Start a New Business in Idaho

This State of Idaho government website contains the information you need to start or grow your small business. It includes information from both state and federal agencies that license, regulate or tax small businesses, as well as information about business funding, assistance resources, and more.

Business topics include starting a business, running a business, Idaho business incentives, employer issues, professional licenses, managing and hiring employees, business taxes and reporting, paying business taxes, and tax and credits.

State of Idaho Business Services website

The Idaho Secretary of State’s office is the place to go to register your new business, access business forms, better understand uniform commercial code, register a trademark, get help with your notary needs, and do a business records search. You can manage an existing business, file documents for a new business, and much more.

450 North 4th Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: 208-334-2301

Idaho Secretary of State website

The Idaho SBA is supported by two district offices and an additional location for a total of three offices across Idaho and Washington. They provide services including funding programs, counseling, federal contracting, certifications, and disaster recovery. They can also connect you to partner organizations, lenders, and other community groups that help small businesses succeed.

The district office in Boise serves Clark, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Oneida, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton, Twin Falls, Valley, and Washington counties in Idaho and Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Union, and Wallowa counties in Oregon.

The second district office in Seattle serves Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Douglas, Grant, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, Whatcom and Yakima counties in Washington.

The additional office in Spokane serves Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla and Whitman counties in Washington; and, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Clearwater, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lewis, Nez Perce and Shoshone counties in Idaho.

Examples of educational activities and events include Marketing 101: Building a Brand for Your Small Business, Step Up Your Social Media Content, Common Credit Mistakes and How to Avoid Them, Creating a Quick Business Plan in Three Hours, and Funding Your Working Capital Needs.

District office:
380 E. Parkcenter Boulevard
Suite 330
Boise, Idaho 83706
Phone: 208-334-9004

Idaho Small Business Administration SBA Boise website

District office:
2401 4th Avenue
Suite 450
Seattle, Washington 98121
Phone: 206-553-7310

Idaho Small Business Administration SBA Seattle website

Additional location:
801 West Riverside Avenue
Suite 444
Spokane, Washington 99201
Phone: 509-353-2800

The Idaho Women’s Business Center is hosted by the Idaho Hispanic Foundation and is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Small business resources include:

• Business 101 Entrepreneurial Studio: The Entrepreneurial Studio is a six-week series that covers the basic principles of what it takes to be an entrepreneur, business 101 principles, and tools to take action towards turning your idea into a sustainable business.

• Professional Business Development: Ongoing webinars and in-person business training events, covering all pillars of business - Finance, Marketing, Business Development, and Human Resources. These are professional development opportunities for new and established businesses.

West office:
270 West Georgia Avenue
Nampa, Idaho 83686
Phone: 208-996-1571

Idaho Women’s Business Center website

South office:
133 Maine Avenue West
Suite 100
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
Phone: 208-996-1573

Idaho Women’s Business Center website

SCORE Eastern Idaho consists of a group of experienced business professionals who provide guidance to people who want to start a new business or assist an existing business in improving their profitability. The office in Idaho Falls serves Idaho’s five Eastern counties.

SCORE volunteers are business professionals and experts with experience in areas including accounting, finance, human resources, consulting, import/export, law, operations, production, retail, wholesale, manufacturing, sales, marketing, management, business plan preparation, strategic planning, and other business disciplines.

SCORE provides:

• Volunteer mentors who share their expertise across many industries

• Free, confidential business advising in person, via email, or by video

• Free business tools, templates, and tips

• Inexpensive or free business workshops local or online

2300 North Yellowstone Highway
Suite 100
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
Phone: 208-360-2094

SCORE Eastern Idaho website

The Treasure Valley SCORE serves Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, and surrounding communities.

This SCORE office is dedicated to helping rural entrepreneurs achieve their business goals. Get help with personal mentorship opportunities, free business training, and a large number of resources, designed especially for rural business owners. Whether it's applying for rural development grants or navigating local economic organizations, Treasure Valley SCORE can help you manage and grow, plan and start, or transition and exit your business.

380 E Parkcenter Boulevard
#330
Boise, Idaho 83706
Phone: 208)-509-5301

Treasure Valley SCORE website

The Idaho Small Business Development Center empowers small business success by providing no-cost, confidential consulting and low-cost training to entrepreneurs throughout Idaho.

The Idaho SBDC is a statewide, university-based organization helping small businesses succeed. Experienced Idaho SBDC consultants meet with clients to provide guidance in developing and growing a successful business.

With six office locations throughout the state, each affiliated with one of Idaho’s colleges or universities, Idaho SBDC is uniquely positioned to serve as a focal point for linking together partners from higher education, the private business community, and federal, state and local government.

Idaho SBDC assistance is available to anyone interested in expanding or starting a private small business in Idaho. Consulting is available at no cost to you. Approximately 98% of all firms in Idaho qualify as small businesses and, therefore, are eligible for assistance from the nearest Idaho SBDC office.

State office:
Boise State University
2360 West University Drive
Suite 2132
Boise, Idaho 83706
Phone: 208-426-3875

Idaho Small Business Development Center SBDC website

North Idaho College SBDC
420 N. College Drive
Hedlund Bldg. #145
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814
Phone: 208-665-5085

Lewis-Clark State College SBDC
406 Main Street
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
Phone: 208-792-2465

Idaho State University SBDC- ISU College of Business
2300 North Yellowstone Highway
Idaho Falls, Idaho 83401
Phone: 208-523-1087

College of Southern Idaho SBDC
202 Falls Avenue
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
Phone: 208-732-6450

Idaho State University SBDC – ISU College of Business
921 8th Avenue, Building #5 Room 328
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
Phone: 208-244-8521

In 2015 a group of experienced entrepreneurs came together with a vision to create a community where anyone with an idea can receive the mentoring and the experience needed to succeed in the startup world. Trailhead was born.

