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Business & Industry

Many business types and industries flourish in Kansas. With the advantage of being centrally located in the United States, plus the ability to access a rich diversity of resources alongside a talented, well-educated workforce, it’s no wonder many business owners choose to call Kansas their home.

Kansas understands that economic growth and business development can only be achieved within an environment that anticipates and meets the needs of both current and future entrepreneurs. The state is guided by the “Framework for Growth,” a 15-year plan that utilizes the “strategic pillars” to support growth across the following key sectors:

    • Talent
    • Innovation
    • Community Assets
    • Policy

By creating this comprehensive economic development strategy, Kansas stands ready to shepherd the state into the next phase of innovate growth, while staying true to our traditions and communities.

Framework for Growth graphic

Oversight and Regulation

Running a business requires a significant investment of time and effort. Both seasoned and budding entrepreneurs rely on state government entities to provide clear communication and fair enforcement of state regulations and policies, so that they can focus on what matters most: maintaining their livelihood. Likewise, Kansans want to be sure that the businesses they support provide goods and services that are safe for both consumers and employees. In Kansas, these entities currently share the primary responsibility for oversight and regulation: Each entity owns a unique piece of the puzzle and manages different aspects of licensure, compliance, regulation, planning, and oversight for their areas of specialization.

Industries

The Kansas Department of Commerce works tirelessly to educate businesses and key industry leaders on the benefits of starting or moving their operations to Kansas. Companies are attracted to a favorable legislative environment, significant cost and tax advantages, a skilled workforce, and customized incentive proposals.
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Agriculture
  • Animal Health
  • Bioscience
  • Corporate & Professional Svcs
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Food Processing & Manufacture
  • Logistics & Distribution

There are a wide variety of incentives available including: 

Kansas Business One Stop

Image of the Business One Stop homepage
The Kansas Business One Stop (KBOS) is a collaboratively developed, multi-agency resource brought to you by the the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Revenue and the Secretary of State. It is aimed at providing support and guidance as you tackle every phase of business development:
The KBOS is your one-stop-shop for interacting with Kansas government as it relates to your business. It walks you through how to organize and form a business, the necessary steps for registering your business, how to operate and grow your business, and what to do should it come time for you to sell or close your business. The website also features a Business Startup Wizard that creates a custom report for you based on your answers to a few questions about industry, location, etc. You can also try the Business Starter Kit. The starter kits are designed to provide quick access to resources that are specific to some of the most common startup businesses.  Best of all: The tools and resources made available through the KBOS can be accessed free-of-charge.

Register Your
Business

Pay Your
Business Taxes

File Corporate
Annual Reports

Unemployment
Tax Filing

Conduct
Market Research

Business Name
Reservation

Business Support Organizations

Those seeking more specialized or one-on-one guidance, can lean on the services of NetWork Kansas and the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC). Both of these entities provide resources and consultative support to Kansans.

NetWork Kansas is a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners startup and grow successful businesses. 

NetWork Kansas focuses on the “three C’s” of running a business: Classes, Connections, and Capital.

They also have a strong presence of over 65 “e-Communities” throughout the state. E-Communities are selected communities that partner with NetWork Kansas to establish a locally-administered loan fund to assist entrepreneurs with capital, to increase connectivity to resources available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses, to initiate activities to generate entrepreneurial development, and to participate in a statewide partnership with other E-Communities.

The E-Community partnership, now in its thirteenth year, has grown from six communities in 2007 to 66 in 2020. To date, E-Communities have provided $21.5 million to businesses, leveraging an additional $99.2 million (bank loans, owner down payment, resource partner loans, etc.).

To find local resource partners in your area, contact the NetWork Kansas referral center. Chat online with a referral coordinator during business hours or call (877) 521-8600 or e-mail info@networkkansas.com.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce. Touting itself as “the best kept secret for Kansas Entrepreneurs,” the KSBCD provides assistance to Kansas businesses that have a maximum of 500 employees. They provide confidential and judgement-free support to help you understand funding options, how to start your business, and growing an existing business. Thanks to their local, state, and federal partnerships, the majority of the services that offer can be delivered at no charge.

