Banks outside of Dallas will often lend to entrepreneurs in Dallas, TX. Here’s a list of out-of-area banks that have recently made loans to Dallas entrepreneurs. Some of these banks may have local branches but underwrite the loans from an out-of-state banking location.

• SurePayroll – SurePayroll
• ADP
• Paychex

What is the minimum wage in Texas?

Texas adopts the federal minimum wage rate by reference, thus any changes affecting the federal minimum wage will automatically affect the Texas minimum wage for all intended purposes.

• Effective July 24, 2008, the federal minimum wage increased to $6.55 an hour; and
• Effective July 24, 2009, the federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 an hour.

You can always find more information on the official government Texas Workforce website.

Click here for Texas Labor Laws Information.

Wikipedia entry on minimum wage (if you want to learn some of the history and economic theory behind it).

Greater Dallas Chamber Of Commerce
700 N Pearl St Ste 1200
Dallas, Texas 75201
Web: www.dallaschamber.org
Phone: (214) 746-6600
Fax: (214) 746-6799
Contacts: Ms. Jan Black

North Dallas Chamber Of Commerce
10707 Preston Rd
Dallas, Texas 75230
Web: www.ndcc.org
Phone: (214) 368-6485
Fax: (214) 691-5584
Contacts: Mr. Steve Taylor

Oak Cliff Chamber Of Commerce
400 S Zang Blvd Ste 110
Dallas, Texas 75208
Web: www.oakcliffchamber.org
Phone: (214) 943-4567
Fax: (214) 943-4582
Contacts: Mr. Joel Sontag

United States Chamber Of Commerce – Southwest Region
13760 Noel Rd Ste 1150
Dallas, Texas 75240
Phone: (972) 387-1099
Fax: (800) 833-9106
Contacts Mr. Kris Mcknight

Texas Businesses for Sale

• BizBuySell.com Businesses for Sale in Texas – BizBuySell.com is by far the largest online business for sale marketplace. If you are looking for businesses for sale in Texas, this should be your first stop.
• BizQuest.com Texas Businesses for Sale – BizQuest.com offers listings of Texas businesses for sale. Browse their businesses for sale in Texas and see if there’s one you like.
• Texas Companies for Sale at Business Nation – You can view quite a few Texas companies for sale at Business Nation. This site is useful for small business owners who want to buy or sell a business in Texas.
• MergerNetwork Companies for Sale in Texas – MergerNetwork provides quick access to its database of companies for sale in Texas. You can view their complete list of Texas businesses for sale and refine your search based on your own criteria.
• BusinessBroker.net Texas Business-for-Sale Listings – BusinessBroker.net lists Texas business resale opportunities posted by business owners, business brokers and other parties. They are a growing business-for-sale marketplace for Texas businesses for sale on the Internet.

If a good resource is missing here, please let me know via email or leave a comment.

Texas Venture Capital Firms

• Adams Capital Management, Inc.
• Aegis Capital Group
• ARCH Venture Partners
• Austin Ventures
• Capital Southwest Corporation
• Centennial Ventures
• CenterPoint Ventures
• Chisholm Private Capital Partners
• Davis, Tuttle Venture Partners
• G-51 Capital Management, L.L.C.
• Gefinor Ventures Management Inc.
• Guidant Corporation
• Hunt Ventures, L.P.
• InterWest Partners
• JatoTech Ventures
• Markpoint Venture Partners
• Sevin Rosen Funds
• Techxas Ventures
• Texas Instruments
• The Crossroads Group
• TL Ventures
• Trellis Partners
• Triton Venture Partners, L.P.
• Vanguard Ventures

If any of angel investors are missing from this list, please let me know.

Texas Angel Investor Groups

• Camino Real Angels
• Dallas Women’s Venture Fund
• Houston Angel Network
• North Dallas Investment Group
• San Antonio Angels
• The Capital Pulse Network
• The Dallas Angels
• Texas Angels

Small Business Incubators in Texas

• Austin Technology Incubator
• Bill J Priest Institute of Economic Development
• Concho Valley Center for Entrepreneurial Development
• Entrepreneurial Development Center
• Houston Technology Center
• Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• North Texas Enterprise Center for Medical Tech
• Tech Fort Worth
• TEKSA Innovations Corporation
• Tyler Area Business Incubator
• Univ of Texas at Brownsville
• WTAMU Enterprise Network

Contact Information

Corporations Section Secretary of State P.O. Box 13697

Austin, TX 78711

(512) 463-5555
Incorporate in Texas

Useful Texas Incorporation Links

• Search Corporations Database
• Selecting a Business Structure
• Business
• Nonprofit
• Trademark
• Fee Schedule
• Filing Options & Aids
• Filing Guide
• Public Information
• Copies & Certificates
• Tax Information
• Business Start-Up Information
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Foreign or Out-of-State Entities
• Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is the right business structure for my organization?

