Oklahoma Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Thinking about starting a business in Tulsa, Oklahoma? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Tulsa.

Do You Have What It Takes?

Most startup ventures don't make it, in part because the business owner 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.

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 Tulsa. 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.

Tulsa, Oklahoma Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
22894
5-9 Employees
8495
10-19 Employees
5987
20-49 Employees
4632
50-99 Employees
1569
100-249 Employees
867
250-499 Employees
225
500-999 Employees
90
1000+ Employees
60
All Tulsa Businesses
44819

As a new Tulsa entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Tulsa 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
Adhesive Manufacturing
1
Advertising Agencies
36
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Aircraft Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing
2
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
9
Apprenticeship Training
4
Armored Car Services
3
Art Dealers
5
Automobile Driving Schools
4
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
16
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
76
Automotive Transmission Repair
13
Ball and Roller Bearing Manufacturing
1
Barber Shops
10
Beauty Salons
110
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
3
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
4
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
38
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Book Publishers
7
Book Stores
17
Books Printing
1
Bowling Centers
4
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
6
Business and Secretarial Schools
1
Cable and Other Program Distribution
5
Cafeterias
16
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
5
Canvas and Related Product Mills
5
Car Washes
24
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
21
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
2
Cement Manufacturing
1
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
4
Child and Youth Services
15
Child Day Care Services
106
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
15
Civic and Social Organizations
40
Clay Refractory Manufacturing
1
Clothing Accessories Stores
14
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
12
Collection Agencies
29
Commercial Bakeries
7
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
29
Commercial Screen Printing
14
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
9
Community Food Services
5
Computer and Software Stores
21
Computer Facilities Management Services
5
Computer Systems Design Services
72
Computer Training
6
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
3
Confectionery and Nut Stores
7
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
6
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
1
Consumer Lending
52
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
15
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
5
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Couriers
26
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
12
Credit Bureaus
4
Credit Card Issuing
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
3
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
77
Custom Roll Forming
3
Dance Companies
2
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
18
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
5
Digital Printing
7
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
20
Direct Mail Advertising
11
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
7
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
13
Discount Department Stores
8
Document Preparation Services
15
Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing
1
Drafting Services
4
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
19
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
78
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
30
Electric Power Distribution
9
Electrical Contractors
132
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
10
Elementary and Secondary Schools
27
Emergency and Other Relief Services
4
Employment Placement Agencies
17
Envelope Manufacturing
2
Environmental Consulting Services
25
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
6
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
24
Facilities Support Services
8
Family Clothing Stores
50
Family Planning Centers
8
Fine Arts Schools
16
Finish Carpentry Contractors
35
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
56
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
4
Floor Covering Stores
20
Florists
40
Flour Milling
1
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
12
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
42
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
1
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
6
Framing Contractors
9
Freight Transportation Arrangement
26
Full-Service Restaurants
370
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
20
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
10
Furniture Stores
52
General Freight Trucking, Local
21
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
10
General Rental Centers
7
General Warehousing and Storage
23
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
57
Glass and Glazing Contractors
8
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
10
Graphic Design Services
46
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
1
Hardware Manufacturing
3
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
28
Hardware Stores
14
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
3
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
2
Home Centers
11
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
18
Home Health Care Services
53
Home Health Equipment Rental
9
Homes for the Elderly
10
Household Appliance Stores
21
Human Rights Organizations
6
Industrial Design Services
2
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
2
Industrial Launderers
4
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
3
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
5
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
6
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
337
Internet Service Providers
8
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
1
Investigation Services
13
Investment Advice
47
Iron and Steel Forging
1
Iron and Steel Mills
3
Iron Foundries
4
Janitorial Services
111
Jewelry Stores
58
Junior Colleges
4
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Land Subdivision
17
Landscape Architectural Services
19
Landscaping Services
86
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
15
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
389
Limousine Service
5
Linen Supply
1
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
11
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
4
Machine Shops
80
Mail-Order Houses
11
Manifold Business Forms Printing
3
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
13
Marinas
2
Marketing Consulting Services
36
Masonry Contractors
33
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Meat Markets
8
Meat Processed from Carcasses
1
Media Buying Agencies
6
Media Representatives
5
Medical Laboratories
14
Metal Heat Treating
5
Metal Stamping
2
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
8
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
4
Miscellaneous Intermediation
34
Mobile Food Services
6
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
41
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
3
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
10
Motorcycle Dealers
12
Museums
8
Musical Groups and Artists
9
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
13
Natural Gas Distribution
20
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
4
New Car Dealers
45
New Housing Operative Builders
15
News Dealers and Newsstands
3
Newspaper Publishers
9
Nonresidential Property Managers
37
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
26
Office Administrative Services
59
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
13
Office Machinery Manufacturing
1
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
3
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
197
Offices of Chiropractors
94
Offices of Dentists
231
Offices of Lawyers
546
Offices of Optometrists
45
Offices of Other Holding Companies
38
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
22
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
3
Optical Goods Stores
22
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
8
Packing and Crating
6
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
13
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
52
Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
33
Passenger Car Leasing
5
Passenger Car Rental
28
Payroll Services
6
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
15
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
8
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
12
Petroleum Refineries
7
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
70
Photography Studios, Portrait
25
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
2
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
10
Political Organizations
5
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
2
Portfolio Management
39
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
7
Private Mail Centers
7
Professional Employer Organizations
11
Professional Organizations
20
Public Relations Agencies
18
Quick Printing
20
Racetracks
3
Radio Stations
34
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
6
Real Estate Credit
50
Real Estate Investment Trusts
2
Recreational Goods Rental
1
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Repossession Services
5
Residential Property Managers
57
Residential Remodelers
67
Retail Bakeries
5
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
12
Roofing Contractors
34
Rooming and Boarding Houses
5
Savings Institutions
7
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
2
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
11
Secondary Market Financing
1
Securities Brokerage
47
Security Guards and Patrol Services
26
Septic Tank and Related Services
7
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
14
Shoe Stores
53
Siding Contractors
9
Sign Manufacturing
12
Site Preparation Contractors
28
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
75
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
18
Solid Waste Collection
21
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Solid Waste Landfill
4
Sound Recording Studios
3
Special Needs Transportation
1
Sports and Recreation Instruction
16
Sports Teams and Clubs
3
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply
1
Steel Investment Foundries
1
Steel Wire Drawing
4
Support Activities for Coal Mining
1
Taxi Service
2
Telecommunications Resellers
11
Telemarketing Bureaus
19
Telephone Answering Services
2
Television Broadcasting
7
Temporary Help Services
99
Temporary Shelters
5
Textile Machinery Manufacturing
2
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
7
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
14
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
5
Tire Dealers
40
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
34
Tobacco Stores
19
Tortilla Manufacturing
3
Tour Operators
3
Tradebinding and Related Work
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
4
Travel Agencies
22
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
2
Used Car Dealers
56
Used Merchandise Stores
41
Vending Machine Operators
11
Veterinary Services
52
Video Tape and Disc Rental
27
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
18
Voluntary Health Organizations
13
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
3
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
106
Window Treatment Stores
3
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
65
Women's Clothing Stores
69
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

