Doing business in the Houston District

Business requirements

SBA’s Business Guide lists the requirements needed to start, grow, and expand your business. Since laws and taxes vary by state, here’s what you need to do before starting your business in our area.

Business name and registration

Register your business name with the county clerk where your business is located. If you are a corporation, you will also need to register with the Secretary of State.(Link is external)

Business licensing and zoning

Licenses are typically administered by a variety of state and local departments. It is important to consider zoning regulations when choosing a site for your business. Contact the local business license office where you plan to locate your business. You may not be permitted to conduct business out of your home or engage in industrial activity in a retail district.

Taxes

IRS Texas Taxpayer Assistance Center(Link is external)
1919 Smith St.
Houston, TX 77002
Phone: 281-721-7021(Link opens phone app)

Texas Department of Revenue Services(Link is external)
1919 N. Loop West, Suite 640
Houston, TX 77008
Phone: 713-426-8200(Link opens phone app)

Health and safety

Texas Department of Labor(Link is external)
8701 S. Gessner Dr., Suite 1164
Houston, TX 77074
Phone: 713-339-5500(Link opens phone app)

Texas OSHA(Link is external)
690 S. Loop 336 W., Suite 400
Conroe, TX 77304
Phone: 936-760-3800(Link opens phone app)

State small business profiles

Need information on the local business landscape? SBA's Office of Advocacy has the latest demographic and statistics on local small business economic activity.

Local assistance

Need help? Get free business counseling in your area.

Find counselors

SBA lending in our area

Loan programs

Learn more about SBA's 7(a) loans, 504 loans, and microloans that you can use for your business.

Find a loan
Local lenders

Download a list of participating lenders in our area.

Download lender list
Lender Match

Describe your business needs and get matched with an SBA-backed lender in your area.

Get matched with a lender
Lending activity reports

View 7(a) and 504 lending activity reports from our district.

View lending reports