Oklahoma Business Startup Guides

Opening a Business in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Contemplating starting a business in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Oklahoma City.

What Business Are You Starting?

There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? To stir your creative juices on what kind of business to start, take a look at Good Business Ideas.

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 Starting an Oriental Restaurant guide or our Starting a Stair Resurfacing Business guide.

Always keep in mind that you are starting a business in Oklahoma City. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Oklahoma City. Only by spending some time analyzing Oklahoma City demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
30664
5-9 Employees
11151
10-19 Employees
7704
20-49 Employees
5616
50-99 Employees
1968
100-249 Employees
1140
250-499 Employees
270
500-999 Employees
90
1000+ Employees
78
All Oklahoma City Businesses
58681

As a new Oklahoma City entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Oklahoma 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
47
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
5
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Ambulance Services
1
Amusement and Theme Parks
4
Amusement Arcades
5
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
13
Apprenticeship Training
5
Architectural Services
69
Armored Car Services
3
Art Dealers
11
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
21
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
121
Automotive Transmission Repair
26
Baked Goods Stores
11
Barber Shops
6
Beauty Salons
127
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
4
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
2
Blood and Organ Banks
10
Boat Dealers
8
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
26
Bowling Centers
11
Breweries
1
Building Inspection Services
5
Business and Secretarial Schools
5
Business Associations
62
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cable and Other Program Distribution
5
Cafeterias
32
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
1
Car Washes
54
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
18
Caterers
22
Cemeteries and Crematories
13
Charter Bus Industry
3
Cheese Manufacturing
1
Child and Youth Services
25
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
16
Civic and Social Organizations
55
Claims Adjusting
25
Clothing Accessories Stores
21
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
31
Collection Agencies
29
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
46
Commercial Photography
10
Commercial Screen Printing
12
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
6
Community Food Services
7
Computer and Software Stores
40
Computer Systems Design Services
58
Computer Training
3
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
3
Confectionery and Nut Stores
9
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
5
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
3
Consumer Lending
78
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
9
Convenience Stores
45
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
9
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
6
Couriers
33
Credit Bureaus
4
Credit Unions
48
Curtain and Drapery Mills
8
Custom Computer Programming Services
86
Dance Companies
3
Dental Laboratories
22
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
36
Digital Printing
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
29
Direct Mail Advertising
10
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
18
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
9
Discount Department Stores
8
Display Advertising
7
Document Preparation Services
17
Drafting Services
1
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
33
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
104
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Dry Pasta Manufacturing
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
44
Electric Power Distribution
3
Electrical Contractors
163
Electronic Shopping
18
Elementary and Secondary Schools
32
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
19
Engineering Services
165
Environmental Consulting Services
26
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
11
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
42
Fabric Coating Mills
1
Facilities Support Services
12
Family Clothing Stores
70
Family Planning Centers
7
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
5
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
1
Fine Arts Schools
18
Finish Carpentry Contractors
61
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
56
Flight Training
3
Floor Covering Stores
42
Flooring Contractors
29
Florists
40
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
20
Food Service Contractors
31
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
2
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
22
Framing Contractors
30
Freight Transportation Arrangement
24
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
3
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
1
Full-Service Restaurants
511
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
31
Furniture Stores
56
General Automotive Repair
191
General Freight Trucking, Local
46
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
16
General Rental Centers
16
General Warehousing and Storage
21
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
72
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
12
Grantmaking Foundations
31
Graphic Design Services
33
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
17
Hardware Stores
24
Historical Sites
2
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
35
Home Centers
11
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
21
Home Health Care Services
75
Home Health Equipment Rental
7
Household Appliance Stores
24
Human Rights Organizations
11
Ice Manufacturing
2
Industrial Building Construction
10
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
2
Industrial Launderers
15
Industrial Sand Mining
1
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
454
Interior Design Services
32
International Trade Financing
1
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
11
Internet Service Providers
9
Investigation Services
23
Investment Advice
66
Iron and Steel Mills
2
Janitorial Services
124
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
3
Jewelry Stores
71
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Landscape Architectural Services
12
Landscaping Services
126
Language Schools
2
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
26
Libraries and Archives
3
Limited-Service Restaurants
521
Limousine Service
4
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
6
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
20
Locksmiths
6
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
47
Mail-Order Houses
17
Manifold Business Forms Printing
4
Marinas
2
Marketing Consulting Services
20
Marking Device Manufacturing
4
Masonry Contractors
51
Materials Recovery Facilities
2
Mattress Manufacturing
6
Meat Markets
11
Media Buying Agencies
2
Media Representatives
4
Medical Laboratories
39
Men's Clothing Stores
19
Metal Can Manufacturing
2
Metal Heat Treating
2
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
2
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
4
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
2
Miscellaneous Intermediation
69
Mobile Food Services
6
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
39
Motion Picture and Video Production
12
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
18
Motorcycle Dealers
18
Museums
8
Musical Groups and Artists
10
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
14
Narrow Fabric Mills
2
Natural Gas Distribution
10
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
6
New Car Dealers
66
New Housing Operative Builders
39
News Syndicates
2
Newspaper Publishers
21
Nursing Care Facilities
46
Office Administrative Services
93
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
36
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
28
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
1
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
232
Offices of Chiropractors
72
Offices of Lawyers
794
Offices of Optometrists
57
Offices of Other Holding Companies
23
Offices of Podiatrists
14
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
42
One-Hour Photofinishing
5
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
2
Optical Goods Stores
40
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
12
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Packing and Crating
2
Paging
3
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
7
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
87
Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
25
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
24
Payroll Services
12
Periodical Publishers
15
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
20
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
13
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
95
Photography Studios, Portrait
36
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
2
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
3
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
3
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
16
Portfolio Management
31
Poultry Processing
1
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
4
Private Mail Centers
6
Professional Employer Organizations
23
Professional Organizations
45
Public Relations Agencies
28
Quick Printing
13
Racetracks
1
Radio Stations
22
Real Estate Credit
56
Real Estate Investment Trusts
3
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
8
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Remediation Services
12
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
9
Residential Remodelers
91
Retail Bakeries
9
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
11
Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing
1
Roofing Contractors
61
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills
1
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
31
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
2
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
9
School and Employee Bus Transportation
2
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities and Commodity Exchanges
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
21
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sewage Treatment Facilities
3
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
6
Shoe Stores
73
Siding Contractors
11
Sign Manufacturing
22
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
90
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
4
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
20
Solid Waste Collection
13
Solid Waste Landfill
8
Sound Recording Studios
1
Sporting Goods Stores
58
Sports and Recreation Instruction
21
Sports Teams and Clubs
1
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply
2
Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
51
Telemarketing Bureaus
11
Telephone Answering Services
7
Television Broadcasting
8
Temporary Help Services
89
Temporary Shelters
9
Testing Laboratories
11
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
25
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
13
Tire Dealers
55
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
1
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
37
Tobacco Stores
16
Tour Operators
2
Tradebinding and Related Work
6
Travel Agencies
31
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
3
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
84
Used Merchandise Stores
47
Vending Machine Operators
20
Veterinary Services
87
Video Tape and Disc Rental
39
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
16
Voluntary Health Organizations
21
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
12
Web Search Portals
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
108
Window Treatment Stores
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
79
Women's Clothing Stores
82
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
1
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
6
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

