Contemplating starting a business in Austin, Texas? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Austin.
Most startup ventures don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the entrepreneurial skills and traits needed to succeed. So, before jumping into the world of entrepreneurship, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Evaluating Your Idea.
Don't forget that Austin is the place where you are starting a business. Some businesses will do better in Austin than others. Study Austin demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.
Austin has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Austin demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Austin.
As a new Austin entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Austin 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 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
73 |
| Ambulance Services |
8 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
3 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
13 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
196 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
28 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
6 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
7 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
12 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
86 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
24 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
11 |
| Barber Shops |
15 |
| Beauty Salons |
279 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
9 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
90 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
2 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
6 |
| Boat Dealers |
21 |
| Book Publishers |
29 |
| Book Stores |
37 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
5 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
24 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
6 |
| Business Associations |
129 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
5 |
| Cafeterias |
39 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
11 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
5 |
| Car Washes |
36 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
20 |
| Caterers |
48 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
36 |
| Child Day Care Services |
233 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
30 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
99 |
| Claims Adjusting |
14 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
40 |
| Collection Agencies |
13 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
48 |
| Commercial Photography |
14 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
11 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
49 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
13 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
307 |
| Computer Training |
24 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
11 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
3 |
| Consumer Lending |
42 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
11 |
| Convenience Stores |
116 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
20 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
8 |
| Couriers |
23 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
12 |
| Credit Bureaus |
4 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
58 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
388 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
14 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
30 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
9 |
| Digital Printing |
3 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
58 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
18 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
50 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
6 |
| Discount Department Stores |
15 |
| Display Advertising |
9 |
| Document Preparation Services |
32 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
7 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
9 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
167 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
33 |
| Educational Support Services |
47 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
9 |
| Electrical Contractors |
157 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
7 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
51 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
67 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
40 |
| Engineering Services |
408 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
51 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
32 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
30 |
| Facilities Support Services |
18 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
74 |
| Family Planning Centers |
8 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
43 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
49 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
101 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
44 |
| Flooring Contractors |
34 |
| Florists |
44 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
29 |
| Food Service Contractors |
81 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
11 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
8 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
10 |
| Framing Contractors |
21 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
32 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
678 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
19 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
2 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Furniture Stores |
105 |
| General Automotive Repair |
224 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
29 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
7 |
| General Rental Centers |
23 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
34 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
93 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
13 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
21 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
54 |
| Graphic Design Services |
74 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Hardware Stores |
24 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
36 |
| Home Centers |
16 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
22 |
| Home Health Care Services |
45 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
22 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
23 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
25 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
2 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
12 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
5 |
| Industrial Launderers |
6 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
443 |
| Interior Design Services |
65 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
16 |
| Internet Service Providers |
39 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
15 |
| Investment Advice |
114 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
167 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
6 |
| Jewelry Stores |
83 |
| Junior Colleges |
2 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
10 |
| Land Subdivision |
61 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
36 |
| Landscaping Services |
218 |
| Language Schools |
9 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
32 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Lime Manufacturing |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
714 |
| Limousine Service |
9 |
| Linen Supply |
3 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
20 |
| Locksmiths |
12 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
24 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
30 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
15 |
| Marinas |
7 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
116 |
| Masonry Contractors |
47 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
9 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
8 |
| Media Representatives |
12 |
| Medical Laboratories |
15 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
53 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
74 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
61 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
22 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
19 |
| Museums |
11 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
32 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
14 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
4 |
| Nail Salons |
41 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
8 |
| New Car Dealers |
49 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
32 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
1 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
16 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
88 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
29 |
| Office Administrative Services |
213 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
45 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
37 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
251 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
133 |
| Offices of Dentists |
404 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
944 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
74 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
30 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
18 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
66 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
3 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
35 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
8 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
7 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
22 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
82 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
60 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
32 |
| Payroll Services |
15 |
| Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
35 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
30 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
27 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
78 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
53 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
5 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
2 |
| Political Organizations |
30 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
76 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
34 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
26 |
| Professional Organizations |
105 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
80 |
| Quick Printing |
32 |
| Racetracks |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
28 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
13 |
| Real Estate Credit |
138 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
16 |
| Record Production |
2 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
3 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
11 |
| Repossession Services |
6 |
| Residential Property Managers |
183 |
| Residential Remodelers |
152 |
| Retail Bakeries |
16 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
15 |
| Roofing Contractors |
48 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
28 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
27 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
39 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
8 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
2 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
139 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
27 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
10 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
8 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
8 |
| Shoe Stores |
71 |
| Siding Contractors |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
24 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
41 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
126 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
111 |
| Software Reproducing |
2 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
8 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
6 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
10 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Specialty Canning |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
59 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
56 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
4 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
40 |
| Taxi Service |
4 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
14 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
18 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
7 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
10 |
| Temporary Help Services |
148 |
| Temporary Shelters |
9 |
| Testing Laboratories |
32 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
17 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
20 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Tire Dealers |
42 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
13 |
| Tobacco Stores |
10 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
6 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
3 |
| Tour Operators |
11 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
7 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
52 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
2 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
67 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
27 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
82 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
15 |
| Veterinary Services |
109 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
57 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
16 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
20 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
22 |
| Web Search Portals |
8 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
122 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
9 |
| Wineries |
1 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
128 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
106 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
5 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
Visit the business district of Austin and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.
Most business experts recommend that you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Multi-Unit Franchising. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
Having a business plan is critical to the health of your new business. In effect, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Not having a business plan makes you more prone to becoming a business failure statistic.
Raising money to fund your new Austin business will be harder than you might expect. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.
Most new Austin businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Austin and throughout the United States . We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Austin.
