Texas Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Fort Worth, Texas

Need help starting a business in Fort Worth, Texas? We've got the information you need to open a business in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth, Texas Demographic Information

Fort Worth has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for Fort Worth demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Fort Worth.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
22740
5-9 Employees
8980
10-19 Employees
6543
20-49 Employees
4895
50-99 Employees
1782
100-249 Employees
1083
250-499 Employees
270
500-999 Employees
99
1000+ Employees
66
All Fort Worth Businesses
46458

As a new Fort Worth entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Fort Worth 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
5
Advertising Agencies
24
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
6
Ambulance Services
10
Amusement Arcades
8
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
4
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
10
Architectural Services
48
Armored Car Services
3
Art Dealers
8
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
12
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
13
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
96
Baked Goods Stores
13
Barber Shops
9
Beauty Salons
130
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
4
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
77
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
9
Book Publishers
7
Book Stores
18
Bowling Centers
4
Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
2
Breweries
3
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
11
Cable and Other Program Distribution
4
Cafeterias
24
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
6
Canvas and Related Product Mills
6
Car Washes
31
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
16
Caterers
14
Charter Bus Industry
3
Child and Youth Services
23
Child Day Care Services
146
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
15
Cigarette Manufacturing
1
Civic and Social Organizations
87
Claims Adjusting
12
Clothing Accessories Stores
10
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
37
Collection Agencies
11
Commercial Bakeries
4
Commercial Flexographic Printing
4
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Photography
9
Commercial Screen Printing
14
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
5
Community Food Services
20
Computer and Software Stores
20
Computer Facilities Management Services
7
Computer Systems Design Services
67
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
5
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
4
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
3
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
35
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
12
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
3
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
3
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
2
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
6
Couriers
26
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
1
Credit Unions
40
Curtain and Drapery Mills
7
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
6
Custom Computer Programming Services
54
Custom Roll Forming
2
Dance Companies
2
Dental Laboratories
11
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
21
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
6
Digital Printing
3
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
22
Direct Mail Advertising
6
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
4
Discount Department Stores
10
Display Advertising
10
Document Preparation Services
5
Drafting Services
10
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
14
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
96
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
24
Educational Support Services
11
Electric Power Distribution
8
Electrical Contractors
138
Electronic Auctions
1
Electronic Shopping
11
Elementary and Secondary Schools
60
Employment Placement Agencies
22
Engineering Services
129
Envelope Manufacturing
2
Environmental Consulting Services
13
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
13
Explosives Manufacturing
1
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
26
Family Clothing Stores
51
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
9
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
2
Fine Arts Schools
20
Finish Carpentry Contractors
31
Flight Training
5
Floor Covering Stores
21
Flooring Contractors
22
Florists
33
Flour Milling
3
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
19
Food Service Contractors
35
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
3
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
3
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
6
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
8
Framing Contractors
10
Freight Transportation Arrangement
28
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
3
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
4
Full-Service Restaurants
375
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
24
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
7
Furniture Stores
57
General Freight Trucking, Local
34
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
8
General Rental Centers
13
General Warehousing and Storage
34
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
56
Glass and Glazing Contractors
8
Gold Ore Mining
1
Grantmaking Foundations
22
Graphic Design Services
23
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
1
Hardware Manufacturing
2
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
24
Hardware Stores
15
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
3
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
HMO Medical Centers
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
17
Home Centers
12
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
7
Home Health Care Services
52
Home Health Equipment Rental
6
Household Appliance Stores
17
Human Rights Organizations
4
Hunting and Trapping
3
Ice Manufacturing
2
Industrial Building Construction
3
Industrial Design Services
5
Industrial Launderers
6
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
3
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
3
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
295
Interior Design Services
26
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
3
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
4
Investigation Services
10
Investment Advice
36
Iron and Steel Forging
4
Iron and Steel Mills
4
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
83
Jewelry Stores
64
Kidney Dialysis Centers
4
Land Subdivision
23
Landscape Architectural Services
6
Landscaping Services
134
Language Schools
1
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Libraries and Archives
3
Limited-Service Restaurants
524
Limousine Service
6
Linen Supply
2
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
15
Locksmiths
10
Mail-Order Houses
17
Manifold Business Forms Printing
3
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
18
Marinas
4
Marketing Consulting Services
30
Marking Device Manufacturing
3
Masonry Contractors
37
Mattress Manufacturing
2
Meat Markets
7
Meat Processed from Carcasses
4
Media Buying Agencies
1
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
16
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Metal Can Manufacturing
1
Metal Heat Treating
3
Metal Stamping
3
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
4
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Miscellaneous Intermediation
43
Mixed Mode Transit Systems
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
18
Motion Picture and Video Production
13
Motor Home Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
17
Motorcycle Dealers
15
Museums
15
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
9
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
4
Nail Salons
7
Natural Gas Distribution
8
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
1
New Car Dealers
41
New Housing Operative Builders
19
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
11
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
37
Nursing Care Facilities
39
Office Administrative Services
111
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
18
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
4
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
149
Offices of Chiropractors
56
Offices of Dentists
248
Offices of Lawyers
475
Offices of Optometrists
48
Offices of Other Holding Companies
18
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
11
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
4
Optical Goods Stores
30
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
7
Packaging and Labeling Services
4
Packing and Crating
5
Paging
1
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
4
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
20
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
39
Parking Lots and Garages
60
Passenger Car Rental
9
Periodical Publishers
11
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
3
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
17
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
12
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
12
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
80
Photography Studios, Portrait
34
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
4
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
11
Political Organizations
9
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
2
Portfolio Management
40
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
4
Primary Battery Manufacturing
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
3
Private Mail Centers
11
Professional Employer Organizations
18
Professional Organizations
16
Public Relations Agencies
8
Radio Networks
1
Radio Stations
5
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
13
Real Estate Credit
39
Real Estate Investment Trusts
5
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Reinsurance Carriers
2
Remediation Services
9
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
63
Residential Remodelers
68
Retail Bakeries
11
Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing
1
Roofing Contractors
45
Rooming and Boarding Houses
2
Sales Financing
10
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
19
Sawmills
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
37
School and Employee Bus Transportation
2
Securities Brokerage
96
Security Guards and Patrol Services
24
Septic Tank and Related Services
3
Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Sewage Treatment Facilities
2
Shoe Stores
62
Siding Contractors
4
Sign Manufacturing
16
Site Preparation Contractors
42
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
91
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
4
Software Publishers
13
Solid Waste Collection
6
Solid Waste Landfill
2
Sound Recording Studios
1
Special Needs Transportation
1
Specialty Canning
2
Sporting Goods Stores
35
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Surface Active Agent Manufacturing
1
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
85
Telecommunications Resellers
9
Telemarketing Bureaus
6
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
2
Television Broadcasting
4
Temporary Help Services
90
Temporary Shelters
5
Testing Laboratories
12
Textile Bag Mills
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
12
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
18
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
3
Tire Dealers
45
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
1
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
14
Tobacco Stores
5
Tortilla Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
2
Translation and Interpretation Services
2
Travel Agencies
24
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
3
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
83
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
15
Used Merchandise Stores
39
Vending Machine Operators
9
Veterinary Services
63
Video Tape and Disc Rental
38
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
18
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
10
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
3
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
80
Window Treatment Stores
6
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
71
Women's Clothing Stores
74
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
4
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
3
Wood Preservation
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
5
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Is Franchising a Better Option?

