Especially over the past year, Texas has been championed by a number of economists and political figures as being the ideal environment for business and entrepreneurship.While the lack of statewide income or property tax - not to mention an intensely ant...
Posted: Jul 1st, 2011
Entrepreneurs deciding on a location to launch their ventures may want to consider forming an LLC in Texas, Virgina or North Carolina, as those states took the top spots on CNBC's most recent rankings of the best states for business.While the Lone St...
Posted: Jun 29th, 2011
While the Texas state government has managed to pass a biennial budget plan that doesn't raise taxes and instead relies on spending cuts to plug a $27 billion shortfall, the strategy may come back to haunt them.A recent poll by the non-partisan state...
Posted: Jun 20th, 2011
Texas recently passed a law aimed at curbing frivolous lawsuits by forcing plaintiffs to pay defendants' legal fees in the event a suit is found to be baseless. However, the threat to small businesses is by no means extinct.Accordingly, solo entrepre...
Posted: Jun 8th, 2011
Texas' business climate has consistently proven to be one of the strongest in the nation. Although retailers looking to form an LLC in Texas benefit from one of the least adverse climates for entrepreneurship, it is important to understand some funda...
Posted: Jun 7th, 2011
Craft beer entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC in Texas may want to reconsider their choice of location, as a bill aimed at helping small breweries died in the state Senate this week.The bill would have allowed breweries to sell beer directly to guests ...
Posted: May 27th, 2011
A recent proposal by Texas lawmakers to enact a tax break on purchases of yachts that cost more than $250,000 was met with a stir of debate and controversy, especially as the state continues to make draconian budget cuts to education, public safety and h...
Posted: May 11th, 2011
The state of Texas is known for its pro-business economic landscape, but when it comes to the liquor industry, it is anything but. Aside from retaining a number of laws that inhibit the distribution of beer by microbreweries, the state prohibits the sale...
Posted: May 11th, 2011
As California and Texas both move to balance their respective budget deficits according to the philosophies of their dominant parties, there are a few facts that experts on both sides are hard-pressed to answer.For example, credit rating agency Standard ...
Posted: May 10th, 2011
In yet another survey illustrating the vastly different economic policies of California and Texas, Chief Executive magazine released its annual "Best & Worst States" survey Thursday, noting Texas to be the No. 1 state in which to do busines...
Posted: May 6th, 2011
Texas has maintained one of the strongest job markets of any major state economy, boasting a well below-average state unemployment rate of 8.1 percent, as of March. And according to recent data, entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC in Texas may continue ...
Posted: May 6th, 2011
As the state of Texas struggles to find revenue to balance its $27 billion budget shortfall, lawmakers have begun looking for all possible revenue sources.In March, officials agreed to pull $3.2 billion from the state Rainy Day Fund in order to plug curr...
Posted: May 4th, 2011
State budget crises are seemingly being addressed according to the economic philosophies of the parties they are dominated by.In Democrat-led California, for example, lawmakers have largely agreed to a 50-50 split between spending cuts and tax revenue in...
Posted: Apr 29th, 2011
As debates continues to wage in Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, California and New York over whether or not online retailers should be obligated to collect sales tax from customers, one of those states, Texas, moved this week to firmly declare such entities ...
Posted: Apr 28th, 2011
The state of Texas took a step closer to extending a tax cut for small businesses last week at a time when budget cuts to education, healthcare and other programs are widespread in the state, according to the Associated Press.If passed, the measure ...
Posted: Apr 26th, 2011
Factory activity in Texas continued its months-long expansion trend in April, albeit at a slower pace, according to Monday's Texas Manufacturing Outlook Survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.The index fell to 8 in April - down from 24 in Mar...
Posted: Apr 25th, 2011
While many economists and lawmakers may disagree, recent reports from the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council suggest that states' tax systems are intricately linked to their suitability for small businesses.The most recent Business Tax Ind...
Posted: Apr 20th, 2011
Entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC in Texas may want to look to the city of Austin, as it took the No. 1 spot on a recent ranking of the best cities to launch a small business.The Business Journals' On Numbers list cited Austin's rapid populati...
Posted: Apr 11th, 2011
Texas and California - the country's two largest economies and most substantial economic foes - may be similar in a somewhat unexpected way: tax procrastination.According to TurboTax's annual list of the nation's most tax procrastinating citi...
Posted: Apr 4th, 2011
Last month, the U.S. Small Business Administration moved to broaden its definition of small businesses in order to incorporate thousands more companies under the category of "small business," providing them with access to government contracts a...
