Texas Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Houston, Texas

Need help starting a business in Houston, Texas? We've got the information you need to open a business in Houston.

Houston, Texas Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
870336
5-9 Employees
313816
10-19 Employees
216864
20-49 Employees
163120
50-99 Employees
63432
100-249 Employees
38856
250-499 Employees
10464
500-999 Employees
4320
1000+ Employees
2280
All Houston Businesses
1683488

As a new Houston entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Houston 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
7
Advertising Agencies
136
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
7
Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Die-Casting Foundries
2
Aluminum Extruded Product Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
3
Amusement and Theme Parks
2
Amusement Arcades
25
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
6
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
40
Apprenticeship Training
10
Architectural Services
312
Armored Car Services
9
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
4
Automobile Driving Schools
27
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
37
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
41
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
379
Automotive Transmission Repair
62
Baked Goods Stores
43
Barber Shops
51
Beauty Salons
513
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
4
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
16
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
196
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
10
Blood and Organ Banks
16
Boat Dealers
21
Book Publishers
21
Book Stores
86
Books Printing
1
Bottled Water Manufacturing
3
Bowling Centers
13
Breweries
4
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
2
Building Inspection Services
39
Burial Casket Manufacturing
2
Business and Secretarial Schools
12
Business Associations
92
Business to Business Electronic Markets
13
Cable and Other Program Distribution
11
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
16
Canvas and Related Product Mills
17
Car Washes
111
Carpet and Rug Mills
1
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
43
Casino Hotels
1
Caterers
59
Charter Bus Industry
7
Cheese Manufacturing
4
Child and Youth Services
54
Child Day Care Services
554
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
56
Civic and Social Organizations
156
Claims Adjusting
62
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
6
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
96
Collection Agencies
83
Commercial Bakeries
20
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Gravure Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
158
Commercial Screen Printing
39
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
27
Commodity Contracts Dealing
28
Community Food Services
17
Computer and Software Stores
117
Computer Facilities Management Services
59
Computer Storage Device Manufacturing
1
Computer Training
33
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
4
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
6
Confectionery and Nut Stores
13
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
15
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
8
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
8
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
20
Convenience Stores
455
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
32
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
1
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
2
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
22
Couriers
95
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
46
Credit Bureaus
21
Credit Card Issuing
7
Credit Unions
155
Curtain and Drapery Mills
20
Custom Computer Programming Services
512
Custom Roll Forming
12
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
2
Dance Companies
5
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
21
Deep Sea Passenger Transportation
1
Dental Laboratories
49
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
25
Digital Printing
20
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
107
Direct Mail Advertising
32
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
87
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
23
Discount Department Stores
22
Document Preparation Services
50
Drafting Services
27
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
2
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
69
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
380
Dry Pasta Manufacturing
6
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
154
Electric Power Distribution
69
Electrical Contractors
412
Electron Tube Manufacturing
2
Electronic Auctions
6
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
8
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Electronic Resistor Manufacturing
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
183
Emergency and Other Relief Services
11
Employment Placement Agencies
141
Engineering Services
1,045
Envelope Manufacturing
2
Environmental Consulting Services
115
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
49
Facilities Support Services
62
Family Clothing Stores
213
Family Planning Centers
16
Farm Management Services
1
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
5
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
36
Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
2
Fine Arts Schools
68
Finish Carpentry Contractors
141
Fish and Seafood Markets
14
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
17
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
226
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
2
Flooring Contractors
76
Florists
106
Flour Milling
2
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
89
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
2
Food Service Contractors
235
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
11
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
29
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
16
Framing Contractors
58
Freight Transportation Arrangement
360
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
2
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
8
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
8
Full-Service Restaurants
1,687
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
92
Fur and Leather Apparel Manufacturing
1
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
97
Furniture Stores
308
General Automotive Repair
752
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
37
General Rental Centers
40
General Warehousing and Storage
111
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
208
Glass and Glazing Contractors
38
Glass Container Manufacturing
1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
24
Graphic Design Services
152
Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing
1
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
4
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
7
Hardware Manufacturing
6
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
118
Hardware Stores
76
Hazardous Waste Collection
8
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
9
Heating Oil Dealers
3
Historical Sites
3
HMO Medical Centers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
66
Home Centers
34
Home Health Care Services
417
Home Health Equipment Rental
14
Homes for the Elderly
46
Household Appliance Stores
51
Household Vacuum Cleaner Manufacturing
1
Human Rights Organizations
9
Hunting and Trapping
1
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
28
Industrial Design Services
16
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
3
Industrial Launderers
39
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
5
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
4
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
33
Inland Water Freight Transportation
10
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
2
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
5
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
1,335
Interior Design Services
161
International Trade Financing
5
Internet Service Providers
36
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
13
Investigation Services
71
Investment Advice
262
Iron and Steel Forging
6
Iron and Steel Mills
10
Iron Foundries
3
Janitorial Services
308
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
11
Jewelry Stores
292
Junior Colleges
16
Kidney Dialysis Centers
49
Land Subdivision
100
Landscape Architectural Services
40
Language Schools
25
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
60
Libraries and Archives
11
Lime Manufacturing
1
Limited-Service Restaurants
1,842
Limousine Service
38
Linen Supply
12
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
84
Locksmiths
38
Logging
1
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
10
Luggage Manufacturing
1
Machine Shops
336
Mail-Order Houses
47
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
14
Marinas
12
Marine Cargo Handling
25
Marketing Consulting Services
193
Marking Device Manufacturing
5
Masonry Contractors
103
Materials Recovery Facilities
4
Meat Markets
90
Meat Processed from Carcasses
8
Media Buying Agencies
9
Media Representatives
8
Medical Laboratories
48
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
2
Men's Clothing Stores
76
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
4
Metal Stamping
11
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
19
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
15
Mineral Wool Manufacturing
4
Miscellaneous Intermediation
174
Mobile Food Services
10
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
201
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
2
Motion Picture and Video Production
59
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
7
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
7
Motor Vehicle Towing
37
Motorcycle Dealers
28
Music Publishers
1
Musical Groups and Artists
21
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
29
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
44
Natural Gas Distribution
57
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
17
New Car Dealers
144
New Housing Operative Builders
72
News Dealers and Newsstands
14
News Syndicates
4
Newspaper Publishers
41
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Nonferrous Forging
1
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
71
Office Administrative Services
566
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
92
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
87
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
5
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
745
Offices of Dentists
1,121
Offices of Lawyers
2,661
Offices of Optometrists
216
Offices of Other Holding Companies
145
Offices of Podiatrists
70
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
123
One-Hour Photofinishing
9
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
5
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
9
Optical Goods Stores
92
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
13
Outerwear Knitting Mills
3
Packaging and Labeling Services
14
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
3
Paging
11
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
24
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
61
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
191
Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
1
Paperboard Mills
1
Parking Lots and Garages
252
Passenger Car Rental
112
Payroll Services
61
Periodical Publishers
72
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
11
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
55
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
50
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
65
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
368
Photography Studios, Portrait
118
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
10
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
65
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
17
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
5
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
6
Political Organizations
34
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
3
Port and Harbor Operations
2
Portfolio Management
178
Poultry Processing
5
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Power-Driven Handtool Manufacturing
1
Prepress Services
16
Primary Battery Manufacturing
2
Printing Ink Manufacturing
4
Private Mail Centers
50
Professional Employer Organizations
66
Professional Organizations
49
Public Relations Agencies
52
Racetracks
4
Radio Networks
6
Radio Stations
46
Railroad Rolling Stock Manufacturing
1
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
27
Real Estate Credit
291
Real Estate Investment Trusts
50
Recreational Goods Rental
3
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
10
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
7
Reinsurance Carriers
10
Remediation Services
37
Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
1
Repossession Services
10
Residential Remodelers
257
Resilient Floor Covering Manufacturing
1
Retail Bakeries
63
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
54
Rice Milling
1
Roofing Contractors
109
Rooming and Boarding Houses
2
Sales Financing
89
Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing
2
Satellite Telecommunications
15
Savings Institutions
111
Sawmills
5
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
10
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
53
Secondary Market Financing
7
Securities Brokerage
266
Security Guards and Patrol Services
133
Septic Tank and Related Services
10
Sewage Treatment Facilities
14
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
50
Shellfish Fishing
2
Shoe Stores
265
Siding Contractors
37
Sign Manufacturing
80
Site Preparation Contractors
114
Small Arms Manufacturing
3
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
332
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
10
Software Publishers
116
Software Reproducing
7
Solid Waste Collection
55
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Solid Waste Landfill
22
Sound Recording Studios
15
Special Needs Transportation
5
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
3
Sporting Goods Stores
123
Sports and Recreation Instruction
77
Sports Teams and Clubs
9
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
4
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
7
Steam and Air-Conditioning Supply
3
Steel Investment Foundries
2
Steel Wire Drawing
7
Storage Battery Manufacturing
1
Support Activities for Coal Mining
2
Support Activities for Forestry
2
Support Activities for Metal Mining
1
Surface Active Agent Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
140
Taxi Service
7
Telecommunications Resellers
39
Telemarketing Bureaus
33
Telephone Answering Services
28
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
17
Temporary Shelters
15
Testing Laboratories
120
Textile Bag Mills
4
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
23
Thread Mills
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
75
Timber Tract Operations
1
Tire Dealers
143
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
1
Tire Retreading
6
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
63
Tobacco Stores
21
Toilet Preparation Manufacturing
12
Tortilla Manufacturing
12
Tradebinding and Related Work
19
Translation and Interpretation Services
34
Travel Agencies
241
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
3
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
4
Truss Manufacturing
3
Used Car Dealers
279
Used Merchandise Stores
150
Vending Machine Operators
38
Veterinary Services
178
Video Tape and Disc Rental
162
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
57
Voluntary Health Organizations
43
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
25
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
107
Web Search Portals
7
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
597
Window Treatment Stores
23
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
238
Women's Clothing Stores
336
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
19
Wood Preservation
3
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
14
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
4

