Texas Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in San Antonio, Texas

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

San Antonio, Texas Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
228070
5-9 Employees
87030
10-19 Employees
62530
20-49 Employees
45240
50-99 Employees
16785
100-249 Employees
9285
250-499 Employees
2445
500-999 Employees
930
1000+ Employees
615
All San Antonio Businesses
452930

As a new San Antonio entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in San Antonio 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
62
Air Traffic Control
1
Aircraft Manufacturing
5
Ambulance Services
23
Amusement and Theme Parks
4
Amusement Arcades
11
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
4
Apprenticeship Training
3
Architectural Services
131
Armored Car Services
6
Art Dealers
14
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
1
Automobile Driving Schools
15
Automobile Manufacturing
1
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
33
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
211
Automotive Transmission Repair
43
Baked Goods Stores
19
Barber Shops
31
Beauty Salons
380
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
14
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
96
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
3
Blood and Organ Banks
6
Boat Dealers
8
Book Publishers
9
Book Stores
53
Books Printing
3
Breweries
1
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
3
Building Inspection Services
13
Business and Secretarial Schools
2
Business Associations
44
Business to Business Electronic Markets
4
Cafeterias
66
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
10
Canvas and Related Product Mills
4
Car Washes
92
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
38
Caterers
39
Cement Manufacturing
3
Charter Bus Industry
7
Child and Youth Services
46
Child Day Care Services
360
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
24
Civic and Social Organizations
105
Claims Adjusting
25
Clothing Accessories Stores
40
Collection Agencies
19
Commercial Bakeries
7
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Lithographic Printing
49
Commercial Photography
16
Commercial Screen Printing
18
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
4
Community Food Services
6
Computer and Software Stores
58
Computer Facilities Management Services
15
Computer Systems Design Services
154
Computer Training
12
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
2
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
2
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
13
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
2
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
5
Consumer Lending
106
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
21
Convenience Stores
163
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
18
Copper Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Copper Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
9
Couriers
39
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
14
Credit Bureaus
7
Credit Card Issuing
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
5
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
2
Custom Computer Programming Services
121
Custom Roll Forming
3
Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing
3
Dance Companies
3
Dental Laboratories
39
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
16
Digital Printing
5
Dimension Stone Mining and Quarrying
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
42
Direct Mail Advertising
15
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
49
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
11
Display Advertising
13
Document Preparation Services
16
Drafting Services
12
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
11
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
252
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
63
Electrical Contractors
210
Electronic Auctions
2
Electronic Computer Manufacturing
1
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
23
Elementary and Secondary Schools
94
Emergency and Other Relief Services
6
Engineering Services
295
Envelope Manufacturing
1
Environmental Consulting Services
37
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
19
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
55
Facilities Support Services
19
Family Clothing Stores
117
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
10
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
41
Finish Carpentry Contractors
65
Fish and Seafood Markets
1
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
5
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
108
Floor Covering Stores
44
Flooring Contractors
47
Florists
75
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
3
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
30
Food Service Contractors
94
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
7
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
12
Framing Contractors
43
Freight Transportation Arrangement
48
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
3
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
7
Full-Service Restaurants
982
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
23
Furniture Stores
127
General Automotive Repair
281
General Freight Trucking, Local
67
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
21
General Rental Centers
24
General Warehousing and Storage
34
Glass and Glazing Contractors
26
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
18
Grantmaking Foundations
38
Graphic Design Services
59
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
4
Hardware Manufacturing
2
Hardware Stores
31
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hazardous Waste Collection
1
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
5
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
5
HMO Medical Centers
1
Home Centers
22
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
33
Home Health Care Services
165
Home Health Equipment Rental
13
Homes for the Elderly
48
Household Appliance Stores
32
Human Rights Organizations
10
Ice Manufacturing
5
Industrial Building Construction
11
Industrial Design Services
3
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
2
Industrial Launderers
15
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Industrial Pattern Manufacturing
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
3
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
612
Interior Design Services
41
International Trade Financing
2
Internet Publishing and Broadcasting
7
Internet Service Providers
13
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
6
Investment Advice
88
Iron and Steel Forging
1
Iron and Steel Mills
2
Janitorial Services
190
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
4
Jewelry Stores
154
Junior Colleges
4
Kidney Dialysis Centers
27
Land Subdivision
54
Landscape Architectural Services
24
Landscaping Services
234
Language Schools
9
Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
2
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
37
Limited-Service Restaurants
1,047
Limousine Service
14
Linen Supply
5
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
25
Locksmiths
16
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
7
Mail-Order Houses
20
Manifold Business Forms Printing
5
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
16
Marinas
4
Marine Cargo Handling
1
Marketing Consulting Services
64
Marking Device Manufacturing
5
Mattress Manufacturing
4
Meat Markets
24
Meat Processed from Carcasses
6
Media Buying Agencies
7
Media Representatives
6
Medical Laboratories
54
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
1
Metal Household Furniture Manufacturing
1
Metal Stamping
2
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
7
Miscellaneous Intermediation
42
Mobile Food Services
6
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
63
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
3
Motor Vehicle Metal Stamping
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
30
Motorcycle Dealers
20
Museums
11
Music Publishers
4
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
19
Musical Instrument Manufacturing
1
Nail Salons
65
Natural Gas Distribution
1
New Car Dealers
87
New Housing Operative Builders
27
News Dealers and Newsstands
4
Newspaper Publishers
14
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
79
Nursing Care Facilities
57
Office Administrative Services
182
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
49
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
46
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
263
Offices of Chiropractors
105
Offices of Dentists
573
Offices of Lawyers
932
Offices of Optometrists
92
Offices of Other Holding Companies
29
Offices of Podiatrists
32
One-Hour Photofinishing
4
Open-End Investment Funds
2
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
2
Optical Goods Stores
76
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
4
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Paging
4
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
4
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
29
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
118
Paper Industry Machinery Manufacturing
1
Parking Lots and Garages
79
Passenger Car Leasing
4
Payroll Services
17
Pen and Mechanical Pencil Manufacturing
1
Periodical Publishers
28
Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
3
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
23
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
41
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
9
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
126
Photography Studios, Portrait
64
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
3
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
6
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
22
Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing
3
Portfolio Management
62
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
5
Prepress Services
4
Primary Aluminum Production
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
3
Professional Employer Organizations
27
Professional Organizations
19
Public Relations Agencies
20
Quick Printing
35
Racetracks
1
Radio Networks
2
Radio Stations
61
Real Estate Credit
285
Real Estate Investment Trusts
23
Record Production
4
Recreational Goods Rental
2
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
3
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
5
Reinsurance Carriers
3
Repossession Services
9
Residential Property Managers
164
Residential Remodelers
118
Retail Bakeries
30
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
30
Roofing Contractors
65
Rooming and Boarding Houses
4
Satellite Telecommunications
2
Savings Institutions
42
Sawmills
1
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
3
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
13
Schiffli Machine Embroidery
1
Secondary Market Financing
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
51
Septic Tank and Related Services
8
Sewage Treatment Facilities
1
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
14
Ship Building and Repairing
1
Shoe Stores
143
Siding Contractors
16
Site Preparation Contractors
84
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
125
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
5
Soft Drink Manufacturing
5
Software Publishers
20
Solid Waste Collection
13
Sound Recording Studios
5
Special Needs Transportation
1
Specialty Canning
2
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
2
Sporting Goods Stores
66
Sports and Recreation Instruction
54
Sports Teams and Clubs
6
Tax Preparation Services
87
Taxi Service
6
Telecommunications Resellers
12
Telemarketing Bureaus
19
Telephone Answering Services
12
Television Broadcasting
13
Temporary Help Services
148
Testing Laboratories
22
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
7
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
42
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
16
Tire Dealers
76
Tire Retreading
5
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
19
Tortilla Manufacturing
8
Tour Operators
11
Tradebinding and Related Work
3
Translation and Interpretation Services
9
Travel Agencies
55
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
3
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
55
Used Merchandise Stores
91
Vending Machine Operators
31
Veterinary Services
110
Video Tape and Disc Rental
73
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
34
Voluntary Health Organizations
21
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
7
Web Search Portals
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
140
Window Treatment Stores
5
Wineries
1
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
144
Women's Clothing Stores
158
Wood Office Furniture Manufacturing
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
6
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
1

