Moving near Colorado Springs/ Used car business profitable? (Denver, Pueblo: foreclosure, insurance)

[MysticalSpirit]

My husband and I (early 40's) are contemplating a move to Colorado Springs or just outside of it. We currently live in Florida (8 yrs), and would like to find a peaceful place to live, not many neighbors close by, low crime, not alot of snow, pretty mountains, springs, and the right place where a used car business would be profitable within a reasonable driving range of our home. The business may take a few months to establish so in the mean time when we move, my hubby will want to find work in his field shipping/receiving/packaging etc, and Security Officer work for myself. What is a good area for positions such as these that pay fairly well? Is getting a business license easy in Colorado? We have never been to Colorado yet but plan to do so as soon as we get a firm offer on our home here that we are selling. We would consider buying a foreclosure there to save on money... no more than 90,000. Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[Mike from back east]

I'm thinking Pueblo, Pueblo West and Canon City. If Security Officer also means correctional officer work in prisons, there are quite a few prisons in the area of Canon City. There should be plenty of work in COL SPGS too for Security Officers, as all the military bases here contract out that work rather than use military personnel, at least that's what we agreed to in the Army personnel biz during manpower reviews. I'm sure all the defense contractors in the area used contract guards too.

Cost of housing is less in the mentioned areas, weather milder than many other areas, great views, plenty to see and do.

Living in these areas puts you within easy reach of the south end of COL SPGS and Fort Carson. The fort has a large population of young soldiers who would seem more likely to buy used cars, given the low pay of military duty. (I don't like it, but that's been true forever.) Having worked 30 years for the Army, there always seemed a vibrant auto biz around most bases. Trucks and SUVs seem especially big here in CO, with everyone.

There are tons of info in this COL SPGS Forum, and in the CO Forum on the areas mentioned. It's easy to dig that stuff out by using the Search tool with keywords like Canon or Pueblo or Pueblo West or prisons or .....

After reading some of the stuff here, feel free to come back and ask all the questions you want. We suggest that instead of starting a new thread for everything, that people just add a new posting to an existing thread if the topic is the same or close.

s/Mike

[ballou3]

There are a couple good sized dealer auctions....One in Colorado Springs and one in Denver area for a good source of inventory.

[bashep]

Mike made a good point with putting a used car dealership down by Ft. Carson. Just so you know, in 2009 Ft. Carson is going to be receving 5000+ troops plus their families. So to get here and get established in that market down there could be huge for you. bashep

[COflower]

Starting a business in Colorado: colorado.gov (broken link)

CO laws regarding auto dealship licensing: Colorado Laws & Regulations Governing Auto Dealers - DMV.ORG

There is also a lot of other information about starting and operating businesses at the county/city you settle in. Local laws can vary with state laws. Also, it would be good learn about insurance laws (business insurance) in the state and locality you end up in.