In 2019, the KSBDC helped Kansans to open 319 new businesses, create nearly 5,500 jobs, and infuse $94.6 million in capitol into the local economy.

With flexible hours that suit the life of working professionals, the KSBDC and their network of trusted experts are available 7 days a week. To learn more about becoming a client or to connect with one of their 12 offices, call 1-800-949-7661 (English) or 1-707-0580 (Español).

Professional Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

Along with meeting the requirements to register your business with the proper federal, state, and local government entities, you may also be required to obtain specific professional licenses or permits before you open your doors. In Kansas, issuance and oversight of professional licenses are not centralized. Instead, the responsibility for professional licensing is distributed among various board and commissions.

Each board or commission specializes in a distinct subject matter area. The Kansas Business One Stop maintains a list of some of the most common professional license types that are issued within the state. If you have specific questions about which professional or occupation licenses might apply to you or your staff, you should consult directly with the board or commission who oversees your area of practice. 

It is also important to check with your local jurisdictions to ensure that you have acquired the proper zoning and usage permits, if applicable. For guidance on these issues, it is best to contact your county or municipal office. 

For consumers, the state offers tools that you can use to help verify the legitimacy of a business or license. Many boards and commissions offer no-charge license verification searches that provide information on the current status of an individual’s professional or occupational license.

Through its Consumer Protection Division, the Kansas Attorney General’s office investigates scams, mediates and prosecutes violations of the Consumer Protection Act, the No-Call Act, the Roofing Registration Act, the Charitable Organization and Solicitations Act, the Kansas False Claims Act, the Funeral and Cemetery Merchandise Agreements Act, the Kansas Cemetery Corporation Act, and the Wayne Owen Act (identity theft). 

All Services

Business & Industry

Many business types and industries flourish in Kansas. With the advantage of being centrally located in the United States, plus the ability to access a rich diversity of resources alongside a talented, well-educated workforce, it’s no wonder many business owners choose to call Kansas their home.

Kansas understands that economic growth and business development can only be achieved within an environment that anticipates and meets the needs of both current and future entrepreneurs. The state is guided by the “Framework for Growth,” a 15-year plan that utilizes the “strategic pillars” to support growth across the following key sectors:

    • Talent
    • Innovation
    • Community Assets
    • Policy

By creating this comprehensive economic development strategy, Kansas stands ready to shepherd the state into the next phase of innovate growth, while staying true to our traditions and communities.

Framework for Growth graphic

Oversight and Regulation

Running a business requires a significant investment of time and effort. Both seasoned and budding entrepreneurs rely on state government entities to provide clear communication and fair enforcement of state regulations and policies, so that they can focus on what matters most: maintaining their livelihood. Likewise, Kansans want to be sure that the businesses they support provide goods and services that are safe for both consumers and employees. In Kansas, these entities currently share the primary responsibility for oversight and regulation: Each entity owns a unique piece of the puzzle and manages different aspects of licensure, compliance, regulation, planning, and oversight for their areas of specialization.

Industries

The Kansas Department of Commerce works tirelessly to educate businesses and key industry leaders on the benefits of starting or moving their operations to Kansas. Companies are attracted to a favorable legislative environment, significant cost and tax advantages, a skilled workforce, and customized incentive proposals.
  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Aerospace & Defense
  • Agriculture
  • Animal Health
  • Bioscience
  • Corporate & Professional Svcs
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Food Processing & Manufacture
  • Logistics & Distribution

There are a wide variety of incentives available including: 

Kansas Business One Stop

Image of the Business One Stop homepage
The Kansas Business One Stop (KBOS) is a collaboratively developed, multi-agency resource brought to you by the the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, Revenue and the Secretary of State. It is aimed at providing support and guidance as you tackle every phase of business development:
The KBOS is your one-stop-shop for interacting with Kansas government as it relates to your business. It walks you through how to organize and form a business, the necessary steps for registering your business, how to operate and grow your business, and what to do should it come time for you to sell or close your business. The website also features a Business Startup Wizard that creates a custom report for you based on your answers to a few questions about industry, location, etc. You can also try the Business Starter Kit. The starter kits are designed to provide quick access to resources that are specific to some of the most common startup businesses.  Best of all: The tools and resources made available through the KBOS can be accessed free-of-charge.

