Are you starting a business in Abilene, Texas? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Abilene.
Running your own business is difficult, much harder than working as an employee. Are you sure you want to start a business?
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.
Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Abilene. Some businesses will do better in Abilene than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Abilene demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Abilene has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Abilene demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Abilene.
As a new Abilene entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Abilene for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
3 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
7 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
8 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
5 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
26 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
5 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
25 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
10 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
8 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
1 |
| Business Associations |
8 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
2 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
6 |
| Caterers |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
7 |
| Child Day Care Services |
23 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
27 |
| Claims Adjusting |
2 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
7 |
| Commercial Photography |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
16 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
6 |
| Convenience Stores |
4 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Cotton Ginning |
1 |
| Couriers |
6 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
13 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
6 |
| Dental Laboratories |
6 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
6 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
10 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
19 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
12 |
| Electrical Contractors |
31 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
22 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
4 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
5 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
15 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
8 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
4 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
6 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
3 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
75 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
16 |
| General Automotive Repair |
38 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
12 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
5 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
7 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Hardware Stores |
3 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
17 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
9 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
80 |
| Interior Design Services |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
6 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
2 |
| Investment Advice |
6 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
27 |
| Jewelry Stores |
11 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
30 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
7 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
90 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
3 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
8 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
8 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
1 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
6 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
4 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
4 |
| Museums |
5 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
12 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
6 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
6 |
| Office Administrative Services |
11 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
30 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
6 |
| Offices of Dentists |
48 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
71 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
16 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
8 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
14 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
7 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
7 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
8 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
16 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
4 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
3 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
14 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
5 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
8 |
| Residential Remodelers |
14 |
| Retail Bakeries |
2 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
5 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
11 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
4 |
| Securities Brokerage |
20 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
3 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Shoe Stores |
14 |
| Siding Contractors |
2 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
3 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
13 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
10 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
9 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
4 |
| Temporary Help Services |
5 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
3 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
15 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
3 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
3 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
24 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
8 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
12 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
17 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
1 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
2 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
4 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
12 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
11 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Abilene business, you need to focus on sales.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Abilene, Texas, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Texas universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also wise to see if there are any networking organizations for Abilene entrepreneurs.
As an entrepreneur in Abilene, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Abilene and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Abilene entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Abilene.
