Contemplating starting a business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Pittsburgh.
Most new companies do not succeed, in part because the entrepreneur did not have the perseverance and abilities that are necessary to succeed. So, before you open a business, consider all of the implications of being an entrepreneur.
Before you move forward with starting a business, be sure to do these three things:
There are many businesses that you can start. How do you know which type of business is right for you? If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Finding Your Niche in Life.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Pittsburgh. The business you want to start may already be well-represented in Pittsburgh. Only by spending some time analyzing Pittsburgh demographics can you decide if there will be strong demand for your business idea.
Pittsburgh has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Pittsburgh demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Pittsburgh.
As a new Pittsburgh entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Pittsburgh 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 |
2 |
| Adhesive Manufacturing |
2 |
| Advertising Agencies |
56 |
| Aircraft Manufacturing |
1 |
| Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries |
2 |
| Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Ambulance Services |
15 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
|
Amusement Arcades |
9 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
9 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
9 |
| Architectural Services |
103 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
22 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
11 |
|
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
8 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
68 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
19 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
20 |
| Barber Shops |
11 |
| Beauty Salons |
362 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
2 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
9 |
|
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
99 |
| Bituminous Coal Underground Mining |
2 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
1 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
2 |
| Book Publishers |
8 |
| Book Stores |
30 |
| Bowling Centers |
18 |
|
Breweries |
2 |
| Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
9 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
2 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
42 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
11 |
|
Cafeterias |
9 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
9 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
9 |
| Car Washes |
32 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
21 |
| Caterers |
44 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
28 |
|
Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
53 |
| Child Day Care Services |
178 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
143 |
| Claims Adjusting |
22 |
| Clay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
29 |
|
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
18 |
| Collection Agencies |
19 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
10 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
3 |
| Commercial Gravure Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
50 |
| Commercial Photography |
18 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
12 |
|
Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
26 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
15 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
126 |
| Computer Training |
8 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
28 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
|
Construction Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
19 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
12 |
| Convenience Stores |
79 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
16 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
3 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
2 |
|
Couriers |
31 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
4 |
| Credit Card Issuing |
2 |
| Credit Unions |
53 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
5 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
144 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
|
Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
8 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
22 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
10 |
| Digital Printing |
5 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
59 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
16 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
17 |
|
Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
3 |
| Discount Department Stores |
17 |
| Display Advertising |
3 |
| Document Preparation Services |
13 |
| Drafting Services |
5 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
1 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
302 |
| Dry Pasta Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
30 |
| Educational Support Services |
22 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
105 |
| Electronic Auctions |
2 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
2 |
| Electronic Resistor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
12 |
|
Elementary and Secondary Schools |
79 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
31 |
| Engineering Services |
225 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
19 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
19 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
16 |
| Facilities Support Services |
16 |
|
Family Clothing Stores |
63 |
| Family Planning Centers |
8 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
29 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
56 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
2 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
94 |
|
Flight Training |
2 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
35 |
| Flooring Contractors |
38 |
| Florists |
83 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
4 |
| Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
27 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Food Service Contractors |
101 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
6 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
14 |
| Framing Contractors |
17 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
15 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
635 |
|
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
74 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Furniture Stores |
68 |
| General Automotive Repair |
223 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
19 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
18 |
| General Rental Centers |
18 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
20 |
|
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
111 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
19 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
15 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
77 |
| Graphic Design Services |
72 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
3 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
|
Hardware Stores |
30 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
4 |
| Historical Sites |
2 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
28 |
| Home Centers |
15 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
23 |
| Home Health Care Services |
56 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
11 |
|
Homes for the Elderly |
30 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
16 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
8 |
| Hunting and Trapping |
1 |
| Hydroelectric Power Generation |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
5 |
| Industrial Design Services |
7 |
| Industrial Launderers |
13 |
|
Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
3 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
2 |
| Inorganic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing |
1 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
353 |
| Interior Design Services |
29 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
8 |
|
Internet Service Providers |