Posted: Apr 1st, 2011
Tax collection in the state of Texas, as well as the nation as a whole, fell during the 2010 fiscal year, according to a report released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau, providing a glimpse into one of the key reasons for ongoing states' and fede...
Posted: Mar 29th, 2011
Amid stressful economic conditions, vexing state budget deficits and continued troubles facing small business owners, the debate over how - and if - online retail companies should pay sales tax is mounting.Texas, New York, California and Illinois are amo...
Posted: Mar 28th, 2011
As the U.S. space industry gradually begins to privatize - with new space travel companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin emerging - it seems to many industry advocates that the father of American space travel, NASA, may be passing the torch.As the gover...
Posted: Mar 25th, 2011
Small businesses considering a move to incorporate in Texas have likely been encouraged by the state's relatively strong emergence from the recession, and for those currently located in Washington or California, they may be intrigued by Governor Rick...
Posted: Mar 25th, 2011
After months of hesitation, Texas Governor Rick Perry agreed with state lawmakers last week to tap the Texas' Rainy Day Fund in order to meet the current year's deficit of some $4 billion. While the measure essentially extends the budget until th...
Posted: Mar 23rd, 2011
Texas is no stranger to free markets, but when it comes to the sale of alcohol, there may be an exception.State lawmakers have proposed opening liquor stores on Sundays, which is currently illegal, as a means of generating further tax revenue from source...
Posted: Mar 21st, 2011
Entrepreneurs seeking Texas LLC formation may find the business environment of their dreams, complete with low unemployment, low taxes and limited government, but the state is something of a two-face when it comes to its bustling private sector and ailin...
Posted: Mar 17th, 2011
California boasts the country's largest economy and population, as well as Silicon Valley - a haven of technology, venture capital and entrepreneurship. It also holds a 12.5 percent unemployment rate and a $28 billion budget deficit.Texas, on the oth...
Posted: Mar 9th, 2011
Speaking to a crowd of small business owners Tuesday, Texas Governor Rick Perry called upon his state to extend a tax credit for businesses earning less than $1 million in revenue per year, adding that the rest of the nation needs to join Texas in cuttin...
Posted: Mar 1st, 2011
The state of Texas contributes more than 9.5 percent of all manufactured goods in the United States - a figure that tends to earn the attention of economists when news of the sector's viability is released.Accordingly, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dal...
Posted: Feb 28th, 2011
New York-based investment giant Goldman Sachs has reportedly made a $20 million investment in Houston, Texas, area small businesses as part of its larger $500 million lending program.According to the Houston Business Journal, the program - which will spe...
Posted: Feb 25th, 2011
Perhaps reflecting the divergent economic philosophies of the country's three largest state economies, residents of Texas were ranked among the least tax-burdened, according to a new study by the nonprofit Tax Foundation, while New York and Californi...
Posted: Feb 24th, 2011
Despite varying economic philosophies and cultures, countries throughout the western hemisphere are united in their struggles to control massive budget crises - a situation that threatens social programs and public spending on a scale previously unseen a...
Posted: Feb 23rd, 2011
A few weeks after the White House reinvigorated plans to double total U.S. exports by 2015, the Commerce Department released figures showing Texas to be the top exporting state in the nation.With an exporting volume of more than $206 billion in 2010, the...
Posted: Feb 17th, 2011
In a move designed to spur private investment and job creation, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced Wednesday his aim to extend a number of small business tax cuts that were introduced in the last legislative session."The real drivers of job creatio...
Posted: Feb 16th, 2011
The state of Texas generated $1.8 billion in sales tax collection last month, marking a 10.4 percent jump over the same period last year, according to a report released Wednesday by state comptroller Susan Combs."Sales tax revenues have now improved...
Posted: Feb 10th, 2011
The growth in the number of black-owned businesses in the Dallas-Forth Worth region of Texas has proceeded at a faster pace than the rest of the nation, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.Black-owned businesses grew by 60.5 perc...
Posted: Feb 9th, 2011
With only days to go before Super Bowl XLV, the NFL is honoring a number of local small businesses and entrepreneurs this week as part of its push to boost business in Dallas, Texas, and the surrounding area.The North Texas Small Business Alliance has te...
Posted: Feb 2nd, 2011
JPMorgan Chase has announced it has pledged $25 million in grants to a number of Community Development Financial Institutions across the country.As a part of the financial services giant's ongoing $100 million program aimed at strengthening CDFIs, th...
