Texas Business Startup Guides

Open a Business in Waco, Texas

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

Waco, Texas Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
24370
5-9 Employees
10405
10-19 Employees
7635
20-49 Employees
5400
50-99 Employees
1875
100-249 Employees
1245
250-499 Employees
195
500-999 Employees
135
1000+ Employees
60
All Waco Businesses
51320

As a new Waco entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Waco 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
Air Traffic Control
1
Ambulance Services
1
Amusement and Theme Parks
2
Amusement Arcades
2
Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
7
Apprenticeship Training
2
Armored Car Services
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
32
Automotive Transmission Repair
6
Baked Goods Stores
3
Barber Shops
1
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
1
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
16
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Boat Dealers
4
Book Publishers
2
Book Stores
10
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
2
Business Associations
10
Cafeterias
5
Car Washes
6
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
2
Caterers
2
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
5
Child Day Care Services
46
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
3
Civic and Social Organizations
30
Claims Adjusting
6
Clothing Accessories Stores
5
Collection Agencies
3
Commercial Bakeries
2
Commercial Flexographic Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
10
Commercial Photography
2
Commercial Screen Printing
3
Community Food Services
2
Computer Systems Design Services
2
Computer Training
1
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
2
Consumer Lending
26
Convenience Stores
15
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
3
Credit Unions
18
Custom Computer Programming Services
8
Dental Laboratories
5
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
6
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
7
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
2
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
2
Display Advertising
4
Document Preparation Services
2
Drafting Services
1
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
19
Educational Support Services
2
Electric Power Distribution
5
Electrical Contractors
21
Electronic Shopping
1
Elementary and Secondary Schools
17
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Employment Placement Agencies
5
Environmental Consulting Services
1
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
2
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
9
Facilities Support Services
2
Family Clothing Stores
19
Family Planning Centers
3
Farm Management Services
2
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Fine Arts Schools
1
Finish Carpentry Contractors
8
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
12
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Floor Covering Stores
8
Florists
9
Flour Milling
1
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
3
Food Service Contractors
19
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
3
Framing Contractors
2
Freight Transportation Arrangement
2
Fruit and Vegetable Markets
2
Full-Service Restaurants
93
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
12
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
3
Furniture Stores
27
General Freight Trucking, Local
11
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
2
General Rental Centers
4
General Warehousing and Storage
4
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
25
Glass and Glazing Contractors
3
Glass Container Manufacturing
1
Grantmaking Foundations
7
Graphic Design Services
4
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
1
Hardware Stores
6
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
6
Home Centers
3
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
3
Home Health Equipment Rental
1
Homes for the Elderly
3
Household Appliance Stores
4
Human Rights Organizations
1
Industrial Launderers
4
Industrial Valve Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
71
Internet Service Providers
1
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
5
Janitorial Services
22
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
1
Jewelry Stores
16
Kidney Dialysis Centers
2
Landscaping Services
19
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
4
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
156
Linen Supply
2
Livestock Merchant Wholesalers
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
2
Machine Shops
6
Mail-Order Houses
4
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
5
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
3
Masonry Contractors
12
Meat Markets
3
Medical Laboratories
5
Men's Clothing Stores
5
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Miscellaneous Intermediation
3
Mobile Food Services
1
Motion Picture and Video Production
2
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motorcycle Dealers
5
Museums
8
Musical Groups and Artists
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
4
Nail Salons
1
Natural Gas Distribution
5
New Car Dealers
17
Newspaper Publishers
3
Nonresidential Property Managers
4
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
9
Office Administrative Services
14
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
7
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
6
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
29
Offices of Chiropractors
10
Offices of Dentists
47
Offices of Lawyers
96
Offices of Optometrists
10
Offices of Other Holding Companies
6
Offices of Podiatrists
4
Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers
1
Optical Goods Stores
7
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
2
Packaging and Labeling Services
1
Paging
1
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
8
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
15
Passenger Car Leasing
2
Passenger Car Rental
5
Payroll Services
3
Periodical Publishers
5
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
4
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
6
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
11
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
6
Portfolio Management
6
Poultry Processing
2
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
1
Primary Aluminum Production
1
Quick Printing
5
Racetracks
1
Radio Networks
1
Radio Stations
2
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
2
Real Estate Credit
16
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
1
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
14
Residential Remodelers
7
Roofing Contractors
13
Sales Financing
3
Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing
1
Savings Institutions
3
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Securities Brokerage
19
Security Guards and Patrol Services
2
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
3
Shoe Stores
17
Sign Manufacturing
4
Small Arms Manufacturing
1
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
15
Software Publishers
4
Solid Waste Collection
2
Solid Waste Landfill
1
Special Needs Transportation
1
Sporting Goods Stores
13
Tax Preparation Services
7
Taxi Service
2
Telecommunications Resellers
3
Television Broadcasting
3
Temporary Help Services
16
Temporary Shelters
2
Textile Bag Mills
1
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
5
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
6
Tire Dealers
15
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
1
Tobacco Stores
1
Tortilla Manufacturing
1
Tour Operators
2
Travel Agencies
6
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
22
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
2
Used Merchandise Stores
12
Vending Machine Operators
4
Video Tape and Disc Rental
9
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
4
Voluntary Health Organizations
3
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
8
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
13
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1

Naming the Company

Making the right decision when choosing a company name is very important. There are many decisions you'll make now that you can change later, but changing a company name years down the road is not very easy. So, choose a good company name at the outset.

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.

For other considerations regarding naming a company, we recommend this article: Naming a Company.

On a final note, given that you are starting a business in Waco, it's very important that you make sure no Texas company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Forming a Company in Waco, Texas

It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. The principal advantage of forming your new business as a legal entity is that it separates your business liabilities from your personal liabilities.

When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as 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. If you are starting a business in Texas, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Texas. In fact, you can incorporate wherever you want. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.

There are many nuances to forming a company. To learn the basics of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Where to Incorporate. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Waco, Texas, our web page covering Incorporating in Texas may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Texas.

Where to Get Money to Start a Company

Obtaining startup financing for your Waco business requires strong organization skills and perseverance. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as 504 Loans.

For Waco 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.

Bring in Revenues

Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Waco or are selling to customers throughout Texas, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.

The key to selling is to set sales goals goals and monitor your progress towards those goals. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.

Hiring Good Sales People is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Increase Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge

Good entrepreneurs recognize that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.

Given that you are starting a business in Waco, Texas, you should get information on some of the learning programs at local Texas educational institutions. Another way to keep up on your learning is to investigate Waco networking organizations.

Never Give Up

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

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

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