Starting A Business in Texas

By Tim Oestreich | Tue, 9 Jan 2007

What is required to start a business in the state of Texas?  Although Texas is a business friendly state, there are still some very important issues that you need to address related to any business venture.  There are numerous local, state, and federal goverment entities that you must be aware of.  The exact naure of your business will dictate many of the steps you will need to take such as industry specific permits, while other requirements are common to all business entities.  If you have any questions related to starting a business, please contact me.  Remember, good planning is much less costly than damage control!

Business Start-Up Information

Texas Business Portal

Employer Identification Number

• Internal Revenue Service: Employer identification number

Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

• State Trademarks
• Federal Trademarks Patents: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• Copyrights: U.S. Copyright Office of the Library of Congress

Permits and Licenses:

• Governors Office of Economic Development and Tourism (PDF)

Security Issues

• State Securities Board
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

State Taxation: Comptroller of Public Accounts

• Sales Tax
• Franchise Tax
• Other Taxes
• Electronic Reporting of State Taxes

More Business Start-Up Information

• Texas Business Advisor: Offered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the site furnishes useful information and links that will assist new businesses.
• Business.gov: Managed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, this site provides one-stop access to federal government information, services, and transactions.
• 4 Steps to Starting a Business: A guide provided by the Texas Department of Economic Development regarding the four steps to starting a business. The on-line Guide to Texas Business Licenses and Permits is available at this site, as well.
• Texas Workforce Commission: Site of the Texas Workforce Commission, which provides information on employment taxes and issues.
• Starting Your Business: Site of the U.S. Small Business Administration which provides useful information on starting a small business.
• Ask SCORE for Business Advice: SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration and provides counseling for small businesses.

Internal Revenue Service

• http://www.irs.ustreas.gov: Site provides federal tax forms, instructions, publications, regulations, and electronic filing options.

Business Law Section – State Bar of Texas

• http://www.texasbusinesslaw.org: Site provides legal resource links and other links of interest for the business law practitioner. Additionally, the Business Organizations Code to be effective January 2006 and the Revisor's Report is made available for viewing. The new Code would consist of the various Texas statutes governing the formation and internal affairs of private-sector, for-profit and nonprofit entities, including corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, real estate investment trusts, and associations.

Secretary of State/Corporate Filing Offices in Other Jurisdictions

• International Association of Commercial Administrators: Site provides a listing and link to corporate filing offices in other states.