Contemplating starting a business in Little Rock, Arkansas? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Little Rock.
Before quitting your day job, 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:
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 Good Business Ideas.
Remember that starting a business in Little Rock has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Little Rock than others. Only by spending some time analyzing Little Rock demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Little Rock has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Little Rock demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Little Rock.
As a new Little Rock entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Little Rock 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 |
36 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
2 |
| Alumina Refining |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
5 |
|
Apprenticeship Training |
6 |
| Architectural Services |
49 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
10 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
2 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
10 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
40 |
|
Automotive Transmission Repair |
4 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
4 |
| Barber Shops |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
58 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
53 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Book Publishers |
3 |
|
Book Stores |
8 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Breweries |
1 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
3 |
| Business Associations |
42 |
|
Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
13 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
8 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
9 |
| Caterers |
14 |
|
Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Cheese Manufacturing |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
12 |
| Child Day Care Services |
88 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
8 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
38 |
| Claims Adjusting |
14 |
|
Clothing Accessories Stores |
8 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
12 |
| Collection Agencies |
13 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
1 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
19 |
| Commercial Photography |
5 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
6 |
|
Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
3 |
| Community Food Services |
6 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
12 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
41 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Consumer Lending |
3 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
13 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
4 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
5 |
| Couriers |
13 |
|
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
7 |
| Credit Bureaus |
4 |
| Credit Unions |
19 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
36 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
1 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
4 |
|
Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
14 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
2 |
| Digital Printing |
1 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
24 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
10 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
5 |
|
Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
6 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
22 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
9 |
| Educational Support Services |
11 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
25 |
| Electrical Contractors |
54 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Electronic Shopping |
2 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
21 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
11 |
| Engineering Services |
79 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
10 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
12 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
11 |
|
Facilities Support Services |
1 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
28 |
| Family Planning Centers |
2 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
10 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
29 |
|
Flight Training |
1 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
19 |
| Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
17 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
8 |
| Food Service Contractors |
24 |
|
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
13 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
1 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
190 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
8 |
|
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Furniture Stores |
37 |
| General Automotive Repair |
48 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
12 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
6 |
| General Rental Centers |
5 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
11 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
31 |
|
Glass and Glazing Contractors |
4 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
7 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
19 |
| Graphic Design Services |
18 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Hardware Stores |
9 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
1 |
|
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
8 |
| Home Centers |
2 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Home Health Care Services |
14 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
4 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
14 |
|
Ice Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
5 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Launderers |
3 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
2 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
197 |
| Interior Design Services |
20 |
|
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
3 |
| Internet Service Providers |
5 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
3 |
| Investment Advice |
33 |
| Janitorial Services |
55 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
22 |
|
Junior Colleges |
3 |
| Kaolin and Ball Clay Mining |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
11 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
9 |
| Landscaping Services |
59 |
| Language Schools |
1 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
12 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
177 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Linen Supply |
2 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
8 |
| Locksmiths |
8 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
1 |
|
Machine Shops |
6 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
5 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
25 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
15 |
| Meat Markets |
2 |
|
Media Representatives |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
9 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
17 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
2 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
8 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
19 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
21 |
|
Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
7 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
7 |
| Museums |
3 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
3 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Nail Salons |
5 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
1 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
23 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
12 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
3 |
| News Syndicates |
2 |
|
Newspaper Publishers |
5 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
14 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
16 |
| Office Administrative Services |
45 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
22 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
12 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
122 |
|
Offices of Chiropractors |
20 |
| Offices of Dentists |
130 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
401 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
20 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
14 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
5 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
34 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
|
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
14 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
12 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
32 |
|
Parking Lots and Garages |
3 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
12 |
| Payroll Services |
6 |
| Periodical Publishers |
15 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
6 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
10 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
6 |
|
Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
42 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
15 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
14 |
| Portfolio Management |
21 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
|
Professional Employer Organizations |
1 |
| Professional Organizations |
28 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
8 |
| Quick Printing |
8 |
| Radio Networks |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
19 |
| Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
1 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
6 |
|
Real Estate Credit |
21 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
3 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
4 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
3 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
|
Residential Property Managers |
34 |
| Residential Remodelers |
30 |
| Retail Bakeries |
5 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
6 |
| Roofing Contractors |
8 |
| Sales Financing |
10 |
| Satellite Telecommunications |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
|
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
8 |
| Schiffli Machine Embroidery |
1 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
39 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
12 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
2 |
|
Shoe Stores |
27 |
| Siding Contractors |
7 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
7 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
13 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
27 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
10 |
|
Solid Waste Collection |
3 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
3 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
4 |
| Soybean Processing |
1 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
21 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
6 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
|
Support Activities for Forestry |
4 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
20 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
2 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
4 |
| Television Broadcasting |
5 |
| Temporary Help Services |
54 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
|
Testing Laboratories |
6 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
5 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
3 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Tire Dealers |
27 |
| Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading) |
1 |
| Tire Retreading |
3 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
15 |
|
Tobacco Stores |
22 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tour Operators |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
6 |
| Used Car Dealers |
13 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
6 |
|
Used Merchandise Stores |
24 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
6 |
| Veterinary Services |
31 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
13 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
12 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
17 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
2 |
|
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
45 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
3 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
33 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
40 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Examine a list of Little Rock businesses and you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. Is franchising maybe a better way for you to start your business?
Our advice is to investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as The Franchising Process. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.
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.
Company names should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.
On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Little Rock, it's very important that you make sure no Arkansas company has already registered the company name you have selected.
Obtaining startup financing for your Little Rock business will be harder than you might expect. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.
Good entrepreneurs recognize that they need to continually improve.
Given that you are starting a business in Little Rock, 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 Little Rock entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Little Rock. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
From this point on, you control your own destiny.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Little Rock and elsewhere to achieve real success. 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 Little Rock.