As you drive around Fort Worth, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. But is franchising the right option for you?

Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. This site has dozens of articles on franchising, such as How to Franchise a Business. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include The Master Mechanic and Hot Stuff Foods. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Video and Photography Franchises and Hardware Store Franchises.

Note on Fort Worth Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Fort Worth.

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Fort Worth Business?

We've created a useful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Texas. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Fort Worth.

Before buying a business, be sure to read this article: Buying a Business.

Naming the Company

Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.

We strongly advocate that you make sure the ".com" domain name is available for your company name. Every business needs a strong Web presence these days, and having a non ".com" domain means somebody else may outrank you in the search results for your own company name.

For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Branding Advice.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Fort Worth, it's very important that you make sure no other Texas company is using the business name you want to use.

Startup Financing Basics

Getting your Fort Worth business the capital it needs to succeed is very difficult due to the ongoing business credit crunch. To obtain business financing, you will need to hear a lot of rejections before you finally find a funding solution that works for you.

Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Only Idiots Send Venture Capitalists Business Plans.

For Fort Worth entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, you'll want to take a look at our List of Texas Angel Investors and our List of Texas Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Venture

To grow your Fort Worth business, having an excellent marketing plan is fundamental to your beating the competition.

We have some useful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Avoiding Bad Product Launches is a good read to get your marketing ideas flowing. That's just a taste of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

Advancing Your Entrepreneurial Skills

Successful entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

Given that you are starting a business in Fort Worth, 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 groups or organizations in which Fort Worth entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Never Give Up

You have a dream -- starting a business in Fort Worth. 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 Fort Worth and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Fort Worth 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 Worth, Texas

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

More Business Startup Guides for Texas

Starting a Business in Fort Stockton
Starting a Business in Franklin

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Texas
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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