Kansas Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Wichita, Kansas

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

Is Becoming a Business Owner Right for You?

An entrepreneurial life is demanding, much harder than working as an employee. Are you certain you have the stamina and skills to succeed on your own?

Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.

  • Speak with other entrepreneurs in Wichita. Get their take on what it's really like to be an entrepreneur.
  • You should read The Entrepreneurial Personality. It's a good read for those who are thinking about becoming an entrepreneur.
  • Reach out to a trusted acquaintance. That's the best way to get a truly objective assessment as to whether others think you have what it takes.

Wichita, Kansas Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
15203
5-9 Employees
6491
10-19 Employees
4650
20-49 Employees
3576
50-99 Employees
1191
100-249 Employees
729
250-499 Employees
153
500-999 Employees
51
1000+ Employees
27
All Wichita Businesses
32071

As a new Wichita entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Wichita 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
30
Aircraft Manufacturing
4
Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
1
Ambulance Services
2
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Amusement Arcades
3
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
10
Apprenticeship Training
4
Architectural Services
31
Armored Car Services
3
Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing
2
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
70
Automotive Transmission Repair
16
Baked Goods Stores
10
Barber Shops
3
Beauty Salons
118
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
2
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
3
Blood and Organ Banks
4
Boat Dealers
4
Book Publishers
1
Book Stores
22
Books Printing
2
Bowling Centers
8
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
1
Business Associations
17
Cable and Other Program Distribution
3
Cafeterias
16
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
3
Canvas and Related Product Mills
5
Car Washes
17
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
21
Cemeteries and Crematories
6
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
19
Child Day Care Services
57
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
9
Civic and Social Organizations
41
Claims Adjusting
7
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
1
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
15
Collection Agencies
8
Commercial Bakeries
6
Commercial Flexographic Printing
2
Commercial Gravure Printing
1
Commercial Lithographic Printing
24
Commercial Screen Printing
7
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
4
Commodity Contracts Dealing
1
Community Food Services
1
Computer and Software Stores
20
Computer Facilities Management Services
6
Computer Storage Device Manufacturing
1
Computer Training
4
Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing
1
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
4
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
3
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Construction Sand and Gravel Mining
6
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
14
Convenience Stores
7
Convention and Trade Show Organizers
7
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
4
Couriers
20
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
4
Credit Bureaus
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
3
Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins
1
Custom Computer Programming Services
39
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
14
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
13
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
7
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
12
Direct Mail Advertising
6
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
10
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
5
Discount Department Stores
10
Display Advertising
5
Document Preparation Services
9
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
11
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
100
Drive-In Motion Picture Theaters
1
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
46
Educational Support Services
6
Electric Power Distribution
8
Electronic Connector Manufacturing
1
Electronic Shopping
16
Elementary and Secondary Schools
17
Emergency and Other Relief Services
3
Employment Placement Agencies
8
Engineering Services
83
Environmental Consulting Services
10
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
21
Facilities Support Services
4
Family Clothing Stores
42
Family Planning Centers
4
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fine Arts Schools
16
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
35
Flight Training
7
Floor Covering Stores
15
Flooring Contractors
21
Florists
20
Flour Milling
2
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
1
Food Service Contractors
34
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
3
Framing Contractors
40
Freight Transportation Arrangement
15
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
1
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
20
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
5
Furniture Stores
40
General Automotive Repair
118
General Freight Trucking, Local
15
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
6
General Rental Centers
15
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
61
Glass and Glazing Contractors
7
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
11
Grantmaking Foundations
11
Graphic Design Services
28
Gypsum Product Manufacturing
1
Hand and Edge Tool Manufacturing
2
Hardware Stores
19
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
3
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
19
Home Centers
8
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
10
Home Health Care Services
34
Homes for the Elderly
13
Household Appliance Stores
23
Human Rights Organizations
4
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
3
Industrial Launderers
7
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
1
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
3
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
262
Interior Design Services
15
Internet Service Providers
5
Investigation Services
4
Investment Advice
35
Iron and Steel Mills
1
Janitorial Services
99
Jewelry Stores
38
Kidney Dialysis Centers
8
Land Subdivision
9
Landscape Architectural Services
3
Landscaping Services
79
Language Schools
2
Libraries and Archives
2
Limited-Service Restaurants
343
Limousine Service
1
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
6
Locksmiths
5
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
2
Machine Shops
50
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
9
Marketing Consulting Services
17
Marking Device Manufacturing
4
Masonry Contractors
29
Mattress Manufacturing
1
Meat Markets
3
Meat Processed from Carcasses
4
Medical Laboratories
10
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing
2
Men's Clothing Stores
11
Metal Heat Treating
2
Metal Stamping