16 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
3 |
| Investigation Services |
13 |
| Investment Advice |
91 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
6 |
| Iron Foundries |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
154 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
9 |
|
Jewelry Stores |
115 |
| Junior Colleges |
9 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
12 |
| Land Subdivision |
28 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
14 |
| Landscaping Services |
186 |
| Language Schools |
4 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
|
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
5 |
| Libraries and Archives |
33 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
564 |
| Limousine Service |
9 |
| Linen Supply |
7 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
17 |
| Locksmiths |
10 |
| Logging |
1 |
|
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
8 |
| Machine Shops |
21 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
23 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
2 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
1 |
| Marinas |
3 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
50 |
|
Marking Device Manufacturing |
3 |
| Masonry Contractors |
54 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
3 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
1 |
| Meat Markets |
16 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
5 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
4 |
| Media Representatives |
6 |
|
Medical Laboratories |
28 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
32 |
| Metal Heat Treating |
2 |
| Metal Stamping |
2 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
15 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
|
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
97 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
21 |
| Motor and Generator Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
10 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
6 |
| Museums |
12 |
|
Musical Groups and Artists |
21 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nail Salons |
21 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
3 |
| New Car Dealers |
49 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
16 |
|
News Dealers and Newsstands |
15 |
| News Syndicates |
5 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
24 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
57 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
44 |
| Office Administrative Services |
105 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
44 |
|
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
25 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
6 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
189 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
112 |
| Offices of Dentists |
428 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
681 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
53 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
43 |
|
Offices of Podiatrists |
39 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
42 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
10 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
49 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
5 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
|
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
1 |
| Paging |
3 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
4 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
32 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
110 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
113 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
|
Passenger Car Rental |
19 |
| Payroll Services |
13 |
| Periodical Publishers |
22 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
31 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
7 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
127 |
|
Photography Studios, Portrait |
31 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
1 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Political Organizations |
12 |
| Portfolio Management |
107 |
| Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
|
Printing Ink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
7 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
12 |
| Professional Organizations |
35 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
34 |
| Quick Printing |
24 |
| Radio Networks |
2 |
| Radio Stations |
31 |
|
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing |
3 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
5 |
| Real Estate Credit |
66 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
1 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
2 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
3 |
| Remediation Services |
15 |
|
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
2 |
| Residential Property Managers |
61 |
| Residential Remodelers |
184 |
| Retail Bakeries |
22 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
17 |
| Rolled Steel Shape Manufacturing |
1 |
| Roofing Contractors |
45 |
|
Rooming and Boarding Houses |
9 |
| Sales Financing |
22 |
| Savings Institutions |
110 |
| Sawmills |
1 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
17 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
19 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
85 |
|
Security Guards and Patrol Services |
27 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
7 |
| Shoe Stores |
81 |
| Siding Contractors |
16 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
16 |
|
Site Preparation Contractors |
43 |
| Skiing Facilities |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
160 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
2 |
| Software Publishers |
35 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
9 |
| Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators |
1 |
|
Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
3 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
58 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
26 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
5 |
| Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
|
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply |
4 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
1 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
68 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
9 |
|
Telemarketing Bureaus |
13 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
10 |
| Television Broadcasting |
11 |
| Temporary Help Services |
104 |
| Temporary Shelters |
26 |
| Testing Laboratories |
23 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
26 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
12 |
|
Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Tire Dealers |
30 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
51 |
| Tobacco Stores |
25 |
| Tour Operators |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
2 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
6 |
|
Travel Agencies |
47 |
| Used Car Dealers |
39 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
14 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
45 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
22 |
| Veterinary Services |
39 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
30 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
36 |
|
Voluntary Health Organizations |
18 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
4 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
3 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Weft Knit Fabric Mills |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
166 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
6 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
85 |
|
Women's Clothing Stores |
150 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
4 |
| Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
6 |
| Yarn Spinning Mills |
1 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
5 |
A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. In effect, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Getting your Pittsburgh business the capital it needs to succeed will be harder than you might expect. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Business Line of Credit.
Most new Pittsburgh businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh.
