Contemplating starting a business in Houston, Texas? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Houston.
Houston has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Houston demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Houston.
As a new Houston entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Houston 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 |
7 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
7 |
| Advertising Agencies |
136 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
7 |
| Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
2 |
| Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
83 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
25 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
6 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
40 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
10 |
| Architectural Services |
312 |
| Armored Car Services |
9 |
| Art Dealers |
54 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
4 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
27 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
37 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
41 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
379 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
62 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
43 |
| Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing |
1 |
| Barber Shops |
51 |
| Beauty Salons |
513 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
4 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
196 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
10 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
16 |
| Boat Building |
2 |
| Boat Dealers |
21 |
| Book Publishers |
21 |
| Book Stores |
86 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
3 |
| Bowling Centers |
13 |
| Breweries |
4 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
39 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
2 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
12 |
| Business Associations |
92 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
13 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
11 |
| Cafeterias |
117 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
16 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
17 |
| Car Washes |
111 |
| Carpet and Rug Mills |
1 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
43 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Caterers |
59 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
54 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
7 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
4 |
| Child and Youth Services |
54 |
| Child Day Care Services |
554 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
56 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
156 |
| Claims Adjusting |
62 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
78 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
6 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
96 |
| Collection Agencies |
83 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
20 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
158 |
| Commercial Photography |
38 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
39 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
27 |
| Commodity Contracts Dealing |
28 |
| Community Food Services |
17 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
117 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
59 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
562 |
| Computer Training |
33 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
4 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
6 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
13 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
15 |
| Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
8 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
8 |
| Consumer Lending |
87 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
20 |
| Convenience Stores |
455 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
32 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
2 |
| Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding |
1 |
| Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
22 |
| Couriers |
95 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
46 |
| Credit Bureaus |
21 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
7 |
| Credit Unions |
155 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
20 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
10 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
512 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
12 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
5 |
| Deep Sea Freight Transportation |
21 |
| Deep Sea Passenger Transportation |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
49 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
77 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
25 |
| Digital Printing |
20 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
107 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
32 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
87 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
23 |
| Discount Department Stores |
22 |
| Display Advertising |
21 |
| Document Preparation Services |
50 |
| Drafting Services |
27 |
| Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
69 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
380 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
6 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
154 |
| Educational Support Services |
45 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
69 |
| Electrical Contractors |
412 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Auctions |
6 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
8 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Resistor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
65 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
183 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
11 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
141 |
| Engineering Services |
1,045 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
2 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
115 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
49 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
99 |
| Facilities Support Services |
62 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
213 |
| Family Planning Centers |
16 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
5 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
36 |
| Fats and Oils Refining and Blending |
2 |
| Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
68 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
141 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
14 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
226 |
| Flat Glass Manufacturing |
1 |
| Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
101 |
| Flooring Contractors |
76 |
| Florists |
106 |
| Flour Milling |
2 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
89 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Food Service Contractors |
235 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
20 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
29 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
16 |
| Framing Contractors |
58 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
360 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
8 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
4 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
8 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
1,687 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
92 |
| Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing |
1 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
97 |
| Furniture Stores |
308 |
| General Automotive Repair |
752 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
136 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
37 |
| General Rental Centers |
40 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
111 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
208 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
38 |
| Glass Container Manufacturing |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
24 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
86 |
| Graphic Design Services |
152 |
| Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Gypsum Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
7 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
6 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
118 |
| Hardware Stores |
76 |
| Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
8 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
9 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
3 |
| Historical Sites |
3 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
66 |
| Home Centers |
34 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
106 |
| Home Health Care Services |
417 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
14 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
46 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
51 |
| Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing |
1 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
9 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
7 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
28 |
| Industrial Design Services |
16 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
3 |
| Industrial Launderers |
39 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
5 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
4 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
33 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
10 |
| Inland Water Passenger Transportation |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
5 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
1,335 |
| Interior Design Services |
161 |
| International Trade Financing |
5 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
21 |
| Internet Service Providers |
36 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
13 |
| Investigation Services |
71 |
| Investment Advice |
262 |
| Iron and Steel Forging |
6 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
10 |
| Iron Foundries |
3 |
| Irradiation Apparatus Manufacturing |
2 |
| Janitorial Services |
308 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
11 |
| Jewelry Stores |
292 |
| Junior Colleges |
16 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
49 |
| Land Subdivision |
100 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
40 |
| Landscaping Services |
381 |
| Language Schools |
25 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
60 |
| Libraries and Archives |
11 |
| Lime Manufacturing |
1 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
1,842 |
| Limousine Service |
38 |
| Linen Supply |
12 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
84 |
| Locksmiths |
38 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
10 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
336 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
