Texas Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in El Paso, Texas

Are you starting a business in El Paso, Texas? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in El Paso.

What Business to Start

An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Free Business Ideas.

To view an extensive list of business types, complete with startup instructions, spend some time in the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our Opening a Jewelers' Equipment & Supplies Business guide or our Starting a Surgeons Practice guide.

Remember that your new startup will be located in El Paso. If El Paso already has plenty of the kind of business you want to start, you might want to change your plans. Study El Paso demographics and do a competitive analysis as part of your startup planning process.

El Paso, Texas Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
37098
5-9 Employees
15922
10-19 Employees
9774
20-49 Employees
6816
50-99 Employees
2436
100-249 Employees
1146
250-499 Employees
342
500-999 Employees
126
1000+ Employees
66
All El Paso Businesses
73726

As a new El Paso entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in El Paso 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
23
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Ambulance Services
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
5
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Apprenticeship Training
1
Architectural Services
38
Armored Car Services
3
Art Dealers
4
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
4
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
107
Automotive Transmission Repair
19
Baked Goods Stores
2
Barber Shops
9
Beauty Salons
136
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
5
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
36
Blood and Organ Banks
6
Boat Building
1
Boat Dealers
1
Book Publishers
3
Book Stores
19
Books Printing
1
Bottled Water Manufacturing
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
2
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
4
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Building Inspection Services
4
Burial Casket Manufacturing
1
Business and Secretarial Schools
4
Business Associations
15
Cable and Other Program Distribution
5
Cafeterias
25
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
2
Canvas and Related Product Mills
2
Car Washes
27
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
19
Caterers
10
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
13
Child Day Care Services
136
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
17
Civic and Social Organizations
58
Claims Adjusting
10
Clothing Accessories Stores
20
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
14
Collection Agencies
23
Commercial Bakeries
5
Commercial Flexographic Printing
8
Commercial Lithographic Printing
25
Commercial Photography
3
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
1
Commodity Contracts Dealing
3
Community Food Services
2
Computer and Software Stores
22
Computer Facilities Management Services
3
Computer Systems Design Services
39
Computer Training
6
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
2
Confectionery and Nut Stores
6
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
8
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
7
Consumer Lending
85
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
3
Convenience Stores
42
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Copper Wire (except Mechanical) Drawing
4
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
4
Couriers
26
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
7
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Unions
33
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
27
Dental Laboratories
10
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
18
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
4
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Mail Advertising
2
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
12
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
12
Display Advertising
5
Document Preparation Services
13
Drafting Services
3
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
141
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
16
Educational Support Services
5
Electric Power Distribution
11
Electrical Contractors
83
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
6
Emergency and Other Relief Services
2
Employment Placement Agencies
13
Engineering Services
88
Environmental Consulting Services
15
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
4
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
30
Facilities Support Services
9
Family Planning Centers
11
Farm Labor Contractors and Crew Leaders
1
Farm Management Services
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
6
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
11
Finish Carpentry Contractors
21
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
46
Flight Training
4
Floor Covering Stores
18
Flooring Contractors
10
Florists
39
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
2
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
3
Food Service Contractors
13
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
6
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
6
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
5
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
14
Freight Transportation Arrangement
102
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
8
Full-Service Restaurants
394
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
17
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
13
Furniture Stores
63
General Freight Trucking, Local
78
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
10
General Rental Centers
10
General Warehousing and Storage
54
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
61
Glass and Glazing Contractors
13
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
9
Graphic Design Services
10
Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
20
Hardware Stores
16
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
2
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
12
Home Centers
7
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
11
Home Health Care Services
70
Home Health Equipment Rental
6
Homes for the Elderly
20
Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing
2
Human Rights Organizations
5
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
5
Industrial Design Services
1
Industrial Launderers
3
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
9
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
238
Interior Design Services
14
International Trade Financing
3
Internet Service Providers
9
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
5
Investigation Services
7
Investment Advice
11
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
4
Jewelry Stores
56
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
12
Land Subdivision
27
Landscape Architectural Services
3
Landscaping Services
53
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
16
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
384
Limousine Service
3
Linen Supply
1
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
17
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
3
Luggage Manufacturing
2
Machine Shops
29
Mail-Order Houses
5
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
10
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
7
Masonry Contractors
15
Materials Recovery Facilities
1
Meat Markets
13
Meat Processed from Carcasses
3
Media Buying Agencies
1
Media Representatives
4
Medical Laboratories
22
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
2
Metal Stamping
5
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
2
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
12
Mobile Food Services
1
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
3
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
21
Motorcycle Dealers
7
Museums
6
Musical Groups and Artists
5
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
4
Natural Gas Distribution
4
New Car Dealers
34
New Housing Operative Builders
18
News Dealers and Newsstands
1
Newspaper Publishers
4
Nursing Care Facilities
14
Office Administrative Services
58
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
19
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
16
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
86
Offices of Chiropractors
39
Offices of Dentists
130
Offices of Optometrists
29
Offices of Other Holding Companies
14
Offices of Podiatrists
14
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
21
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
4
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
1
Outerwear Knitting Mills
1
Packaging and Labeling Services
2
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Packing and Crating
2
Paging
3
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
1
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
38
Parking Lots and Garages
31
Passenger Car Rental
19
Payroll Services
7
Periodical Publishers
6
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
6
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
7
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
7
Petroleum Refineries
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
51
Photography Studios, Portrait
32
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
5
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
8
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
5
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
1
Portfolio Management
6
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
3
Prepress Services
3
Primary Smelting and Refining of Copper
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Professional Employer Organizations
12
Professional Organizations
10
Public Relations Agencies
4
Quick Printing
18
Racetracks
1
Radio Networks
3
Radio Stations
16
Real Estate Credit
44
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Record Production
1
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
3
Remediation Services
3
Repossession Services
3
Residential Property Managers
53
Retail Bakeries
24
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
8
Roofing Contractors
31
Rooming and Boarding Houses
1
Sales Financing
5
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
3
Securities Brokerage
22
Security Guards and Patrol Services
25
Septic Tank and Related Services
6
Sewage Treatment Facilities
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
95
Sign Manufacturing
9
Silverware and Hollowware Manufacturing
1
Site Preparation Contractors
11
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
53
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
2
Soft Drink Manufacturing
1
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Landfill
2
Sound Recording Studios
2
Special Needs Transportation
1
Specialty Canning
1
Sporting Goods Stores
40
Sports and Recreation Instruction
15
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Tax Preparation Services
88
Taxi Service
4
Telecommunications Resellers
5
Telemarketing Bureaus
6
Telephone Answering Services
4
Television Broadcasting
8
Temporary Help Services
51
Testing Laboratories
7
Textile Bag Mills
1
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
3
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
12
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
4
Tire Dealers
41
Tire Retreading
1
Tobacco Stores
8
Tortilla Manufacturing
8
Tour Operators
4
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
11
Truss Manufacturing
1
Uranium-Radium-Vanadium Ore Mining
1
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
22
Used Merchandise Stores
29
Vending Machine Operators
8
Veterinary Services
32
Video Tape and Disc Rental
40
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
16
Voluntary Health Organizations
12
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Wet Corn Milling
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
72
Window Treatment Stores
4
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
46
Women's Clothing Stores
101
Women's Handbag and Purse Manufacturing
1
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
4