The Secretary of State tells us:

The decision regarding business structure is a decision that a person should make, in consultation with an attorney and accountant, and taking into consideration issues regarding tax, liability, management, continuity, transferability of ownership interests, and formality of operation.

Generally, businesses are created and operated in one of the following forms:

• Sole proprietorship: The most common and the simplest form of business is the sole proprietorship. In a sole proprietorship, a single individual engages in a business activity without necessity of formal organization. If the business is conducted under an assumed name (a name other than the surname of the individual), then an assumed name certificate (commonly referred to as a DBA) should be filed with the office of the county clerk in the county where a business premise is maintained. If no business premise is maintained, then an assumed name certificate should be filed in all counties where business is conducted under the assumed name.
• General partnership: A general partnership is created when two or more persons associate to carry on a business for profit. A partnership generally operates in accordance with a partnership agreement, but there is no requirement that the agreement be in writing and no state-filing requirement. If the business of the partnership is conducted under an assumed name (a name that does not include the surname of all of the partners), then an assumed name certificate (commonly referred to as a DBA) should be filed with the office of the county clerk in the county where a business premise is maintained. If no business premise is maintained, then an assumed name certificate should be filed in all counties where business is conducted under the assumed name.
• Corporation: A Texas corporation is created by filing a certificate of formation with the Texas Secretary of State. The Secretary of State provides a form that meets minimum state law requirements. Online filing of a certificate of formation is provided through SOSDirect.A corporation is a legal person with the characteristics of limited liability, centralization of management, perpetual duration, and ease of transferability of ownership interests. The owners of a corporation are called “shareholders.” The persons who manage the business and affairs of a corporation are called “directors.” However, state corporate law does provide for shareholders to enter into shareholders’ agreements to eliminate the directors and provide for shareholder management. Choosing the best management structure for your corporation is a decision you make with the advice of an attorney. The Secretary of State cannot assist you.

  An “S” corporation is not a matter of state corporate law but rather a federal tax election. A for-profit corporation elects to be taxed as an “S” corporation by filing an election with the Internal Revenue Service. Please contact the IRS or competent tax counsel regarding the decision to be taxed as an “S” corporation and the requirements for filing the election. This is not a matter with which the Secretary of State may assist.

• Limited Liability Company: A Texas limited liability company is created by filing a certificate of formation with the Texas Secretary of State. The Secretary of State provides a form that meets minimum state law requirements. Online filing of a certificate of formation is provided through SOSDirect.The limited liability company (LLC) is not a partnership or a corporation but rather is a distinct type of entity that has the powers of both a corporation and a partnership. Depending on how the LLC is structured, it may be likened to a general partnership with limited liability, or to a limited partnership where all the owners are free to participate in management and all have limited liability, or to an “S” corporation without the ownership and tax restrictions imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Unlike the partnership, where the key element is the individual, the essence of the limited liability company is the entity, requiring for its creation more formal requirements. 1 William D. Bagley & Phillip P. Whynott, The Limited Liability Company, §2.10, (2d ed. 2d rev. James Publishing, 1995).

  The owners of an LLC are called “members.” A member can be an individual, partnership, corporation, trust, and any other legal or commercial entity. Generally, the liability of the members is limited to their investment and they may enjoy the pass-through tax treatment afforded to partners in a partnership. As a result of federal tax classification rules, an LLC can achieve both structural flexibility and favorable tax treatment. Nevertheless, persons contemplating forming an LLC are well advised to consult competent legal counsel.

  A limited liability company can be managed by managers or by its members. The management structure must be stated in the certificate of formation. Management structure is a determination that is made by the LLC and its members. The Secretary of State cannot give advice about management structure.

• Limited Partnership: A Texas limited partnership is a partnership formed by two or more persons and having one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. The limited partnership operates in accordance with a partnership agreement, written or oral, of the partners as to the affairs of the limited partnership and the conduct of its business. While the partnership agreement is not filed for public record, the limited partnership must file a certificate of formation with the Texas Secretary of State. The Secretary of State provides a form that meets minimum state law requirements. Online filing of the certificate of formation is provided through SOSDirect.
• Limited Liability Partnership: In order to limit the liability of its general partners, a general or limited partnership may opt to register as a limited liability partnership. The Secretary of State provides a form for registration as a limited liability partnership. Online filing of the registration is provided through SOSDirect.

The information on this page should not be considered a substitute for the advice and services of an attorney and tax specialist in deciding on the business structure.