Find clients for your agency in Houston
The Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands metro area counts 15,926 local businesses of the kinds agencies sell websites, SEO and ads to. The biggest groups: 5,201 full-service restaurants, 2,582 real estate agents and brokers and 1,909 plumbing and HVAC contractors. 262 advertising agencies compete for them.
The local businesses agencies sell to in Houston
Counts of establishments by trade in the Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands metro area, per 10,000 residents, against the median of the 50 largest US metro areas.
| Trade | Businesses | Per 10,000 residents | vs median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-service restaurants | 5,201 | 6.6 | −10% |
| Auto repair shops | 1,485 | 1.9 | −20% |
| Plumbing and HVAC contractors | 1,909 | 2.4 | −23% |
| Hair and beauty salons | 1,516 | 1.9 | −27% |
| Electricians | 1,310 | 1.7 | −28% |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 2,582 | 3.3 | −34% |
| Nail salons | 504 | 0.6 | −38% |
| Remodelers | 1,419 | 1.8 | −53% |
Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023; population 7,904,627 (Census Bureau estimate, July 2025). Counts change as businesses open and close.
Where Houston stands out
- Full-service restaurants: 6.6 per 10,000 residents, 10% below the median of the 50 largest US metro areas (rank 38 of 50).
- Auto repair shops: 1.9 per 10,000 residents, 20% below the median (rank 46).
- Remodelers: scarcer here (53% below the median), so fewer prospects, each with fewer rivals.
- Competition: 262 advertising agencies for 162,055 businesses of all kinds, one for every 619. The median across the 50 largest US metro areas is one for every 512, so Houston ranks 14 of 50 on businesses per agency (1 is the least crowded): more businesses per agency than most, more room for you.
How Houston compares with nearby and similar cities
Of these 7 cities, Miami has the most of these businesses per resident and Washington the most businesses per agency.
| City | Local businesses | Per 10,000 residents | Businesses per agency | Strongest trade, vs median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 15,926 | 20 | 619 | Full-service restaurants (−10%) |
| San Antonio | 5,910 | 21 | 620 | Plumbing and HVAC contractors (−10%) |
| Austin | 7,438 | 28 | 256 | Real estate agents and brokers (+42%) |
| Dallas | 19,336 | 23 | 409 | Full-service restaurants (−9%) |
| Atlanta | 18,688 | 29 | 507 | Real estate agents and brokers (+40%) |
| Washington | 17,194 | 27 | 646 | Remodelers (+22%) |
| Miami | 24,269 | 38 | 366 | Real estate agents and brokers (+106%) |
Your first three lists in Houston
- Full-service restaurants: 5,201 businesses, close to the median per resident, so the volume is the reason to start here (rank 38 of 50).
- Real estate agents and brokers: 2,582 businesses, 34% fewer per resident than the median city, so each one has fewer rivals (rank 42 of 50).
- Plumbing and HVAC contractors: 1,909 businesses, 23% fewer per resident than the median city, so each one has fewer rivals (rank 48 of 50).
How to work a list, from the "No website" filter to the first call: LeadsIt for agencies.
Frequently asked questions
How many local businesses can an agency prospect in Houston?
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023 counts 15,926 establishments in the trades on this page in the Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands metro area, including 5,201 full-service restaurants, 2,582 real estate agents and brokers and 1,909 plumbing and HVAC contractors.
How many marketing agencies are there in Houston?
262 advertising agencies in the Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands metro area (US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023), one for every 619 businesses, against a median of one for every 512 across the 50 largest US metro areas.
Which trade should an agency target first in Houston?
By volume, full-service restaurants (5,201). Relative to its size, Houston stands out most on full-service restaurants: 6.6 per 10,000 residents, rank 38 of 50.