Are you starting a business in Tucson, Arizona? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Tucson.
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. To help you decide on a business type, we encourage you to read Good Business Ideas.
Always keep in mind that your new startup will be located in Tucson. If Tucson already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Don't forget to review Tucson demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Tucson has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Tucson demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Tucson.
As a new Tucson entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Tucson 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 |
| Advertising Agencies |
45 |
| Air Traffic Control |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
8 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
3 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
17 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
5 |
| Architectural Services |
113 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
30 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
3 |
| Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
3 |
| Automobile Manufacturing |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
10 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
40 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
124 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
25 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
11 |
| Barber Shops |
11 |
| Beauty Salons |
226 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
7 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
23 |
| Blind and Shade Manufacturing |
4 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
4 |
| Boat Dealers |
3 |
| Book Publishers |
13 |
| Book Stores |
34 |
| Bowling Centers |
8 |
| Breweries |
2 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
1 |
| Building Inspection Services |
20 |
| Burial Casket Manufacturing |
1 |
| Business Associations |
23 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
4 |
| Cafeterias |
18 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
3 |
| Car Washes |
44 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
46 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
1 |
| Caterers |
23 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
5 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
3 |
| Child and Youth Services |
30 |
| Child Day Care Services |
168 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
18 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
72 |
| Claims Adjusting |
11 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
26 |
| Coffee and Tea Manufacturing |
1 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
24 |
| Collection Agencies |
21 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
5 |
| Commercial Flexographic Printing |
1 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
37 |
| Commercial Photography |
7 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
11 |
| Commodity Contracts Brokerage |
2 |
| Community Food Services |
7 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
38 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
3 |
| Computer Storage Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
80 |
| Computer Training |
3 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
2 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
8 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
4 |
| Consumer Lending |
23 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
30 |
| Convenience Stores |
49 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
13 |
| Convention and Visitors Bureaus |
1 |
| Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting) |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
6 |
| Couriers |
25 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
15 |
| Credit Bureaus |
3 |
| Credit Unions |
47 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
2 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
87 |
| Dance Companies |
2 |
| Dental Laboratories |
30 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
19 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
5 |
| Digital Printing |
4 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
20 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
6 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
24 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
7 |
| Discount Department Stores |
13 |
| Display Advertising |
7 |
| Document Preparation Services |
19 |
| Drafting Services |
14 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
116 |
| Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters |
1 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
82 |
| Educational Support Services |
21 |
| Electrical Contractors |
180 |
| Electron Tube Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Capacitor Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
13 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
91 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
5 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
12 |
| Engineering Services |
198 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
29 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
12 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
67 |
| Facilities Support Services |
7 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
75 |
| Family Planning Centers |
5 |
| Farm Management Services |
1 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
5 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
35 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
55 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
94 |
| Flat Glass Manufacturing |
1 |
| Flight Training |
9 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
37 |
| Flooring Contractors |
44 |
| Florists |
35 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
18 |
| Food Product Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food Service Contractors |
54 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
3 |
| Footwear Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
9 |
| Framing Contractors |
45 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
26 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Canning |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
3 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
530 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
21 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
8 |
| Furniture Stores |
79 |
| General Automotive Repair |
255 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
33 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
8 |
| General Rental Centers |
12 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
12 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
98 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
13 |
| Gold Ore Mining |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
13 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
25 |
| Graphic Design Services |
35 |
| Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Hardware Manufacturing |
2 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
20 |
| Hardware Stores |
31 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| Heating Oil Dealers |
1 |
| Historical Sites |
1 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
33 |
| Home Centers |
13 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
16 |
| Home Health Care Services |
48 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
3 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
111 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
22 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
6 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
4 |
| Industrial Design Services |
4 |
| Industrial Launderers |
7 |
| Industrial Mold Manufacturing |
6 |
| Industrial Pattern Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Sand Mining |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
2 |
| Institutional Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
408 |
| Interior Design Services |
35 |
| International Trade Financing |
1 |
| Internet Publishing and Broadcasting |
6 |
| Internet Service Providers |
13 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Investigation Services |
20 |
| Investment Advice |
66 |
| Iron and Steel Mills |
1 |
| Janitorial Services |
183 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
5 |
| Jewelry Stores |
90 |
| Junior Colleges |
5 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
39 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
30 |
| Landscaping Services |
225 |
| Language Schools |
2 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
61 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
560 |
| Limousine Service |
6 |
| Linen Supply |
1 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
14 |
| Locksmiths |
19 |
| Luggage and Leather Goods Stores |
4 |
| Luggage Manufacturing |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
50 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
34 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