Posted: Jan 28th, 2011
Since the recession began, banks and traditional lenders have tightened their credit policies, leading to a significant drought of financing opportunities for small businesses.Consequently, loans backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration have grow...
Posted: Jan 24th, 2011
Venture capital investment increased in 2010 over the previous year both nationally and in the state of Texas, according to a report released this week by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters.The MoneyTree ...
Posted: Jan 21st, 2011
Topping an ongoing debate regarding state sales tax collection on internet-based transactions, the Austin American Statesman is reporting that Amazon.com is suing the state of Texas over a $269 million bill issued to the online retail giant.Texas issued ...
Posted: Jan 20th, 2011
A day after Texas Governor Rick Perry was sworn into his third full term in office, state lawmakers have been handed a biennium budget proposal that suggests $31 billion in spending cuts.The cutback is in response to a massive budget shortfall that could...
Posted: Jan 19th, 2011
While the Texas legislature convenes to address the state's budget crisis, lawmakers are considering spending cuts across all sectors in order to balance what could be a $15 billion shortfall.However, Governor Rick Perry has made...
Posted: Jan 14th, 2011
While the Texas legislature convenes to address the state's budget crisis, lawmakers are considering spending cuts across all sectors in order to balance what could be a $15 billion shortfall.However, Governor Rick Perry has made it clear that he wil...
Posted: Jan 14th, 2011
Texas' sales tax collection grew for the ninth consecutive month in December, reaching $1.8 billion and marking a 9.4 percent increase over the previous year.As the state struggles to tackle its $15 billion budget shortfall, the improvement is seen as we...
Posted: Jan 13th, 2011
Texas' sales tax collection grew for the ninth consecutive month in December, reaching $1.8 billion and marking a 9.4 percent increase over the previous year.As the state struggles to tackle its $15 billion budget shortfall, the improvement is seen a...
Posted: Jan 13th, 2011
While a report released this week places Texas' budget shortfall at a much lower rate than many analysts had worried, the state still faces a number of challenges regarding its tax structure and revenue streams, especially considering its constitutional ...
Posted: Jan 12th, 2011
While a report released this week places Texas' budget shortfall at a much lower rate than many analysts had worried, the state still faces a number of challenges regarding its tax structure and revenue streams, especially considering its constitutio...
Posted: Jan 12th, 2011
While Texas faces a budget shortfall reaching upwards of $25 billion, the state is looking for any new sources of revenue to compensate for the massive shortage.Currently, the state receives the vast majority of its revenue from sales tax, but as small b...
Posted: Jan 11th, 2011
While California struggles with a massive $28 billion deficit, it is also trying to stem the tide of businesses leaving the Golden State in search of less stringent regulatory climates.The nation's second largest state economy, Texas, has been a popu...
Posted: Jan 10th, 2011
The country's two largest economies - California and Texas - are ironically its most ideologically contradictory. While California maintains a highly regulated and socially-invested policy, Texas touts a system of low taxes and limited government int...
Posted: Jan 5th, 2011
The U.S. manufacturing industry continued its expansion for the 17th consecutive month in December, reaching its highest level since May of 2010.The Institute for Supply Management's index of manufacturing activity reached 57 in December, up fro...
Posted: Jan 4th, 2011
While much of the country struggles with stubbornly high unemployment rates and projections of continued job woes over the next few years, many entrepreneurs and small businesses are free to choose from an extensive pool of job candidates.But one segment...
Posted: Dec 29th, 2010
Entrepreneurs planning to incorporate in Texas should launch now, as this February's Super Bowl XLV in Dallas is expected to bring some relief to the region's small businesses.Already many owners have noticed a slight boost in the sector, and act...
Posted: Dec 28th, 2010
Texas state comptroller Susan Combs has been pushing for cuts in various government programs in an effort to tackle the state's estimated $24 billion budget shortfall.The state's business tax credit and incentive programs may be the first to get ...
Posted: Dec 28th, 2010
In a move that has deepened the intense economic rivalry between the nation's two largest economies - Texas and California - the office of Texas Governor Rick Perry recently released hundreds of letters to California businesses, imploring them to mov...
Posted: Dec 14th, 2010
As the country gradually pulls itself out of the worst recession in decades, it's interesting to note that some states have fared better than others.Although a state's unemployment rate is a good indication of its level of job creation and emergi...
