.com, in partnership with the Kauffman Foundation, has released new data showing that Colorado Springs was among the nation's best cities for small businesses, including earning a #1 ranking for the friendliness of its environmental regulations.
There are a lot of “business climate rankings”, but there aren’t any that draw upon considerable data from small business owners themselves. The Thumbtack.com Small Business Survey is the only survey to draw data from an extensive, nationwide universe of job creators and entrepreneurs themselves in order to investigate the best places in the country to do business.
“After a two-month survey of over 6,000 small business owners nationwide, Colorado Springs comes out on top as one of the best cities nationwide to start a business,” said Sander Daniels, co-founder of Thumbtack.com. “For those considering taking the leap into small business ownership, Colorado Springs is hard to beat.”
Some of the key findings for Colorado Springs - and Colorado generally - include:
* Colorado Springs earned A+'s for the ease of starting a business and for its overall regulatory regime.
* South Central Colorado's small businesses are the state's healthiest.
* Here's how Colorado's regions ranked, from healthiest to least healthy small businesses: 1. South Central Colorado, 2. Denver Metro, 3. Front Range, 4. Western Colorado, and 5. Eastern Plains.
* Surprisingly, women-owned small businesses in Colorado felt much more comfortable economically than did their male counterparts. Female entrepreneurs were 14% more likely than male entrepreneurs to rate their company's current financial situation as "good" or "very good".
* Small businesses run by conservatives seem to be doing significantly better than small businesses run by liberals. Conservative entrepreneurs in Colorado were 39% more likely than the state's liberal entrepreneurs to rate their business's financial situation as "good" or "very good".
The full survey results can be seen here and include full sets of rankings, dozens of easily searchable quotes from Colorado Springs small businesses, regional comparisons within states, and Census data comparing Colorado Springs's key demographics against those of other cities.
"California drove me out - it made doing business impossible! Moving to Colorado Springs has felt like a God-sent miracle."
- Tile contractor, Colorado Springs
Survey methodology
Thumbtack.com surveyed 6,022 small businesses across the United States. The survey asked questions about the friendliness of states towards small business and about small business finances, such as:
* "In general, how would you rate your state's support of small business owners?"
* "Would you discourage or encourage someone from starting a new business in your state?" and
* "How would you rate your company's financial situation today?"
Thumbtack.com and Kauffman ranked states and cities against one another along 15 metrics. For more information on this survey and on Thumtack.com visit: Thumbtack.com
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It's been 10 years since Nathan and Sharon Thompson opened what is now Carson Bluffs Self Storage, just off Exit 128 in Fountain. Since then they've added Uhaul, a welding supply 
company and a beverage company. It's been a rocky road, but they're still going strong and looking forward to even more growth ahead.
Nathan Thompson entered into a purchase agreement for the 15-acre property on Charter Oak Ranch Rd. in June of 2002. By March of 2003 all storage units had been installed and Carson Bluffs Self Storage was open for business. The U-haul dealership was opened as well. A business license application was filed to start-up Welder's Warehouse at the same property, but the application was denied by City Planning. Nathan entered into an agreement to purchase Mountain Beverage in June 2003, and hired a contractor to make significant improvements to the east warehouse. Mountain Beverage was moved from COS to Fountain into it's new home in September of 2003. At that time, a new application for Welder's Warehouse was filed under the umbrella of Mountain Beverage, and this time the app. was approved, and so Mountain Beverage and Welder's Warehouse began operations at the Fountain property at that time.
In 2009, due to significant downturn in the restaurant industry locally, a competitor of Mountain Beverage: Pepsi sold off 50 pieces of transportation equipment, laid-off 50 people, and closed it's Pueblo distribution facility. Mountain Beverage also felt the pain, and began
to liquidate surplus unneeded equipment, and shed two employees. The new leaner Mountain Beverage was better able to withstand the prolonged downturn, and in fact celebrated it's best year ever in 2011. The storage facility: Carson Bluffs Self Storage enjoys fully occupied tenancy as well. Also, Welder's Warehouse had it's best year ever last year, helped in part by the bankruptcy of a local competitor.
Recently, Nathan entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of another competitor, and feels the new acquisition will further enhance the overall business by a factor of 25%. So the Thompson's are celebrating their 10th year in Fountain Colorado and look forward to serving clients and customers in the years ahead.
Carson Bluffs Self Storage/Uhaul, Mountain Beverage and Welder's Warehouse are located at 10055 Charter Oak Ranch Rd, (just west of I25 off Exit 128 in Fountain)
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Board members, volunteers and enthusiasts met once again at Cokes Diner in Fountain Thursday evening to firm up plans for the Annual Thunder in the Valley Car Show, Cruise and BBQ. 
The two day event takes place July 13 and 14th in Fountain, Colorado. On Friday, July 13th, the festivities will start at 7pm with a cruise (show and shine starts at 5:30). Participation in the cruise is free. The route will run from Main Street in Fountain, south on Old Pueblo Rd, over the highway at mile marker 122 to Pikes Peak International Raceway, where everyone will take a lap around the track before heading back. After the cruise, enjoy a BBQ at Cokes Diner for just $5/meal and if you pre-register for the Car Show or sign up during the Cruise, you'll get two meals free. Proceeds from Thunder in the Valley benefit Dollars for Scholars.
The Car Show takes place Saturday from 8am to 4pm at Metcalfe Park, on Ohio Ave in Fountain. Admission is free. There will also be live music, food vendors, demonstrations, activities and of course, the awards presentations.
For more information or to download a registration form, visit the Event Website, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Lori Brazil at 719-447-8637
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Tax Man To You (TMTY) of Fountain, Colorado, recently announced that they have added bookkeeping and payroll to their services list. Until now, TMTY had offered tax preparation services and consulting to individuals and businesses and is noted for their mobile service 
(hence the name Tax Man To You). George Sleeman, owner/operator of TMTY has a BS in accounting from Regis University (Dec, 2011), and is an Enrolled Agent so he is licensed to practice in front of the IRS.
Mr. Sleeman stated that because he is local and independent, he can beat the national franchises’ rates on bookkeeping and payroll services while offering personal service and attention to detail. The first consultation is free and mobile service is still available.
For more information contact TMTY at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., call 719-646-2999 or visit TaxManToYou.com.
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Construction is well underway for Colorado Springs’ second Walmart Neighborhood Market. The first will open in August of 2012 at Platte and Murray. The S. Academy location is expected to open early in 2013.
The Neighborhood Market stores are a more direct competitor to the likes of Safeway and King Soopers. 
From Walmart.com: “Designed as a convenient shopping experience with great assortment at great prices, the Walmart Neighborhood Market will provide the local community another destination for groceries at the Walmart value price. The store will carry a full line of groceries, including fresh produce, frozen foods, meat and dairy products. For those on the go, a self-serve deli offers hot rotisserie chicken, sliced deli meats, gourmet cheeses and pre-packaged foods.”
The concept has actually been around since 1998. There are currently 199 Walmart Neighborhood Markets in the United States. Typically, these stores are about 42,000 square feet and employ 90-95 people. In contrast, a Walmart Supercenter is more like 180,000 square feet and employs 350 people or more.
Construction on the South Academy building is being done by Brinkmann Constructors of Englewood, CO and Chesterfield, MO. Brinkmann has done a number of projects for Walmart in its 25 year history, as well as for other well known chains such as Home Depot, Dick’s Sporting Goods and OfficeMax.
Walmart has more in store for the South Acaemy area. A new supercenter is planned across from Pikes Peak Community College that will also be home to the southern Colorado Springs Sam’s Club, currently located near Airport Rd and Academy Blvd.
