SAN ANTONIO – Nearly 190,000 people in Bexar County already run a business on their own—no employees, no payroll, just an idea and a lot of hustle —according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Add in the roughly 40,000 businesses with actual employees on payroll, and one thing becomes clear: San Antonio is a city built on small business.
But building one isn’t easy. Federal data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows only about one in three businesses born 10 years ago are still operating today.
So what does it actually take — and where do you go for help?
Michelle Gimbel knows the feeling firsthand. Three months ago, she left a 15-year career in corporate IT and launched 3E AI Solutions, a company that brings artificial intelligence tools to small businesses that otherwise couldn’t afford them.
“Is it difficult? Yes,” Gimbel said. “If it wasn’t, everybody would be an entrepreneur. Is it worth it? Absolutely.”
Gimbel credits a lot of her early momentum to LaunchSA, a free resource center for small business owners in San Antonio. The organization is a partnership between the City of San Antonio’s Economic Development Department and Geekdom.
“LaunchSA has been a huge part of my business and getting it started,” she said, “and helping me to grow and to stay on track.”
For anyone thinking about taking the leap, experts say the first steps look something like this:
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Validate your idea: Make sure people actually want what you’re selling before you spend a dime.
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Choose your business structure: An LLC, sole proprietorship, or corporation each carries different tax and liability implications.
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Get your permits in order: Requirements vary by city and industry — do your homework early.
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Know your costs before you need the money: Startup costs vary wildly by business type.
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Find your first customers: Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive, but it has to be intentional.
Funding is often where people get stuck. Matthew Espinosa, director of LaunchSA, said most first-time business owners underestimate how much preparation goes into securing a loan or outside investment.
“It’s usually not a ‘Hey, I’m going to walk into the bank tomorrow and get a loan and I’ll be good and ready to go,’” Espinosa said. “There’s usually a fairly extensive process. So the more you learn that before you need it — that’s what’s important.”
LaunchSA hosts free one-on-one business advising sessions and weekly events, including a Wednesday networking series called One Million Cups, where entrepreneurs present their businesses and connect with each other.
Gimbel’s advice for anyone still on the fence is simple.
“Find an advisor, find a mentor, find the networking group — and begin talking to those people,” she said. “They’ll connect you with people who are doing something similar or who can help you along the way.”
SA Startup and Tech Week is coming up, with events scheduled everyday Monday through Friday. KSAT is a media partner for SA Startup and Tech Week. A full list of events and information on LaunchSA’s free resources is available here.
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