Missouri Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Kansas City, Missouri

Need help starting a business in Kansas City, Missouri? We've got the information you need to open a business in Kansas City.

Do You Have What It Takes?

An entrepreneurial life is hard work, much more arduous than working as an employee. Are you positive you are ready to take on this challenge?

Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Kansas City. Get their candid feedback on what it takes to start a successful business.
  • You should read Business Failure. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Involve a spouse, family member or trusted friend in the decision. 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.

What Business Are You Starting?

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. You might get some good ideas about what kind of business to start by reading Business Ideas That Don't Make Sense.

For in-depth how-to guides on how to start specific businesses, browse our Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Laboratory Animals Business guide or our Opening a Shuttle Transportation Services Business guide.

Don't forget that your new business will be in Kansas City. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Kansas City. A critical consideration is whether Kansas City demographics mesh well with your startup concept.

Kansas City, Missouri Demographic Information

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.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
44966
5-9 Employees
16796
10-19 Employees
13170
20-49 Employees
9858
50-99 Employees
3636
100-249 Employees
2268
250-499 Employees
606
500-999 Employees
252
1000+ Employees
168
All Kansas City Businesses
91720

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
Advertising Agencies
54
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
2
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
10
Architectural Services
92
Armored Car Services
5
Art Dealers
10
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
5
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
11
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
84
Automotive Transmission Repair
17
Barber Shops
7
Beauty Salons
154
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
3
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
6
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
51
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Boat Dealers
2
Book Stores
25
Books Printing
3
Bowling Centers
6
Building Inspection Services
11
Business Associations
48
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cable and Other Program Distribution
1
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
4
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
33
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
17
Casino Hotels
2
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
1
Caterers
21
Charter Bus Industry
1
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
26
Child Day Care Services
138
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
13
Civic and Social Organizations
63
Claims Adjusting
11
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
3
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
32
Collection Agencies
15
Commercial Bakeries
3
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
45
Commercial Photography
25
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
8
Commodity Contracts Dealing
7
Community Food Services
5
Computer and Software Stores
17
Computer Facilities Management Services
5
Computer Systems Design Services
70
Computer Training
3
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
8
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
8
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Consumer Lending
47
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
8
Convenience Stores
38
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
2
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
3
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
4
Couriers
26
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
5
Credit Bureaus
2
Credit Unions
47
Crop Harvesting, Primarily by Machine
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
90
Dance Companies
1
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
10
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
4
Digital Printing
6
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
21
Direct Mail Advertising
9
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
18
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
8
Display Advertising
7
Document Preparation Services
14
Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
3
Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing
1
Drafting Services
6
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
102
Educational Support Services
14
Electric Power Distribution
9
Electrical Contractors
107
Electronic Shopping
16
Elementary and Secondary Schools
68
Emergency and Other Relief Services
4
Employment Placement Agencies
18
Envelope Manufacturing
3
Environmental Consulting Services
7
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
11
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
21
Facilities Support Services
9
Family Clothing Stores
44
Family Planning Centers
2
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
10
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
1
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
25
Finish Carpentry Contractors
31
Fish and Seafood Markets
2
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
54
Flight Training
3
Floor Covering Stores
23
Flooring Contractors
18
Florists
34
Flour Milling
2
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
10
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
4
Food Service Contractors
76
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
7
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
2
Freight Transportation Arrangement
66
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
2
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
3
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Full-Service Restaurants
438
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
28
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
7
General Automotive Repair
140
General Freight Trucking, Local
44
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
12
General Rental Centers
14
General Warehousing and Storage
62
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
56
Glass and Glazing Contractors
8
Grantmaking Foundations
35
Graphic Design Services
47
Greeting Card Publishers
2
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
3
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
20
Hardware Stores
18
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
3
Heating Oil Dealers
2
Historical Sites
2
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
21
Home Centers
12
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
19
Home Health Care Services
58
Homes for the Elderly
13
Household Appliance Stores
14
Human Rights Organizations
10
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
5
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
4
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
297
Interior Design Services
17
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
5
Internet Service Providers
8
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
7
Investigation Services
7
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Janitorial Services
131
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
