SAN ANTONIO \u2013 San Antonio\u2019s small business community is bigger than many residents might realize \u2014 and it\u2019s still growing.<\/p>\n
According to data from the city of San Antonio\u2019s Economic Development Department, there are more than 48,000 verified small businesses operating within city limits. Together, those businesses support nearly 326,000 local jobs.<\/p>\n
And the city says the potential for even greater economic impact is right in residents\u2019 hands.<\/p>\n
If San Antonians shifted just 10% of their spending toward local businesses, the city estimates that move alone could generate 6,000 additional jobs, $268 million in local earnings, and more than $700 million in total economic impact \u2014 every single year.<\/p>\n
New business applications in Bexar County are also on the rise. According to the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Business Formation Statistics, 29,615 new business applications were filed in Bexar County in 2025 \u2014 up 7% from 2024 and up 39% from 2020, when 21,249 applications were filed.<\/p>\n
Alfred Breuer, assistant director for the city\u2019s Economic Development Department, says the growth reflects both the city\u2019s expanding population and a cultural shift in how people think about entrepreneurship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think people have continued to see, \u2018Hey, I can do this. I have talents and there is a community to serve,\u2019\u201d Breuer said. \u201cAnd I think that speaks also to the growth of San Antonio. We\u2019re seeing a lot of population growth, a lot of new people coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n
Monday marks the first day of SA Startup and Tech Week \u2014 a weeklong event bringing together entrepreneurs, founders, and local business leaders from across the city.<\/p>\n
Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, says San Antonio\u2019s startup ecosystem has real momentum \u2014 but it\u2019s still maturing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would say that our startup ecosystem is in its adolescence right now,\u201d Wooden said. \u201cSo it\u2019s a little bit awkward, it\u2019s trying to figure out where its body\u2019s at, but it has some great potential and positive growth ahead of it. The momentum and the energy is really strong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wooden added that small businesses are the driving force behind the local economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver 80% of the local economy is being run by small businesses,\u201d he said, \u201cwhich is why a partnership like LaunchSA between Geekdom and the city of San Antonio is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n
LaunchSA, a joint initiative between Geekdom and the city, serves as a resource hub for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs looking to get started.<\/p>\n
Geekdom has worked with more than 500 companies since 2021, according to Wooden.<\/p>\n
The city\u2019s Economic Development Department tracks small business health through a survivability dashboard, business outreach specialists, and data on access to capital \u2014 monitoring whether businesses are growing, struggling, or holding steady.<\/p>\n