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Example plan · Houston, TX

Starting a Business in Houston: Licenses, Registrations & Checklist

A step-by-step plan to open a business in Houston: what to file first, what depends on what, and which permits come before opening day. Change the business details to fit yours.

Your businessThe plan below updates as you change these.

Permits and registrations specific to Houston, TX

Sales tax permitTexas Sales and Use Tax Permit
City of HoustonChecked: no general business license or tax of its own.
Harris CountyHas its own business licenses, taxes or permits (listed below).
Local licenses and permits to obtain
  • File Harris County business personal property return · Harris County Appraisal District (county)
  • Get and renew the Harris County food establishment health permit · Harris County Public Health, Environmental Public Health (county)
Register with these Texas agencies

Startup sequence and prerequisites in Houston

This example plan has 26 steps. What you file first decides what you can do next: later registrations and licenses wait on the ones below.

Do these first

  1. Maintain a registered agent in Texas
  2. File formation documents with the Texas Secretary of State
  3. Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Then, once those are done

  • Register for unemployment insurance (Texas) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit (Texas) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Register for and file Texas entity-level taxes — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Notify residents and regulators of a data breach within 60 days (Texas) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Local permits — Houston, Harris County, Texas — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain food service establishment / health permit — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Ensure certified food protection manager on staff — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Houston — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Report new hires to the Texas new hire directory — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Decide whether to subscribe to workers' compensation insurance (Texas; elective) — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required federal labor law posters — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Complete Form I-9 for each new hire — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Display required Texas workplace notices — after: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Start planObligations (25)
Government fees

No fee amounts are known for this plan yet.

Total incomplete: some fees unknown

24 of 26 steps have no fee amount in our data. The figures above count only the 2 steps with a recorded fee. Check each agency's fee schedule. Fees that depend on your situation: File wage reports and pay unemployment insurance contributions (Texas).

File formationOct 24, 2026in 7 days
Ready to operateDec 31, 2026in 75 days
Opening dateNot setAdd a target opening date to check the plan fits
Progress0 / 26Saved in this browser

Things the formation documents depend on: a registered agent and any professional approvals.

Suggested planning date: Oct 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked

File the formation documents with the state.

Suggested planning date: Nov 7, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Maintain a registered agent in Texas

Obtain the EIN (and apply for tax-exempt status, for nonprofits). Most registrations need it.

Suggested planning date: Nov 10, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: File formation documents with the Texas Secretary of State

State tax accounts, trade name, foreign qualification and publication requirements.

Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Nov 24, 2026
Per event
checked Oct 16, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Licenses and permits you need before you operate: state, industry, local and professional.

Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Annual
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 24, 2026
One-time
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Insurance, employment paperwork, new-hire reporting and workplace notices.

Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
checked Oct 13, 2026
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Per event
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Suggested planning date: Dec 31, 2026
Ongoing
not individually checked
After: Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Recurring filings and payments, in the order they fall due.

Statutory deadline: Oct 31, 2026 · in 14 days
Quarterly
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Jan 31, 2027 · in 106 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Business has employees. Schedule: January 31.
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 180 days
Annual
not individually checked
Applies because: Federal tax treatment is sole_prop. Schedule: April 15.
Statutory deadline: Apr 15, 2027 · in 180 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business is located in Harris County, TX. Schedule: April 15.
Statutory deadline: May 15, 2027 · in 210 days
fee $0.00
Annual
checked Oct 13, 2026
Applies because: llc formed in TX. Schedule: May 15.
Statutory deadline: Jul 1, 2027 · in 257 days
Annual
checked Oct 16, 2026
Applies because: Business operates in TX. Schedule: July 1.
Monthly
not individually checked
Quarterly
checked Oct 13, 2026
Monthly
not individually checked
Suggested planning dates are allowances, not agency processing times. Statutory deadlines come from the rules and are labeled as such.

Common questions about Houston

The state licenses your industry through its own regulator, and the city and county add local permits. These are the authorities and local items on record for Houston:

  • Real estate licensing: Texas Real Estate Commission
  • Alcohol licensing: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
  • Child care licensing: Texas HHSC, Child Care Regulation
  • Health facility licensing: Texas Health and Human Services Commission
  • File Harris County business personal property return (Harris County Appraisal District, county)
  • Get and renew the Harris County food establishment health permit (Harris County Public Health, Environmental Public Health, county)

In the example restaurant plan above, the licenses and permits are: Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit (Texas); Obtain food service establishment / health permit; Ensure certified food protection manager on staff; Local permits — Houston, Harris County, Texas; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Houston. Change the industry in the form to see yours.

Sources: cohips.houstontx.gov, sos.state.tx.us, comptroller.texas.gov, twc.texas.gov

In the example plan for Houston, requirements come from four levels. Texas sets formation, state taxes and employer rules; the city and county add local licenses and taxes.

  • Federal (8): Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN); File federal income tax return: Form 1040 with Schedule C; Deposit federal payroll taxes; File Form 941 (Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return)…
  • State (13): Maintain a registered agent in Texas; File Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report (Texas); Register for and file Texas entity-level taxes; Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit (Texas)…
  • County (2): Obtain food service establishment / health permit; File Harris County business personal property return
  • City (2): Local permits — Houston, Harris County, Texas; Obtain certificate of occupancy for premises in Houston

Sources: cohips.houstontx.gov, sos.state.tx.us, comptroller.texas.gov

  • Register for unemployment insurance with Texas Workforce Commission.
  • Workers' compensation: Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers' Compensation. Required when: Optional for most private employers (mandatory for public contractors)
  • The example plan adds these employer steps: Report new hires to the Texas new hire directory; Decide whether to subscribe to workers' compensation insurance (Texas; elective); Display required federal labor law posters; Complete Form I-9 for each new hire; Display required Texas workplace notices.

Sources: twc.texas.gov, twc.texas.gov

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