Pennsylvania Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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

Are You Sure You Want to Do This?

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:

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Pittsburgh. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
  • You should read Starting a Company. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Talk it over with a close friend or partner. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.

Choosing the Right Company to Start

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.

For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Chemicals Research Business guide or our Starting a Photo Albums & Supplies Business guide.

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, Pennsylvania Demographic Information

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.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
30597
5-9 Employees
12585
10-19 Employees
8611
20-49 Employees
6173
50-99 Employees
2493
100-249 Employees
1323
250-499 Employees
375
500-999 Employees
174
1000+ Employees
105
All Pittsburgh Businesses
62436

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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Libraries and Archives
33
Limited-Service Restaurants
564
Limousine Service
9
Linen Supply
7
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
17
Locksmiths
10
Logging
1
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
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
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
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 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 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
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 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
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
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
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
Private Mail Centers
7
Professional Employer Organizations
12
Professional Organizations
35
Public Relations Agencies
34
Quick Printing
24
Radio Networks
2
Radio Stations
31
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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

Should You Buy an Existing Pittsburgh Business?

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

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

Do You Need a Business Plan?

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.

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Contests. A great resource for business planning assistance is the free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Pennsylvania.

Raising Capital for Your Venture

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.

For Pittsburgh entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, browse our List of Pennsylvania Angel Investors and our List of Pennsylvania Venture Capital Firms.

Pittsburgh Entrepreneur Interviews

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

Next Steps

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.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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

More Business Startup Guides for Pennsylvania

Starting a Business in Phoenixville
Starting a Business in Pittston

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

 

 

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