What About Buying an Existing Houston Business?

If you have some capital to play with, you may want to Buy a Business in Texas. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Houston.

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

Selecting a Name For Your Venture

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

Company names need to be easy to spell, easy to pronounce, and easy to remember.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in Houston, it's critical that you ensure that no Texas company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Getting Money to Start a Business

Obtaining startup financing for your Houston business is a difficult chore. In fact, financing your new business may be the hardest challenge you ever face.

Fortunately, this site contains dozens of articles on raising money, including one we recommend entitled 504 Loans.

For Houston entrepreneurs who want to raise money for a new venture, check out our List of Texas Angel Investors and our List of Texas Venture Capital Firms.

Letting the World Know You Exist

Whether your goal is to attract Houston customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn all about marketing on our site. Avoiding Bad Product Launches is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

The Art of Selling

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Houston business, you need to focus on sales.

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.

Anticipating Prospect Responses is a good article to read, one of dozens in the Selling for Entrepreneurs section of our site.

Some Interesting Houston Entrepreneurs

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

Never Give Up

As an entrepreneur in Houston, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Houston and elsewhere to achieve real success. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Houston, neighborhood development and overall economic health.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Houston, Texas

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

More Business Startup Guides for Texas

Starting a Business in Horseshoe Bay
Starting a Business in Howe

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

 

 

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