Are you starting a business in Kansas City, Kansas? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Kansas City.
Most startup companies don't make it, in part because the business owner did not have the tenacity and/or the skills to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
Kansas City has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Kansas City demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Kansas City.
As a new Kansas City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Kansas City 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 |
1 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
3 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
2 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
2 |
| Architectural Services |
3 |
| Art Dealers |
2 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
1 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
32 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
5 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
17 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
28 |
| Boat Dealers |
1 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
3 |
| Bottled Water Manufacturing |
2 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
8 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
1 |
| Car Washes |
4 |
| Caterers |
3 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
6 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
3 |
| Child Day Care Services |
29 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
17 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
2 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
10 |
| Collection Agencies |
1 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
3 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
11 |
| Commercial Photography |
1 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
2 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
4 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
5 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
10 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
3 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
16 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
1 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
3 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
3 |
| Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
37 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
7 |
| Educational Support Services |
2 |
| Electrical Contractors |
19 |
| Electronic Auctions |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
1 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
16 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
1 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
2 |
| Engineering Services |
10 |
| Envelope Manufacturing |
1 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
1 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
5 |
| Facilities Support Services |
2 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
2 |
| Family Planning Centers |
1 |
| Farm Product Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
2 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
12 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
1 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
5 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
9 |
| Flooring Contractors |
7 |
| Florists |
7 |
| Flour Milling |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
2 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
9 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
5 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
8 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
65 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
15 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Furniture Stores |
4 |
| General Automotive Repair |
41 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
14 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
3 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
17 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
4 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
3 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
5 |
| Graphic Design Services |
3 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
4 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
1 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Home Centers |
1 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
4 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
29 |
| Interior Design Services |
2 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
29 |
| Jewelry Stores |
4 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
3 |
| Land Subdivision |
2 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
25 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
4 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
76 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
4 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
1 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Machine Shops |
11 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
2 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
12 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Medical Laboratories |
4 |
| Metal Stamping |
1 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
2 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
6 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
2 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
1 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
10 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
3 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
7 |
| Office Administrative Services |
5 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
4 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
4 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
14 |
| Offices of Dentists |
33 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
51 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
3 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
3 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
1 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
1 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
2 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
2 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
11 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
1 |
| Payroll Services |
2 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
2 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
5 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
18 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
2 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
2 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Poultry Processing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
3 |
| Printing Ink Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Racetracks |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
2 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
1 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
4 |
| Remediation Services |
2 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
3 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
17 |
| Residential Remodelers |
21 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
3 |
| Roofing Contractors |
12 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
3 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing |
2 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
2 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
12 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
2 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
4 |
| Siding Contractors |
6 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
23 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
7 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
5 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
3 |
| Surface Active Agent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
14 |
| Television Broadcasting |
1 |
| Temporary Help Services |
8 |
| Temporary Shelters |
2 |
| Testing Laboratories |
5 |
| Thread Mills |
1 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Tire Dealers |
7 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
4 |
| Tobacco Stores |
4 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
1 |
| Travel Agencies |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
20 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
5 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
10 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
2 |
| Veterinary Services |
7 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
6 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
11 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
13 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
6 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
Browse the Yellow Pages for Kansas City and you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. But is franchising the right option for you?
Most business experts recommend that you investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchise Due Diligence. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.
Writing a business plan is critical in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Starting a business without a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.
Whether your goal is to attract Kansas City customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.
We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Newspaper Advertising Costs discusses marketing strategy and tactical marketing in a way that should get you thinking about how to creatively promote your business. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.
Given that you are starting a business in Kansas City, Kansas, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Kansas educational institutions. It's also wise to see if there are any Kansas City networking organizations.
Most new Kansas City businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
We are here to help Kansas City businesses to be successful. 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 Kansas City.
