How to start a business in Texas: city guides

Step-by-step guides for the 20 Texas cities with the most new businesses, with official links and local permit data.

Houston

16,790 new permits in 12 months

San Antonio

8,957 new permits in 12 months

Austin

7,777 new permits in 12 months

Dallas

7,531 new permits in 12 months

Fort Worth

4,331 new permits in 12 months

El Paso

3,388 new permits in 12 months

Plano

1,841 new permits in 12 months

Arlington

1,783 new permits in 12 months

Lubbock

1,545 new permits in 12 months

Corpus Christi

1,536 new permits in 12 months

Frisco

1,505 new permits in 12 months

McKinney

1,470 new permits in 12 months

Brownsville

1,389 new permits in 12 months

Laredo

1,371 new permits in 12 months

Midland

1,308 new permits in 12 months

Irving

1,278 new permits in 12 months

Conroe

1,161 new permits in 12 months

Odessa

1,158 new permits in 12 months

Amarillo

1,112 new permits in 12 months

Round Rock

1,063 new permits in 12 months

New businesses by county

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Notes on the data

Counts are new outlet sales-tax permits issued by the Texas Comptroller from Oct 2025 to Sep 2026, from the public Active Sales Tax Permit Holders dataset. A permit can be a brand-new business, a new location of an existing one, or a re-permit. Because the source lists only permits that are still active, the prior-year count leaves out businesses that have since closed, so year-over-year growth reads somewhat high. Businesses that don't sell taxable goods or services (many professional firms) don't need a permit and aren't counted. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Data from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (public domain). Independent compilation, not affiliated with the State of Texas. Check the original source before relying on it. Not legal advice. Numbers are illustrative; your lender's statements control.