Thinking about starting a business in Fort Smith, Arkansas? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Fort Smith.
Before announcing to the world that you are going to start your own business, take inventory of your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
While entrepreneurship has become a popular career choice, we recommend you do the following before you take the plunge:
Fort Smith has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Fort Smith demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fort Smith.
As a new Fort Smith entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fort Smith 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 |
7 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
1 |
| Architectural Services |
14 |
| Armored Car Services |
1 |
| Art Dealers |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
3 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
3 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
24 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
6 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
21 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
17 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Stores |
8 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
1 |
| Business Associations |
4 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
3 |
| Car Washes |
5 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
1 |
| Caterers |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
20 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
25 |
| Claims Adjusting |
3 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
1 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
10 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
1 |
| Community Food Services |
5 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
11 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
5 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
2 |
| Credit Bureaus |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
11 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
11 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
1 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Distilleries |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
5 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
20 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
1 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
24 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
24 |
| Engineering Services |
14 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
3 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
10 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
15 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
5 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
15 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
6 |
| Flooring Contractors |
5 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
2 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
5 |
| Food Service Contractors |
4 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
3 |
| Framing Contractors |
3 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
7 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
85 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
6 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
9 |
| General Automotive Repair |
24 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
8 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
6 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
9 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
2 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Graphic Design Services |
2 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
4 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
9 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
6 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
1 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
9 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
1 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
2 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
71 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
2 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
3 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
14 |
| Jewelry Stores |
15 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
1 |
| Land Subdivision |
7 |
| Landscaping Services |
15 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
3 |
| Libraries and Archives |
1 |
| Lime Manufacturing |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
82 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
12 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
3 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
6 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
5 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
3 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
4 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
1 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
5 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Nail Salons |
2 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
13 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
4 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
89 |
| Office Administrative Services |
13 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
6 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
27 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
19 |
| Offices of Dentists |
54 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
70 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
20 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
3 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
9 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
5 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
6 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
6 |
| Payroll Services |
1 |
| Periodical Publishers |
1 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
3 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
17 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
2 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
5 |
| Poultry Processing |
6 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Primary Smelting and Refining of Copper |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
2 |
| Professional Organizations |
2 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
5 |
| Radio Stations |
13 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
2 |
| Real Estate Credit |
7 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
3 |
| Remediation Services |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
10 |
| Residential Remodelers |
3 |
| Retail Bakeries |
1 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Sales Financing |
2 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
13 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
2 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
5 |
| Shoe Stores |
19 |
| Siding Contractors |
3 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
2 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
6 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
1 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
21 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
4 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
10 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
15 |
| Temporary Shelters |
3 |
| Testing Laboratories |
2 |
| Textile Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
18 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
7 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
22 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
4 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
13 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
5 |
| Veterinary Services |
10 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
7 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
3 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
14 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
7 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
A business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Obtaining startup financing for your Fort Smith business is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Fort Smith or are selling to customers throughout Arkansas, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
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.
Successful business owners recognize that they don't know everything.
As an entrepreneur who lives in Fort Smith, Arkansas, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Arkansas universities, colleges and community colleges. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate networking groups or organizations in which Fort Smith entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Fort Smith. 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 Fort Smith businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Fort Smith 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 Fort Smith.
