What Businesses To Start in Houston and How

Houston has long been a city people flock to, and for good reason—the diversity is exciting, the educational opportunities are great, and the cost of living is low. 

If you’re an entrepreneur or solopreneur, you may be wondering what businesses to start in Houston as your next venture. Davinci has the answer for you. 

Here are some industries that thrive in this internationally connected, world-class Texan city.

• Advertising/Marketing:

With all the new business coming to Houston, companies need to get their name out quickly and effectively by hiring advertising agencies and marketing consultants. If this is your specialty, you’ll be met with many opportunities.

• Law:

When economies scale up, so does the need for legal advice and representation. Whether focusing on intellectual property, immigration, family estate, real estate, or corporate law, attorneys of all specialties are in demand.

• Tech:

The Houston tech scene has exploded in just the last couple of years. Having dubbed Houston the Silicon Bayou, city officials are planning to transform the city into the next hotbed for tech innovation by actively “attracting and developing fast-growing startups.” 

• Hospitality:

Between tourists, sports visitors, students, and convention attendees, Houston always has room for more hospitality businesses to serve these sectors.

• Education:

There are 100+ colleges, community colleges, and technical/trade schools in the area surrounding Houston. In addition to Texas A&M University, Rice University, Texas Southern University, there are many other schools, both large and small. If you have a business catering to students, faculty, and administration, you’ll have plenty of clients.

• Restaurant/Food Truck:

The city welcomes many different ethnicities both among its citizens and its visitors. In addition, residents tend to dine out more than those in other cities. Therefore, businesses that cater to hungry customers (or to restaurants within the industry itself) always seem to be in demand.  

These are just a few of the likely-to-thrive businesses to start in Houston, but other active sectors include real estate, healthcare, space, and entertainment.

Is Houston a Good Place to Start a Business?

Yes, Houston is a good place to start a business. Business is booming right now in Houston and has been for a long time. It consistently ranks well on lists of best cities, and here are a few facts that prove this:

In the U.S., Houston has recently ranked:

• 1st among cities for how far paychecks stretch

• 2nd for the largest concentration of Fortune 1000 companies 

• 4th for business environment, including for average growth of business revenue

Definitely, Houston is a good place to start a business. 

How To Register a Business in Houston in 4 Steps

To register a business in Houston, follow these four steps:

1. Choose your business entity. All business types (Sole Proprietorship, General Partnership, LLC, etc.) need to file a DBA (Doing Business As) Certificate with the county clerk’s office. If you are registering as an LLC, INC, LP, LLP, or Non-Profit business, you’ll also need to file your business name with the Texas Secretary of State. 

2. If you are selling or leasing personal property, or are selling a taxable service, get a Texas Sales Tax permit from the Texas State Comptroller Office.

3. Obtain a Federal Tax Identification Number or Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

4. File a rendition in the county where your property assets (raw materials, inventory, equipment, vehicles, etc.) are located, unless total value equals less than $500. 

How To Obtain a Business License in Houston, Texas

You do not need to obtain a general business license in Houston, Texas. There may be other licenses and permits required, but they are granted on a business-by-business or job-by-job basis. 

What About Starting a Business Elsewhere in Texas?

Houston is a great place to start a business, but there are other cities in Texas that offer businesses a lot of resources and support as well. They include Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and others. 

What Is a Good Business To Start in Texas?

In general, good businesses to start in Texas are:

• Coffee shops

• Hardware stores

• Appliance repair

• Tutoring services

• Child and adult day care centers

• Financial consulting

• Sanitation services

• Shopping boutiques

• Painting services

• Landscaping companies

• Spa services

• Social media consultants

Does Texas Require a Business License?

A general business license is not required in Texas. However, there may be other licenses, permits, and authorizations required for a specific type of business.

Use Virtual Office Space and Meeting Space Services in Houston

No matter which business you begin, there will likely be times when you must present yourself as a successful professional in order to win over investors and so that potential employees and clients take you seriously. However, many startups are financially strapped and often don’t need a full-time office space to conduct business. 

This is where virtual office space and meeting room rentals in Houston come in. Armed with a coveted virtual address, a live virtual receptionist, and a fully-equipped conference room  (with catering) that is rented by the hour or day, you’ll be recognized for the successful professional you are. 

See how it works and get a quote from Davinci today!

About Coco Quillen

Coco is the Vice President of Operations at Davinci Meeting Rooms. She manages the strategic development and operational implementation of services for Davinci. She works closely with all teams to ensure customers are well taken care of. Google