Posted: Dec 13th, 2010
Exemplifying the vastly different economic philosophies of the three states, Texas far outranked rivals New York and California in the most recent Small Business Survival Index by the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council.The Lone Star State took...
Posted: Dec 10th, 2010
Many small businesses looking to incorporate in Texas may face a slight hike in the state's unemployment benefits tax next year.In 2011, approximately two-thirds of businesses in the Lone Star State will be expected to pay $70 per employee, a jump fr...
Posted: Dec 9th, 2010
With the days counting down to the end of the year, lawmakers are also marking the days until the expiration of the Bush tax cuts - an event that will impose new tax liabilities on top-tier earners.President Barack Obama, along with most Democrats, have ...
Posted: Dec 6th, 2010
Small firms looking to incorporate in New York may actually be benefiting from the healthcare reform bill signed into law earlier this year. According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation and research by Bernstein Research, more small businesses hav...
Posted: Dec 6th, 2010
More small businesses are beginning to believe the outcome of the mid-term elections will not have a positive impact on their business, according to the Office Depot Small Business Index released Thursday.The survey reports that 22 percent of small busin...
Posted: Dec 2nd, 2010
A recent study by Portfolio magazine points out that intellectual capital in populations - a phrase usually reserved for large urban sprawls - is actually stronger and more potent in mid-sized cities.The survey ranks the 200 largest metropolitan areas by...
Posted: Dec 1st, 2010
A new study released Tuesday by Equifax finds small business bankruptcy filings to be down across the country's key urban regions for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy rates, particularly among small businesses, are often viewed as indicators of small business ...
Posted: Dec 1st, 2010
Angel investors in the Lone Star state are receiving a number of incentives to invest in startups and small businesses before the year's end. The Small Business Jobs and Credit Act, passed in September, included a provision declaring that investments...
Posted: Nov 19th, 2010
Texas legislators and budget experts are receiving a breath of fresh air with Wednesday's announcement from state comptroller Susan Combs claiming sales tax revenue jumped 6.6 percent in October.The $1.6 billion income marks the seventh consecutive m...
Posted: Nov 18th, 2010
Following reports warning that Texas state agencies may be forced to make up to $1.8 billion in additional budget cuts, House Speaker Joe Straus declared Tuesday that taxes need not be raised in order to compensate for the state's budget shortfall th...
Posted: Nov 17th, 2010
Following a rejection by FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration Tuesday declared the central Texas region a disaster area as a result of damages inflicted by Tropical Storm Hermine. The declaration will permit entitled businesses, homeowners, rente...
Posted: Nov 11th, 2010
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a series of guidelines regarding greenhouse gas emissions regulations for states in an attempt to allay business fears of excessive regulatory control by the federal government set to go into affect this ...
Posted: Nov 10th, 2010
Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to file for an LLC, corporation or other business entity in Texas may find help from the Business Bank of Texas.The online banking and financial services provider announced Tuesday that it will launch its B...
Posted: Nov 9th, 2010
Solar energy entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to launch an LLC in Texas may have something to look forward to with next week's Texas Renewables 2010 conference. To be held November 7 - 10 in San Antonio, the conference will seek to att...
Posted: Nov 3rd, 2010
California has long been the home for entrepreneurs seeking to launch a startup or LLC, but recent findings suggest the Golden state may be losing its entrepreneurial edge to its lead economic rival Texas.The most recent unemployment figures found signif...
Posted: Nov 2nd, 2010
The Obama Administration announced Thursday it is shelling out $2.4 billion in funding for a national high-speed rail network that will involve 54 projects through 23 states. Within 25 years, the $8 billion rail system is expected to allow customers to t...
Posted: Oct 28th, 2010
Small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to launch an LLC in Houston, Chicago or San Francisco may find some help from a new advertising platform released by Google this week. The program, called Boost, will allow local small businesses to create ...
Posted: Oct 27th, 2010
Tax delinquent businesses that have incorporated in Texas may face trouble from auditors and collectors beginning next year. The Texas Comptroller's office announced today that it will cooperate with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to suspend...
Posted: Oct 26th, 2010
The San Francisco, California-based nonprofit website Kiva.org has announced plans to help promote small business and entrepreneurial development through micro-lending in the Gulf Coast region, particularly areas impacted by the BP oil spill and Hurrican...
Posted: Oct 22nd, 2010
Every entrepreneur who forms an LLC in Texas tries to pick a business they enjoy, but there are a few simple qualities of small businesses that will increase the likelihood of success.Avoiding overhead and operating expenses is key, so a business that ca...
