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  Entrepreneurial Resources - Advice for Arkansas Entrepreneurs  
  Fort Smith, Arkansas Resources for Entrepreneurs  
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Opening a Business in Fort Smith, Arkansas

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.

Do You Have What It Takes?

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:

  • Grab a meal or cofee with other entrepreneurs in Fort Smith. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
  • Take a look at The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a short article but it's a good reality check for those are about to jump into the world of entrepreneurship.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. A support network of family and friends can be a great sounding board for good advice before you decide for sure to go into business.

Fort Smith, Arkansas Demographic Information

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.

Business Size# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees 8896
5-9 Employees 3756
10-19 Employees 2814
20-49 Employees 1848
50-99 Employees 702
100-249 Employees 342
250-499 Employees 108
500-999 Employees 42
1000+ Employees 36
All Fort Smith Businesses 18544

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

Do You Need a Business Plan?

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.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Arkansas.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

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.

For Fort Smith entrepreneurs with great ambition but a shortage of investment capital, check out our List of Arkansas Angel Investors and our List of Arkansas Venture Capital Firms.

The Art of Selling

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.

Compensating Sales People is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial 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.

Now It's Up To You

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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Fort Smith, Arkansas

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Fort Smith.

More Business Startup Guides for Arkansas
Starting a Business in Forrest City
Starting a Business in Gentry

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Arkansas

 

 

Additional Resources for Entrepreneurs

Starting a Business - Business Ideas - Naming and Branding - City Guides

Buying a Business - Writing a Business Plan - Raising Money - Incorporate

Small Business Marketing - Customer Service Tips - Entrepreneurial Selling

Startup Leadership - Strategy - Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurs

Articles on Exporting - Human Resources for Entrepreneurs - Workers Comp

Legal Information for Entrepreneurs - Sarbanes-Oxley - Accounting

Business Credit Cards - Nonprofit Entrepreneurs - Mission Statements

Tax Tips and Resources for Entrepreneurs - Operating Your Startup Business

Real Estate Decisions for Entrepreneurs - Franchising - Selling a Business

Starting a Home Business - Small Business Technology - Business Travel

Business Finance - Advice for Retailers - Entrepreneurship for Scientists

Administrative Professionals / Office Managers - Family Business Advice

Good Businesses to Start - Start an Energy Business - Start a Hedge Fund

Payroll Service Information - Productivity Tips - Bad Economy Advice

Small Business Websites - Search Engine Optimization - Online Reputation

Search Engine Marketing - Social Marketing Optimization - Radio Ad Costs

Newspaper Advertising Rates - City-Specific Resources for Entrepreneurs

Small Business Insurance - Global Entrepreneurship - Entrepreneur Features

Small Business Loans - Studying Entrepreneurship - Social Entrepreneurship

Veteran Entrepreneurs - Useful Web Sites for Entrepreneurs - Dell Deals

Entrepreneurial Resources by State - Resources for Young Entrepreneurs

African American Entrepreneurs - Resources for Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Resources for Asian Entrepreneurs - Resources for Women Entrepreneurs

Resources for Gay Entrepreneurs - Businesses for Sale - Office Supplies

Economics - Lists of Small Business Incubators - Lists of Angel Investors

Lists of Venture Capital and Private Equity Firms - Franchise Opportunities

Recommended Products and Services for Entrepreneurs - Contributors

Get FREE Price Quotes from Multiple Vendors - Business Glossary