Trailhead helps you learn, grow, and scale by planting seeds of entrepreneurship and nurturing them into thriving businesses.

The organization provides:

• Co-working space for inventors, builders, creators, and doers.

• Educational programs designed to teach you the skills necessary to achieve success with you business.

• Mentorship to succeed in the startup world.

• Fundraising opportunities including awards and investments for members and their businesses.

• Networking opportunities with prominent businesses, public officials, and organizations in the Boise community.

• Experiential learning to engage members in hands-on, real-world situations.

500 South 8th Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: 208-344-5483

Trailhead website

The US Small Business Administration provides loans, investment capital, disaster assistance, surety bonds, and grants to start and grow a business as well as to recover from a disaster.

The SBA also offers the Women-Owned Small Businesses - WOSB - Federal Contracting Program that helps women-owned small businesses compete for federal government contracts.

The SBA also works with federal agencies to increase contracting opportunities and achieve the government’s five percent contracting goal for women-owned small businesses.

U.S. Small Business Administration SBA website

A program of the Idaho Department of Commerce, the Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant program advances the growth of Idaho's economy through commercialized research at Boise State University, Idaho State University, and the University of Idaho.

The IGEM program is focused on commercializing new technologies, scientific developments, and industry-changing services through facilitating sponsored research and accelerating technology transfer out of Idaho university research facilities and into the private sector.

The Idaho Department of Commerce disperses approximately $950,000 in funds annually through this grant program.

Idaho Department of Commerce
Joe R. Williams (JRW) Building
700 W State Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
Phone: 208-334-2470

Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission IGEM website

US News and World Report ranks University of Idaho the #1 Best Value Public University in the West and its College of Business and Economics - CBE - as among the top 5% of business schools worldwide.

CBE offers undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates in business disciplines including accounting, business economics, finance, management and human resources, management information systems, marketing, online business administration, operations and supply chain management, and PGA golf management.

CBE's classes use an integrated approach connecting each area of business, so you'll explore how your major relates to the other business disciplines in practice.

CBE's Vandal Student Enterprises are real businesses, giving you the opportunity to conduct business before graduation, solve real world business challenges, and gain hands-on experience you can speak to during future interviews and put on your resume.

College of Business and Economics
875 Campus Drive
J.A. Albertson Building
Moscow, Idaho 83844
Phone: 208-885-6478

University of Idaho College of Business and Economics website

The Boise State University College of Business and Economics inspires students to achieve their full potential by creating and sharing relevant knowledge, skills and experiences for the benefit of local and global communities.

Business for the New Generation course helps students see the big picture in business and how different disciplines fit together. This course helps first-year learners choose majors and picture their future professional careers in order to make informed choices during their academic careers.

Boise State now offers four different MBA programs: Career Track for recent graduates from any discipline, Professional (part-time) MBA for professionals with 2+ years of business experience, Online MBA and an Executive MBA for seasoned executives.

The entrepreneurial environment and close ties with the region’s business center provide a vibrant laboratory to teach, research, consult and make an impact.

Micron Business and Economics Building
Room 3131
Boise, Idaho 83725
Phone: 208-426-1125

Boise State University College of Business and Economics website

Regardless of the industry, location or type of organization, a business degree has practical value that will prepare you to enter or advance your career in business administration, accounting, financial economics, global business, marketing, or management. NNU’s College of Business offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and is internationally accredited.

It is led by professors who have earned doctorate degrees and industry experience. This ensures that you receive the most practical, relevant instruction you need to be prepared and ready to succeed in the business world. At NNU, there are lots of hands-on opportunities to network and to practice what you are learning in the classroom through internships, various business clubs, and competitions.

623 South University Boulevard
Nampa, Idaho 83686
Phone: 208-467-8404

Northwest Nazarene University College of Business website

The Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development at Idaho State University College of Business fosters entrepreneurship and economic development in Southeastern Idaho through partnerships with the business community, the Idaho State University College of Business and the University at large. CEED is a hub for business activity and serves as a one-stop shop for university inventors and business startups.

One of the primary benefits of the entrepreneurship center is the opportunity for students to make real-world connections. Mentoring, coaching and other focused efforts by community leaders enhance the traditional university classroom experience.

Idaho State University College of Business
Business Administration
921 South 8th Avenue
Pocatello, Idaho 83209
Phone: 208-282-3585

Idaho State University College of Business website

The Idaho Business Review provides readers the business news and analysis they need to succeed in Idaho’s dynamic marketplace.

4696 West Overland Road
Suite 180
Boise, Idaho 83705
Phone: 208-336-3768

Idaho Business Review website

The East Idaho Business Journal reports on the latest business news by region including Pocatello/Chubbuck, Idaho Falls/Ammon, Rigby, Teton Valley, Rexburg, and East Idaho. Business topics include agriculture, education, events, healthcare, Idaho National Lab, manufacturing, people on the move, real estate, restaurants, retail, small business, and technology.

305 S. Arthur
Pocatello, Idaho 83204
Phone: 208-232-4161

East Idaho Business Journal website

The North Idaho Business Journal delivers big impact to small businesses. The Journal features local business news in Kootenai County and provides the business community with information and tools to help North Idaho businesses grow, network, and hire.

201 North 2nd Street
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814
Phone: 208-664-8176

North Idaho Business Journal website