Are you starting a business in Brownsville, Texas? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Brownsville.
Before quitting your day job, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
To determine whether you have what it takes to run a business, we recommend these three steps to help you decide:
Brownsville has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Brownsville demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Brownsville.
As a new Brownsville entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Brownsville 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 |
| Abrasive Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Advertising Agencies |
3 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
7 |
| Architectural Services |
6 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
2 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
28 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
2 |
| Beauty Salons |
24 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
7 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
2 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
5 |
| Bowling Centers |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Business Associations |
5 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
5 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
13 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
2 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
1 |
| Child Day Care Services |
54 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
12 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
8 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
7 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
4 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
4 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
25 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
10 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Couriers |
4 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
3 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
3 |
| Dental Laboratories |
3 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
2 |
| Document Preparation Services |
5 |
| Drafting Services |
3 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
23 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
3 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
13 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
10 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Explosives Manufacturing |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
4 |
| Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
21 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
10 |
| Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
3 |
| Flooring Contractors |
2 |
| Florists |
6 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
6 |
| Food Service Contractors |
1 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
1 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
52 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
94 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Furniture Stores |
17 |
| General Automotive Repair |
19 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
14 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
16 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
12 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
2 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
1 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Home Health Care Services |
35 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
2 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
1 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
47 |
| Interior Design Services |
1 |
| International Trade Financing |
2 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
4 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
8 |
| Jewelry Stores |
13 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
4 |
| Land Subdivision |
4 |
| Landscaping Services |
6 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
12 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
101 |
| Locksmiths |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
10 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
5 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
1 |
| Media Representatives |
1 |
| Medical Laboratories |
3 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
10 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
7 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Home Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
7 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
6 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
4 |
| Office Administrative Services |
18 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
16 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
21 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
115 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
6 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
6 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
11 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
5 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
22 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
6 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
4 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
11 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
11 |
| Residential Remodelers |
8 |
| Retail Bakeries |
7 |
| Roofing Contractors |
7 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
4 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
6 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
2 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
4 |
| Shoe Stores |
21 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
8 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
5 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
5 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
14 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
7 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
1 |
| Tire Dealers |
14 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
1 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
5 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
34 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
19 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
5 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
8 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
10 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
9 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
5 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
34 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
1 |
Visit the business district of Brownsville and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Would going with a franchise be a good idea for you?
We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Growth Trends in Franchising. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will protect you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
The entity you form can be a corporation, LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership or other structure.
Incorporation is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Texas, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Texas. As it turns out, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. For example, it's very popular to incorporate in Delaware, and incorporating in Nevada has become very trendy as well. Don't forget, though, that you will have to register as a foreign entity in all states that you do business in.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Corporate Formalities. You may also want to seek the advice of an lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Brownsville, Texas, our information on Incorporating in Texas may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Texas.
Good entrepreneurs know that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Brownsville, Texas, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Texas universities, colleges and community colleges. We also recommend you look into Brownsville networking organizations.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Brownsville. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Brownsville businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Brownsville, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Brownsville.