What About Franchising Opportunities?

As you drive around Oklahoma City, you'll notice that many local entrepreneurs have gone the franchising route. So, it probably makes sense for you to consider franchising too.

We highly recommend you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Scams. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

A comprehensive list of franchisors is available via our List of Franchise Opportunities.

Sample franchise opportunities include Blind Butler and D.E.I. Sales Training Systems. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Healthy Alternative Foods Franchises and Payroll Service Franchises.

Note on Oklahoma City Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Oklahoma City, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Forming a Company in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

When forming a company, you will select one of many company types, such as a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. A key decision is whether to form and S-Corp or a C-Corp, and you also must decide in which state you will incorporate. If you are starting a business in Oklahoma, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Oklahoma. In fact, you can incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Avoiding Personal Liability in Business. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, our web page covering Incorporating in Oklahoma may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Oklahoma.

Bring in Revenues

Being able to sell is a key enabler to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Oklahoma City or are selling to customers throughout Oklahoma, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

The key to selling is to set sales goals goals and monitor your progress towards those goals. The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.

Good Sales Strategies is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Learning More About Entrepreneurship

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

Given that you are starting a business in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, you should get information on some of the many programs available at nearby Oklahoma universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any networking groups or organizations in which Oklahoma City entrepreneurs get together to network and trade their business experiences.

Oklahoma City Entrepreneur Interviews

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

Never Give Up

You have a dream -- starting a business in Oklahoma City. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

We are here to help Oklahoma City businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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

More Business Startup Guides for Oklahoma

Starting a Business in Okemah
Starting a Business in Okmulgee

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

 

 

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