3 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
30 |
| Marinas |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
53 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
71 |
| Materials Recovery Facilities |
1 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
10 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Buying Agencies |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
35 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
14 |
| Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Stamping |
3 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Metal Window and Door Manufacturing |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
22 |
| Mixed Mode Transit Systems |
1 |
| Mobile Food Services |
6 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
64 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
12 |
| Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
17 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
25 |
| Museums |
11 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
10 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
18 |
| Musical Instrument Manufacturing |
1 |
| Nail Salons |
18 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
1 |
| New Car Dealers |
55 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
48 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| News Syndicates |
1 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
13 |
| Nonclay Refractory Manufacturing |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
46 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
26 |
| Office Administrative Services |
103 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
21 |
| Office Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
22 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
176 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
110 |
| Offices of Dentists |
318 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
555 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
38 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
8 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
21 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
64 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
4 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
2 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
48 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
5 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
2 |
| Packaging Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Packing and Crating |
5 |
| Paging |
2 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
5 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
14 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
144 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
15 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
4 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
34 |
| Payroll Services |
11 |
| Periodical Publishers |
24 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
23 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
34 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
6 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
71 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
37 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
3 |
| Plastics Bag Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Bottle Manufacturing |
1 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
5 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
4 |
| Political Organizations |
4 |
| Portfolio Management |
36 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
4 |
| Prepress Services |
5 |
| Primary Smelting and Refining of Copper |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
23 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
14 |
| Professional Organizations |
14 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
9 |
| Quick Printing |
20 |
| Racetracks |
3 |
| Radio Networks |
4 |
| Radio Stations |
19 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
9 |
| Real Estate Credit |
85 |
| Real Estate Investment Trusts |
5 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
2 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
15 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Reinsurance Carriers |
2 |
| Remediation Services |
5 |
| Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing |
1 |
| Repossession Services |
3 |
| Residential Property Managers |
102 |
| Residential Remodelers |
123 |
| Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing |
1 |
| Retail Bakeries |
10 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
12 |
| Roofing Contractors |
56 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
12 |
| Rope, Cordage, and Twine Mills |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
19 |
| Savings Institutions |
17 |
| Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
3 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
12 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
2 |
| Securities Brokerage |
73 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
33 |
| Semiconductor Machinery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
6 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
15 |
| Shoe Stores |
68 |
| Siding Contractors |
4 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
18 |
| Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
58 |
| Small Arms Manufacturing |
1 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
123 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
4 |
| Software Publishers |
32 |
| Software Reproducing |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
9 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
1 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
5 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Specialty Canning |
2 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
68 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
43 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Steel Wire Drawing |
1 |
| Storage Battery Manufacturing |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Support Activities for Metal Mining |
3 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
88 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
3 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
17 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
5 |
| Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing |
3 |
| Television Broadcasting |
9 |
| Temporary Help Services |
75 |
| Temporary Shelters |
27 |
| Testing Laboratories |
23 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
12 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
60 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
63 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
3 |
| Tobacco Stores |
15 |
| Toilet Preparation Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tortilla Manufacturing |
4 |
| Tour Operators |
4 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
4 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
10 |
| Travel Agencies |
34 |
| Truss Manufacturing |
1 |
| Used Car Dealers |
54 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
34 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
62 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
12 |
| Veterinary Services |
87 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
49 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
35 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
21 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
7 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
10 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
75 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
8 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
51 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
85 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
3 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
7 |
| Zoos and Botanical Gardens |
3 |
A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Failure to write a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Raising money to fund your new Tucson business is a difficult chore. If you don't have a rich uncle to fund you, you'll need to be creative in how you approach your fundraising efforts.
Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Bank Credit Lines.
To grow your Tucson business, you need a solid marketing plan.
We have some excellent resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Marketing Research is a good read to get your marketing juices flowing. That's just one of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Tucson or are selling to customers throughout Arizona, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Why should customers buy from you instead of buying from competitors? The good news is we can help you to make selling a big competitve advantage for your new firm.
You have a dream -- starting a business in Tucson. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
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 Tucson and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Tucson, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Tucson.