What About Franchising Opportunities?

Visit the business district of San Antonio and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. Should you be giving franchising serious consideration?

Our recommendation is that you consider franchising as an option. We have many articles on franchises, such as Opportunities in International Franchising. Gain a solid understanding of franchising by scanning all of our Articles on Franchising.

To learn about specific franchise opportunities, check out our Franchise Directory.

Representative franchise opportunities include Nu-Look 1 Hour Cleaners and Ranch*1. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Golf Franchises and Landscaping Franchises.

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

Have You Considered Buying an Existing San Antonio Business?

An excellent way to get started in business is to Buy a Business in Texas. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in San Antonio.

For anybody who wants to buy a business, we recommend reading this useful article: Hold Harmless Agreements When Buying Businesses.

Naming the Company

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 should be fun to say, and they should help people to understand what you do and how you differentiate yourself in the market.

To get up to speed on what makes for a good company name, we encourage you to read this useful article: Naming a Company.

There's one other important factor when naming a business. Since you are opening a business in San Antonio, it's very important that you make sure no other Texas company is using the business name you want to use.

Marketing Your New Venture

To grow your San Antonio business, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn all about marketing on our site. Music on Hold 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.

Ramping Up Sales

Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in San Antonio or are selling to customers throughout Texas, 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? Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.

Now It's Up To You

You have a dream -- starting a business in San Antonio. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

From this point on, you control your own destiny.

Our goal here is to promote the vitality and growth of small businesses in San Antonio and throughout the United States . We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new San Antonio 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 San Antonio, Texas

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

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Texas

Starting a Business in San Angelo
Starting a Business in San Augustine

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

 

 

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