Register Your
Business

Pay Your
Business Taxes

File Corporate
Annual Reports

Unemployment
Tax Filing

Conduct
Market Research

Business Name
Reservation

Business Support Organizations

Those seeking more specialized or one-on-one guidance, can lean on the services of NetWork Kansas and the Kansas Small Business Development Center (KSBDC). Both of these entities provide resources and consultative support to Kansans.

NetWork Kansas is a statewide network of non-profit business-building resources that help entrepreneurs and small business owners startup and grow successful businesses. 

NetWork Kansas focuses on the “three C’s” of running a business: Classes, Connections, and Capital.

They also have a strong presence of over 65 “e-Communities” throughout the state. E-Communities are selected communities that partner with NetWork Kansas to establish a locally-administered loan fund to assist entrepreneurs with capital, to increase connectivity to resources available to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses, to initiate activities to generate entrepreneurial development, and to participate in a statewide partnership with other E-Communities.

The E-Community partnership, now in its thirteenth year, has grown from six communities in 2007 to 66 in 2020. To date, E-Communities have provided $21.5 million to businesses, leveraging an additional $99.2 million (bank loans, owner down payment, resource partner loans, etc.).

To find local resource partners in your area, contact the NetWork Kansas referral center. Chat online with a referral coordinator during business hours or call (877) 521-8600 or e-mail info@networkkansas.com.

The Kansas Small Business Development Center is the result of a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Kansas Department of Commerce. Touting itself as “the best kept secret for Kansas Entrepreneurs,” the KSBCD provides assistance to Kansas businesses that have a maximum of 500 employees. They provide confidential and judgement-free support to help you understand funding options, how to start your business, and growing an existing business. Thanks to their local, state, and federal partnerships, the majority of the services that offer can be delivered at no charge.

In 2019, the KSBDC helped Kansans to open 319 new businesses, create nearly 5,500 jobs, and infuse $94.6 million in capitol into the local economy.

With flexible hours that suit the life of working professionals, the KSBDC and their network of trusted experts are available 7 days a week. To learn more about becoming a client or to connect with one of their 12 offices, call 1-800-949-7661 (English) or 1-707-0580 (Español).

Professional Licensing & Regulatory Compliance

Along with meeting the requirements to register your business with the proper federal, state, and local government entities, you may also be required to obtain specific professional licenses or permits before you open your doors. In Kansas, issuance and oversight of professional licenses are not centralized. Instead, the responsibility for professional licensing is distributed among various board and commissions.

Each board or commission specializes in a distinct subject matter area. The Kansas Business One Stop maintains a list of some of the most common professional license types that are issued within the state. If you have specific questions about which professional or occupation licenses might apply to you or your staff, you should consult directly with the board or commission who oversees your area of practice. 

It is also important to check with your local jurisdictions to ensure that you have acquired the proper zoning and usage permits, if applicable. For guidance on these issues, it is best to contact your county or municipal office. 

For consumers, the state offers tools that you can use to help verify the legitimacy of a business or license. Many boards and commissions offer no-charge license verification searches that provide information on the current status of an individual’s professional or occupational license.

Through its Consumer Protection Division, the Kansas Attorney General’s office investigates scams, mediates and prosecutes violations of the Consumer Protection Act, the No-Call Act, the Roofing Registration Act, the Charitable Organization and Solicitations Act, the Kansas False Claims Act, the Funeral and Cemetery Merchandise Agreements Act, the Kansas Cemetery Corporation Act, and the Wayne Owen Act (identity theft).