44
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
8
Land Subdivision
15
Landscaping Services
118
Language Schools
1
Lead Pencil and Art Good Manufacturing
1
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
1
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
13
Libraries and Archives
13
Limited-Service Restaurants
413
Linen Supply
3
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
21
Locksmiths
8
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
27
Mail-Order Houses
18
Manifold Business Forms Printing
2
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
2
Marketing Consulting Services
71
Marking Device Manufacturing
4
Masonry Contractors
42
Materials Recovery Facilities
4
Meat Markets
5
Media Buying Agencies
4
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
15
Men's Clothing Stores
17
Metal Can Manufacturing
2
Metal Heat Treating
2
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
3
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
2
Miscellaneous Intermediation
11
Mobile Food Services
6
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
49
Motion Picture and Video Production
15
Motor Vehicle Towing
12
Motorcycle Dealers
9
Museums
10
Musical Groups and Artists
7
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
10
Nail Salons
15
Natural Gas Distribution
6
New Car Dealers
57
New Housing Operative Builders
24
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
15
Nonresidential Property Managers
26
Nursing Care Facilities
39
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
20
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
15
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
2
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
116
Offices of Chiropractors
67
Offices of Dentists
242
Offices of Lawyers
544
Offices of Other Holding Companies
34
Offices of Podiatrists
16
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
29
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
7
Optical Goods Stores
26
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
6
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
2
Packing and Crating
4
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
7
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
21
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
69
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
1
Paperboard Mills
1
Passenger Car Leasing
2
Passenger Car Rental
16
Payroll Services
9
Periodical Publishers
19
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
3
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
18
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
22
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
75
Photography Studios, Portrait
32
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
4
Political Organizations
7
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
2
Portfolio Management
26
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
4
Prepress Services
10
Printing Ink Manufacturing
6
Private Mail Centers
6
Professional Employer Organizations
4
Professional Organizations
21
Public Relations Agencies
21
Racetracks
1
Radio Stations
9
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
4
Real Estate Credit
57
Real Estate Investment Trusts
3
Record Production
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
4
Reinsurance Carriers
6
Remediation Services
3
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
90
Residential Remodelers
137
Retail Bakeries
11
Roofing Contractors
27
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Sales Financing
23
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
17
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
19
Secondary Market Financing
2
Securities and Commodity Exchanges
1
Securities Brokerage
88
Security Guards and Patrol Services
41
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
9
Shoe Stores
54
Sign Manufacturing
11
Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing
1
Site Preparation Contractors
30
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
75
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
5
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
10
Solid Waste Landfill
4
Sound Recording Studios
5
Soybean Processing
1
Special Needs Transportation
6
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
1
Sporting Goods Stores
24
Sports and Recreation Instruction
15
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply
1
Storage Battery Manufacturing
1
Surface-Coated Paperboard Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
62
Taxi Service
6
Telemarketing Bureaus
5
Telephone Answering Services
4
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
9
Temporary Help Services
81
Temporary Shelters
14
Testing Laboratories
6
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
13
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
11
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
13
Tire Dealers
33
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
1
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
11
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
5
Translation and Interpretation Services
8
Travel Agencies
30
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
2
Used Car Dealers
60
Used Merchandise Stores
54
Vending Machine Operators
30
Veterinary Services
53
Video Tape and Disc Rental
34
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
29
Voluntary Health Organizations
22
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
7
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Web Search Portals
1
Wet Corn Milling
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
112
Window Treatment Stores
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
80
Women's Clothing Stores
79
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

Have You Considered Buying an Existing Kansas City Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Missouri. Follow that link and you can review several good businesses for sale in Kansas City.

If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Don't Forget to Create a Business Plan

A business plan is critical in laying a solid foundation for your business success. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Outsourcing. You should also take advantage of face-to-face free consulting available from your local SCORE chapter in Missouri.

Building Up Your Sales

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Kansas City business, you need to focus on sales.

Good selling involves demonstrating that your wares meet your customer's needs. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Closing Sales Techniques 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

Good business owners know that they need to continually improve.

As an entrepreneur who lives in Kansas City, Missouri, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Missouri educational institutions. We also recommend you look into networking organizations for Kansas City entrepreneurs.

Kansas City Entrepreneur Interviews

Enjoy these interviews we've had with Kansas City entrepreneurs.

Now It's Up To You

As an entrepreneur in Kansas City, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Kansas City and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Kansas City 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 Kansas City, Missouri

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Missouri

Starting a Business in Kahoka
Starting a Business in Kearney

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

 

 

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