47 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
5 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
14 |
| Marinas |
12 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
25 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
193 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
5 |
| Masonry Contractors |
103 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
4 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
9 |
| Meat Markets |
90 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
8 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
9 |
| Media Representatives |
8 |
| Medical Laboratories |
48 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
2 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
76 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
17 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
4 |
| Metal Stamping |
11 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
19 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
15 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
174 |
| Mobile Food Services |
10 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
201 |
| Motion Picture and Video Distribution |
2 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
59 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
7 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
7 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
37 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
28 |
| Museums |
33 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
21 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
29 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
44 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
57 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
17 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
15 |
| New Car Dealers |
144 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
72 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
14 |
| News Syndicates |
4 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
41 |
| Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonferrous Forging |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
341 |
| Nonwoven Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
71 |
| Office Administrative Services |
566 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
92 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
87 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
5 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
745 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
268 |
| Offices of Dentists |
1,121 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
2,661 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
216 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
145 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
70 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
123 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
9 |
| Open-End Investment Funds |
11 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
5 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
92 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
13 |
| Outerwear Knitting Mills |
3 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
14 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Packing and Crating |
22 |
| Paging |
11 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
24 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
61 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
191 |
| Paper (except Newsprint) Mills |
1 |
| Paperboard Mills |
1 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
252 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
12 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
112 |
| Payroll Services |
61 |
| Periodical Publishers |
72 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
11 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
55 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
50 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
65 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
368 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
118 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
10 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
65 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
17 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
5 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
6 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
22 |
| Political Organizations |
34 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
3 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
2 |
| Portfolio Management |
178 |
| Poultry Processing |
5 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
30 |
| Prepress Services |
16 |
| Primary Battery Manufacturing |
2 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Private Mail Centers |
50 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
66 |
| Professional Organizations |
49 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
52 |
| Quick Printing |
76 |
| Racetracks |
4 |
| Radio Networks |
6 |
| Radio Stations |
46 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
27 |
| Real Estate Credit |
291 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
50 |
| Record Production |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
3 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
10 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
7 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
10 |
| Remediation Services |
37 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
10 |
| Residential Property Managers |
427 |
| Residential Remodelers |
257 |
| Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing |
1 |
| Retail Bakeries |
63 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
54 |
| Rice Milling |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
109 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
2 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
2 |
| Sales Financing |
89 |
| Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
15 |
| Savings Institutions |
111 |
| Sawmills |
5 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
10 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
53 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
13 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
7 |
| Securities Brokerage |
266 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
133 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
10 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
14 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
50 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
2 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
16 |
| Shoe Stores |
265 |
| Siding Contractors |
37 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
80 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
114 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
3 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
332 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
10 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
9 |
| Software Publishers |
116 |
| Software Reproducing |
7 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
55 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
22 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
15 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
5 |
| Specialty Canning |
2 |
| Spice and Extract Manufacturing |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
123 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
77 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
9 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
4 |
| Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
7 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
3 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
4 |
| Steel Investment Foundries |
2 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
7 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
2 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
2 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
1 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
5 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
140 |
| Taxi Service |
7 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
39 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
33 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
28 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
1 |
| Television Broadcasting |
17 |
| Temporary Help Services |
500 |
| Temporary Shelters |
15 |
| Testing Laboratories |
120 |
| Textile Bag Mills |
4 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
23 |
| Thread Mills |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
75 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
47 |
| Tire Dealers |
143 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tire Retreading |
6 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
63 |
| Tobacco Stores |
21 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
12 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
12 |
| Tour Operators |
28 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
19 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
34 |
| Travel Agencies |
241 |
| Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing |
3 |
| Truck Trailer Manufacturing |
4 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
3 |
| Used Car Dealers |
279 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
79 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
150 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
38 |
| Veterinary Services |
178 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
162 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
57 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
43 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
25 |
| Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
107 |
| Web Search Portals |
7 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
597 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
23 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
238 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
336 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
19 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Preservation |
3 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
14 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
4 |
A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.
Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.
There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Houston, it's critical that you ensure that no Texas company has already registered the company name you have selected.
Obtaining startup financing for your Houston business is a difficult chore. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.
Whether your goal is to attract Houston customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Houston business, you need to focus on sales.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
As an entrepreneur in Houston, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Houston and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Houston, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Houston.