What About Franchising Opportunities?

As you drive around Tulsa, you may be surprised to see how many franchises there are in the area. Is there a franchise opportunity out there that makes sense for you?

Our recommendation is that you investigate buying a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as How Franchises Work. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.

Representative franchise opportunities include SIGN*A*RAMA and Odyssey Art Centers. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Bookstore Franchises and Deli Restaurant Franchises.

Note on Tulsa Franchise Opportunities: You will need to contact franchisors directly to see if their franchises are available in Tulsa.

Should You Buy an Existing Tulsa Business?

We've created a helpful website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Oklahoma. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Tulsa.

If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: Buying a Business.

Company Formation in Tulsa, Oklahoma

A critical step is ensuring that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Oklahoma, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Oklahoma. As it turns out, you are allowed to 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's a lot to know about forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Where to Incorporate. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Tulsa, Oklahoma, our information on Incorporating in Oklahoma may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Oklahoma.

Don't Skip the Business Plan

A business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, a business plan is a written description of the future you envision for your business. Starting a business without a business plan is a recipe for disaster.

If you want more information on writing business plans, we recommend reading Reasons to Write a Business Plan. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Oklahoma.

Now It's Up To You

Most new Tulsa businesses underestimate the number of challenges they will face.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in Tulsa and throughout the United States . 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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Tulsa, Oklahoma

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Oklahoma

Starting a Business in Tonkawa
Starting a Business in Tuttle

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

 

 

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