Business ideas · Texas · Census Business Patterns 2023
Business ideas in Austin, TX: what has room right now
Out of 239 business types, these five have the most room in Austin at a $60,000 budget: fewer per resident than the rest of Texas, a startup range you can reach, and a realistic time to the first paying customer. Skipped 80 the city already has more of. Run it with your own budget and interests.
Neur picks
Austin, TX · 967,862 residents
- 01
Garden Center / Nursery
Plants, trees, soil, and feed; landscapers and homeowners
- RoomAustin has 84% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 31 more.
- CostOpens for $60k to $300k, inside your budget.
- In Austin6
- Per 100k vs state0.6 vs 3.9
- Residents per one161,310
- To first dollar3 to 7 mo
- 02
Auto Glass / Windshield
Windshield replacement and chip repair, in shop or mobile; insurance pays most jobs
- RoomAustin has 84% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 16 more.
- CostOpens for $20k to $80k, inside your budget.
- In Austin3
- Per 100k vs state0.3 vs 1.9
- Residents per one322,621
- To first dollar1 to 3 mo
- 03
Podiatry
Foot and ankle care: diabetic foot, nails, orthotics, minor surgery
- RoomAustin has 80% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 12 more.
- CostOpens for $60k to $250k, inside your budget.
- In Austin3
- Per 100k vs state0.3 vs 1.5
- Residents per one322,621
- To first dollar4 to 10 mo
- 04
Local Trucking / Hotshot
Owner-operator hauling local and regional freight; one truck to start
- RoomAustin has 77% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 71 more.
- CostOpens for $30k to $150k, inside your budget.
- In Austin21
- Per 100k vs state2.2 vs 9.5
- Residents per one46,089
- To first dollar—
- 05
Vending Machine Route
Operating and restocking vending machines placed at high-traffic locations
- RoomAustin has 79% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 8 more.
- CostOpens for $5k to $25k, well under your budget; the rest is working capital or a second location.
- In Austin2
- Per 100k vs state0.2 vs 1.0
- Residents per one483,931
- To first dollar3 to 7 mo
Questions
- What business should I start in Austin, TX?
- On Census Business Patterns for Austin's own ZIP codes, the types with the most room at a $60,000 budget are garden center / nursery, auto glass / windshield, podiatry, local trucking / hotshot, vending machine route. Garden Center / Nursery leads: Austin has 84% fewer of these per person than Texas. At the state rate it would hold about 31 more.
- How is "room" measured?
- Establishments per 100,000 residents inside Austin against the Texas rate, from Census County and ZIP Business Patterns 2023, with crowded types (more than 1.35 times the state rate) left off. It is a screen, not a guarantee: the paid report maps the actual competitors and the neighborhood demand.
- What does it cost to open these?
- Garden Center / Nursery $60k–$300k; Auto Glass / Windshield $20k–$80k; Podiatry $60k–$250k; Local Trucking / Hotshot $30k–$150k; Vending Machine Route $5k–$25k. Ranges are Neur planning ranges per business type; the report localizes rent and wages.