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
4
Miscellaneous Intermediation
16
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
18
Motion Picture and Video Production
9
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing
1
Motor Vehicle Towing
8
Motorcycle Dealers
9
Museums
7
Musical Groups and Artists
3
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
7
Nail Salons
13
Natural Gas Distribution
6
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
2
New Car Dealers
34
New Housing Operative Builders
12
News Syndicates
1
Newspaper Publishers
5
Nonresidential Property Managers
23
Nonwoven Fabric Mills
1
Nursing Care Facilities
19
Office Administrative Services
50
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
15
Offices of Bank Holding Companies
5
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
81
Offices of Chiropractors
70
Offices of Dentists
152
Offices of Lawyers
260
Offices of Optometrists
37
Offices of Other Holding Companies
8
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
22
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
3
Optical Goods Stores
27
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
5
Packaging and Labeling Services
3
Packing and Crating
3
Paint and Coating Manufacturing
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
15
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
65
Parking Lots and Garages
11
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
12
Payroll Services
7
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
16
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
16
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
4
Petroleum Refineries
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
55
Photography Studios, Portrait
23
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plate Work Manufacturing
2
Political Organizations
2
Portfolio Management
24
Powder Metallurgy Part Manufacturing
1
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
8
Prepress Services
1
Professional Employer Organizations
2
Professional Organizations
12
Public Relations Agencies
3
Quick Printing
7
Racetracks
2
Radio Networks
1
Radio Stations
11
Real Estate Credit
34
Real Estate Investment Trusts
1
Recreational Goods Rental
2
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
4
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
2
Reinsurance Carriers
1
Remediation Services
2
Repossession Services
2
Residential Property Managers
76
Residential Remodelers
66
Retail Bakeries
7
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
8
Roofing Contractors
28
Rooming and Boarding Houses
4
Sales Financing
12
Savings Institutions
28
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
11
School and Employee Bus Transportation
4
Securities Brokerage
61
Security Guards and Patrol Services
12
Sewage Treatment Facilities
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
7
Shoe Stores
48
Siding Contractors
23
Sign Manufacturing
21
Site Preparation Contractors
29
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
54
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
3
Solid Waste Collection
8
Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators
1
Sound Recording Studios
1
Soybean Processing
1
Special Needs Transportation
6
Sporting Goods Stores
42
Sports and Recreation Instruction
7
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Spring (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Tax Preparation Services
39
Taxi Service
3
Telemarketing Bureaus
6
Telephone Answering Services
4
Television Broadcasting
9
Temporary Help Services
40
Temporary Shelters
4
Testing Laboratories
8
Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters
9
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
4
Tire Dealers
33
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
11
Tobacco Stores
9
Tortilla Manufacturing
2
Tour Operators
3
Tradebinding and Related Work
2
Travel Agencies
19
Travel Trailer and Camper Manufacturing
1
Truck Trailer Manufacturing
1
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
57
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
15
Used Merchandise Stores
36
Veterinary Services
41
Video Tape and Disc Rental
22
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
44
Voluntary Health Organizations
6
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
39
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
34
Women's Clothing Stores
52
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
6
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Naming the Company

A good company name can give a big boost to a new startup. It might seem like an easy thing to do, but there are many things to consider when naming a business.

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.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Naming a Company.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in Wichita, it's critical that you ensure that no other Kansas company is using the business name you want to use.

Forming a Company in Wichita, Kansas

It's very important that you form your business as a legal structure. Doing so will shield you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.

The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.

Incorporating is a very common way to legally create a business entity. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. If you are starting a business in Kansas, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Kansas. In fact, you are allowed to 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 fundamentals of company formation, browse articles on our site, such as Nevada Incorporation. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Wichita, Kansas, our information on Incorporating in Kansas may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Kansas.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Getting your Wichita business the capital it needs to succeed is not an easy task. 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 How to Raise Money.

For Wichita entrepreneurs with great ambition but a shortage of investment capital, check out our List of Kansas Angel Investors and our List of Kansas Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Venture

To rise above the crowd in Wichita and advance your business, you need a great marketing plan.

There are myriad resources on this site to help you with your marketing plan. Advertising on the Web 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.

Interviews With Wichita Entrepreneurs

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

Moving Forward

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

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in Wichita and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Wichita 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 Wichita, Kansas

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

More Business Startup Guides for Kansas

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Starting a Business in Winfield

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

 

 

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