Thinking about starting a business in Dallas, Texas? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Dallas.
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
Dallas has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Dallas demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Dallas.
As a new Dallas entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Dallas 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 |
6 |
| Advertising Agencies |
172 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
3 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
18 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
10 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
22 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
248 |
| Armored Car Services |
4 |
| Art Dealers |
47 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
6 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
16 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
14 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
140 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
24 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
15 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
13 |
| Beauty Salons |
271 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
201 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
7 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
8 |
| Boat Dealers |
9 |
| Book Publishers |
24 |
| Book Stores |
32 |
| Books Printing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
5 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
10 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
4 |
| Business Associations |
62 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
10 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
12 |
| Cafeterias |
44 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
17 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
7 |
| Car Washes |
59 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
25 |
| Caterers |
58 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
12 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
5 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
67 |
| Child Day Care Services |
237 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
33 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
152 |
| Claims Adjusting |
26 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
38 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
75 |
| Collection Agencies |
42 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
11 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
5 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
120 |
| Commercial Photography |
53 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
26 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
8 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
6 |
| Community Food Services |
10 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
40 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
25 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
317 |
| Computer Terminal Manufacturing |
2 |
| Computer Training |
16 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
3 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
10 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
70 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
14 |
| Convenience Stores |
172 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
37 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
2 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
8 |
| Couriers |
80 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
31 |
| Credit Bureaus |
6 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
98 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
15 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
287 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
5 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
20 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
37 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
10 |
| Digital Printing |
14 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
80 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
40 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
71 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
21 |
| Discount Department Stores |
11 |
| Display Advertising |
23 |
| Document Preparation Services |
26 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
11 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
33 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
206 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
45 |
| Educational Support Services |
26 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
27 |
| Electrical Contractors |
194 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
6 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Resistor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
39 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
96 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
10 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
87 |
| Engineering Services |
360 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
6 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
26 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
32 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
40 |
| Fabric Coating Mills |
2 |
| Facilities Support Services |
28 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
123 |
| Family Planning Centers |
8 |
| Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders |
1 |
| Farm Management Services |
2 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
41 |
| Finfish Fishing |
1 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
42 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
110 |
| Flight Training |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
70 |
| Flooring Contractors |
34 |
| Florists |
61 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
5 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
35 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Food Service Contractors |
92 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
10 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
13 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
17 |
| Framing Contractors |
16 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
67 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
2 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
2 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
977 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
34 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
101 |
| Furniture Stores |
152 |
| General Automotive Repair |
234 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
67 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
37 |
| General Rental Centers |
21 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
70 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
125 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
18 |
| Glove and Mitten Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
23 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
73 |
| Graphic Design Services |
118 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
46 |
| Hardware Stores |
19 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
6 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
5 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
21 |
| Home Centers |
13 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
100 |
| Home Health Care Services |
157 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
21 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
36 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
14 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
5 |
| Industrial Design Services |
4 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
10 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
2 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
722 |
| Interior Design Services |
143 |
| International Trade Financing |
6 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
21 |
| Internet Service Providers |
36 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
12 |
| Investigation Services |
33 |
| Investment Advice |
217 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
1 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Iron Foundries |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
209 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
16 |
| Jewelry Stores |
146 |
| Junior Colleges |
7 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
19 |
| Land Subdivision |
106 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
37 |
| Landscaping Services |
273 |
| Language Schools |
14 |
| Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing |
1 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
31 |
| Libraries and Archives |
3 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
1,024 |
| Limousine Service |
22 |
| Linen Supply |
4 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
33 |
| Locksmiths |
20 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
18 |
| Machine Shops |
45 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
38 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
4 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
162 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
7 |
| Masonry Contractors |
59 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
10 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
4 |
| Meat Markets |
18 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
8 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
12 |
| Media Representatives |
33 |
| Medical Laboratories |
39 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
48 |
| Metal Can Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
5 |
| Metal Stamping |
9 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
10 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
151 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
114 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
4 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
97 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
2 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
25 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
11 |
| Museums |
19 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
19 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
16 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
19 |
| Narrow Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
20 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
78 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
30 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
15 |
| News Syndicates |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
41 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
223 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
37 |
| Office Administrative Services |
331 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
38 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
40 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
11 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
509 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
137 |
| Offices of Dentists |
529 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
1,811 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
81 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
81 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
41 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
69 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
14 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
8 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
62 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
5 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
10 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
4 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
7 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
37 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
96 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
211 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
2 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
62 |
| Payroll Services |
37 |
| Periodical Publishers |
48 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
6 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
25 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
27 |
| Petrochemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
13 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
125 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
68 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
1 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
7 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Political Organizations |
20 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
221 |
| Poultry Processing |
3 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
14 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
6 |
| Private Mail Centers |
39 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
47 |
| Professional Organizations |
46 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
76 |
| Quick Printing |
45 |
| Racetracks |
2 |
| Radio Networks |
9 |
| Radio Stations |
60 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
| Real Estate Credit |
167 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
27 |
| Record Production |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
16 |
| Remediation Services |
11 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
8 |
| Residential Property Managers |
312 |
| Residential Remodelers |
133 |
| Retail Bakeries |
21 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
27 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
69 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
13 |
| Sales Financing |
69 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
60 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
1 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
12 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
45 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
4 |
| Securities and Commodity Exchanges |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
200 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
73 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
4 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
28 |
| Shoe Stores |
121 |
| Siding Contractors |
12 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
43 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
46 |
| Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
178 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
6 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
79 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
9 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
11 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
4 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
74 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
36 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
6 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
3 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
2 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
110 |
| Taxi Service |
11 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
26 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
20 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
16 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
14 |
| Temporary Help Services |
305 |
| Temporary Shelters |
8 |
| Testing Laboratories |
25 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
22 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
37 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
21 |
| Tire Dealers |
79 |
| Tire Retreading |
4 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
52 |
| Tobacco Stores |
17 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
13 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
7 |
| Tour Operators |
13 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
12 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
9 |
| Travel Agencies |
131 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Uranium-Radium-Vanadium Ore Mining |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
114 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
45 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
98 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
24 |
| Veterinary Services |
88 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
60 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
16 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
33 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
10 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
10 |
| Web Search Portals |
7 |
| Weft Knit Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
461 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
242 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
195 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
14 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
8 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
7 |
A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.
Pick a company name that isn't too generic. If you do a search engine search for your proposed name and a billion results come up, you may want to reconsider the name. It's much easier to come up in the search engines when your name is fairly unique.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are starting a business in Dallas, it's very important that you make sure no other Texas company is using the business name you want to use.
Creating a business plan is essential in laying a solid foundation for your business success. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan
Getting your Dallas business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Dallas or are selling to customers throughout Texas, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
So what does it take to bring in more prospects and close more business? Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Good business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Dallas, Texas, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Texas universities, colleges and community colleges. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Dallas entrepreneurs.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Dallas. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Dallas and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Dallas.
