Montana

Overview

Montana is the fourth largest state in the US, but only the 44th most populated. Its geography is characterized by large mountain ranges to the west and badlands and plains to the east. The state was named after the Spanish word for “mountain.” Montana’s early appeal was due to mining and its wealth of copper, lead, zinc, silver, coal, and oil. The state once supplied the US with half of the nation’s copper. Now, the state has a much stronger agricultural focus. Its landscape is covered with fields of wheat, barley, rye, and oats. Ranches also play a major part in the state’s economy with sheep, cattle, and dude ranching being the most common. Montana is a good place to set up a small business for those that prefer the open air, mountainous landscape, or simple ranch environment, while still having the small business benefits of more centralized states.

Industry Stats

• A staggering 30,734 people work in the construction business in Montana. The construction industry accounts for 7% of the state’s total workforce.

• There were only 7,919 weddings held in Montana in 2015, but over $174 million was spent on them.

• More people work in animal production and aquaculture than in grocery stores, and more people work in amusement and recreation than in department stores in this state.

• There are only 1,357 plumbers in the entire state of Montana. Each plumber has to service an average of over 300 households.

• Couples in Montana spent an average of $103 on save the date cards for their wedding last year.

• More people work in real estate than in farming in Montana.

Montana has friendly environmental regulations and great networking programs specifically targeted towards small businesses. Combined with its low cost of living, the state is a strong option for emerging businesses.

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