Is Franchising a Better Option?

Visit the business district of El Paso and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Evidently, there must be some significant advantages to purchasing a franchise.

Our recommendation is that you look into purchasing a franchise. We have many articles on franchises, such as Franchising Mistakes. Become a franchising expert of sorts by reading more of our Articles on Franchising.

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

Sample franchise opportunities include A-Pro Home Inspection Services and FocalPoint International, Inc.. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Health and Diet Franchises and Ice Cream Franchises.

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

Startup Financing Basics

Finding the funds to fuel the growth of your El Paso business will be harder than you might expect. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.

Recognizing this challenge, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled Realistic Debt Financing Options.

For El Paso entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Texas Angel Investors and our List of Texas Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Business

Whether your goal is to attract El Paso customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.

We have some helpful resources on this site for entrepreneurs who are working on marketing plans. Effective Direct Mail Campaigns 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.

Improving Your Entrepreneurial Skillset

Good entrepreneurs know that they need to continually improve.

Given that you are starting a business in El Paso, Texas, you will want to take advantage of the many programs available at nearby Texas universities, colleges and community colleges. We also suggest you look into El Paso networking organizations.

Interviews With El Paso Entrepreneurs

Here, we'll keep a running list of interviews we've had with El Paso entrepreneurs.

Next Steps

You have a dream -- starting a business in El Paso. 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 El Paso and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new El Paso 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 El Paso, Texas

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

More Business Startup Guides for Texas

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Starting a Business in Eldorado

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Texas
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