Small business owners that are looking for the perfect place to start their business can find a true gem in the state of Texas. Texas is extremely friendly toward businesses of all sizes, but those with small businesses find the state particularly inviting. More than 1.7 million small businesses are registered in the state and that number continues to grow. Entrepreneurs are choosing the Lonestar state as the home for their business for a number of reasons, including the ease of starting a business, the great tax benefits offered in Texas, and business incentives offered by local governments.

Starting a small business in Texas is a fairly simple four-step process. First, entrepreneurs should decide what business structure is best suited for their needs. Once the business type has been chosen, they must then obtain an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. Tax documentation and permits should then be set up on a federal, state, and local level, as needed. The final step should be preparing the business for employees, if there will be any. Business owners should set up their compensation plans, unemployment insurance, and assure that they understand all local and state laws about being an employer.

Many small businesses choose Texas because of the tax benefits that are offered to small businesses in the state. Depending on the type of business structure used, certain companies may be exempt from state franchise taxes or other taxes and fees. There are also many tax deductions and credits available for businesses. Those who employ individuals from certain segments of the population could receive tax benefits. Other benefits are available for those who create an environmentally friendly work environment or that choose to use renewable energy sources for their businesses. Those who provide health insurance or other benefits for their employees may also receive tax incentives from the state.

On a local level, the various city and town governments throughout the state have developed their own incentives to help draw small businesses to their area. Some offer small business development centers that provide much-needed resources to startups in their community. There are often special grants and tax abatements offered to businesses that choose certain physical locations for their businesses or that open businesses within specific industries. Relocation programs may be offered for existing businesses who wish to move their current offices into a new area. Nearly every city and town in the state has their own set of benefits to owning a small business within their municipal limits.

Small business owners looking for an inviting place to open their doors should seriously consider Texas for their ventures. Business magazines and analysts all over the country are naming the state one of the best places to own a small business, and for obviously good reasons. Texas state and local government have seen what small businesses and entrepreneurs have done for their state and are doing their best to provide great incentives to draw even more businesses into the area.