How To Start a Business in Texas

However, don’t let that dampen your spirits, as there are ways to minimize the cost. The Certificate of Formation issued by the Secretary of State or the Assumed Business Name certificate serves as a general business license.

You must include the appropriate business identifier (e.g., “LLC” or “Ltd. Liability Co.” for a Limited Liability Company and “Inc.” or “Corp.” for corporation). Follow these steps to get your business up https://www.wave-accounting.net/ and running quickly and easily. If an LLC, or Limited Liability Company, seems like the ideal vehicle for your side business, you may be wondering if you can form an LLC while employed at another job.

How to Start a Business in Texas in 8 Steps

You can choose from the best LLC services that also offer registered agent for LLCs. It’s very important to keep all business finances and assets separate from your personal bank and credit accounts. Businesses can be audited at any time, so keeping funds separate will prevent additional taxes from being owed for expenses that are not clearly business-related. Now that you’ve How To Start A Business In Texas chosen a business structure and picked your business name, follow the appropriate steps below on how to register a business name in Texas and form your business entity. Businesses of all sizes have made the Lone Star state home, thanks to no corporate or personal tax at the state level. Texas businesses currently enjoy the lowest overall tax burden in the United States.

By default, you’re taxed as a sole proprietor if it has only one member or a partnership if it has multiple members. But some LLCs opt to be taxed as a C corporation or an S corporation because it works to their advantage. You would report these changes by filing aCertificate of Amendmentand paying a small fee. If your Certificate of Formation isn’t current, it could impact your ability to get aCertificate of Fact – Status. This document isn’t required to conduct business, but it’s important for business accounts, members, and potential investors.

Draft a business plan

We help ensure that your company is in compliance with the State of Texas and receive any service of process on your behalf, all while keeping your privacy intact. We keep all of your important documents in your secure, online client account and send you annual reminders so you don’t miss any deadlines. Registering your business as a legal entity with the State of Texas creates separation between you and your company. Decide the type of business structure right for your situation.

• An owner, employee, or officer may serve as the registered agent for its business, but a company may not serve as its own registered agent.
• You will fill out the certificate of operation which requires you to provide general information, such as your business name, your registered agent, and your management style.
• There are seven basic steps to starting a business in Texas.
• It is obvious that having health insurance is important, no matter which city or region you are residing in.
• Asking for guidance from an attorney, accountant, or tax advisor can help you determine the best entity type for your business.
• The Texas Economic Development Corporation is a state agency that promotes entrepreneurship and offers small business owners resources and information.

Something general like “any and all lawful purposes” will do. You canregister a DBAby completing an Assumed Name Certificate and submitting it to the Texas Secretary of State with a small fee. When weighing your business name options, consider whether your desired name is available as a domain name on the web. Having a business name that’s also available as a URL means you’ll have a website that’s easier to find and remember for potential customers. Having a different designator isn’t enough to distinguish one business name from another in the eyes of the state. If Kramer wants to call his LLC “Kramer’s Kolaches, LLC,” but there’s already a Kramer’s Kolaches, Inc., he’ll have to get more creative.