The How’s and Why’s of Truckee

How to Start a Business in Truckee

Are you thinking of starting a new business in Truckee? Truckee is full of successful entrepreneurs, some who fell in love with this area and decided to move their businesses here and others who saw a need and started their business in Truckee from the ground up. Did you know that Truckee doesn’t require a business license?

The Town of Truckee, and Sierra Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of the Sierra Business Council (SBC) have tools and guidance to help you find out the basics, such as where you can operate and what permits you will need.

The Town of Truckee has set up two online platforms, OpenCounter and ZoningCheck, to help new small business owners learn the basics of starting a business in Truckee. OpenCounter asks the right questions, in the right order, so business owners see the requirements, fees, and processing time that will apply to their planned use and location. It also collects metrics on new business development activities to inform the Town’s economic development strategies, including which neighborhoods or districts have the most commercial activity and what kinds of businesses are starting. ZoningCheck is a simplified tool that shows where a particular use is allowed. Just enter the type of use and the address, and the tool will tell you whether the use is allowed. Click the “Learn More” button and you can see additional information on the zoning for the property.

Sierra SBDC is like having an expert consultant and strategist with your startup, but their services are free! They provide professional one-on-one advising, training, and workshops, as well as critical assistance with funding strategies. Sierra SBDC is available to help you with business concept and validation, the permits and licenses you’ll need, your business name, demographic analysis, and possible franchising opportunities. They’ll also consult about financial stability and accounting, human resources and legal matters, operations, and marketing and return on investment. Sierra SBDC also provides continuous support for all Truckee-Tahoe businesses with free workshops, consultations, and assistance with low-interest loans.

SBC also partners with Tahoe Silicon Mountain (nonprofit group for tech professionals) to produce an annual Tahoe Pitch Camp. Entrepreneurs are invited to develop their ideas with weekly coaching and then present a business pitch to the public, like the show Shark Tank, and the audience votes for the winner.

Once you’re ready to start, the Truckee Chamber of Commerce can help you launch your business. Joining the Truckee Chamber of Commerce provides you with a connection to the essential business organization in Truckee. Membership with the chamber connects you to the community through business networking and educational opportunities, a searchable presence with your own business page on Truckee.com, help finding employees through Truckee Jobs Collective and our annual Truckee Hiring Fair, and marketing through our newsletters and social media. We’re happy to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for member businesses as well.