Posted: Sep 23rd, 2010
Anyone forming an LLC in Arizona knows that risk is part of the game, but a U.S. Small Business Administration director says that bootstrapping - funding a startup without outside financing - is an advantage when it comes to limiting debt.Including a thi...
Posted: Sep 22nd, 2010
The temptation to jump into the world of social media marketing immediately after creating a California LLC shouldn't mean forgoing a comprehensive plan.Whether it's a Facebook page, Twitter or other location-based applications, social media shou...
Posted: Sep 17th, 2010
In an age of technology, mobile phones and social media marketing campaigns, entrepreneur Bettina Hein says that business owners creating a California LLC would do well to remember the business advice of their grandparents.Whether it's mining coal in...
Posted: Sep 16th, 2010
Entrepreneurs considering business incorporation in New York State can minimize the chances for mishap by choosing the right corporate entity, addressing trademark issues and avoiding any mixing of business and personal capital.Writing at VentureBeat, At...
Posted: Sep 14th, 2010
Success in business means being a leader of a team, and leadership skills are critical for entrepreneurs who are going to form an LLC in Arizona, according to experienced business owner Marty Zwilling.Writing at the Huffington Post, Zwilling notes that t...
Posted: Sep 13th, 2010
Among the many items on an entrepreneur''s "to-do" list before creating a corporation in California, obtaining workers'' compensation insurance is not only important, but legally required.While many states differ in their workers'' compensation laws, all...
Posted: Sep 10th, 2010
There are many business aspects to remember for entrepreneurs forming an LLC in New York State, but avoiding some of the most common mistakes made by greenhorn businesses owners will provide a good start.Forgetting to register a business with state and l...
Posted: Sep 9th, 2010
Austin is hosting a Startup Weekend event that will bring together investors, business owners and developers for a 56-hour marathon to assist entrepreneurs forming an LLC in Texas.The event will begin Friday, September 10, and organizers expect attendanc...
Posted: Sep 8th, 2010
Identifying the best location can mean choosing whether to form an LLC in Texas or California, but often finding the right street or neighborhood is even more critical to financial success.Most business owners look for heavy traffic areas, such as inters...
Posted: Sep 7th, 2010
Business owners planning to incorporate in Texas or other states must avoid the "chaos" by expressing self-confidence, automating operations and keeping an optimistic - yet realistic - outlook.Clate Mask, an experienced entrepreneur, co-authored a book a...
Posted: Sep 3rd, 2010
Entrepreneurs with their sights set on forming an LLC in New York or California may also want to consider Texas or Arizona after reviewing the latest rankings of states based on business tax conditions.Texas ranked No. 11 overall and even Arizona came in...
Posted: Sep 3rd, 2010
Obtaining financing to create a California LLC typically means entrepreneurs must entice venture capitalist firms, but recent trends are shifting toward angel investors who are focused more on short-term gains, which is causing business owners to "think ...
Posted: Sep 2nd, 2010
Coming up with a good business plan can help any entrepreneur who is creating a California LLC, and a business consultant at Entrepreneur magazine says the process might actually be enjoyable.It all begins with a SWOT brainstorming session: Strengths, We...
Posted: Sep 1st, 2010
If business owners forming an LLC in Arizona want to grab the attention of potential customers via email marketing, the subject line must not only identify the company, but be unique enough to avoid being labeled as spam and deleted.Like a news headline ...
Posted: Sep 1st, 2010
Purchasing comprehensive business insurance will help an entrepreneur incorporating in Texas by protecting the company from injury lawsuits, accidents and natural disasters.No one wants to pay more than they have to for insurance, but Jacqueline Taylor, ...
Posted: Aug 31st, 2010
A website that lists non-traditional commercial lenders is allowing entrepreneurs who are forming an LLC in Texas, New York, California or Arizona to acquire capital for a new venture or to expand business operations.The new website''s owner, Mike Lieber...
Posted: Aug 30th, 2010
Entrepreneurs should exude an aura of confidence when creating a California LLC so that new employees share the passion that can make a small businesses successful.New employees look to a boss for the lead, and a calm, confident executive instills the sa...
Posted: Aug 27th, 2010
Entrepreneurs who are going to form an LLC in Arizona will be happy with the results of a recent survey that placed the Grand Canyon state No. 13 on a list of most favorable places for business liability court cases.After interviewing in-house attorneys ...
Posted: Aug 26th, 2010
Entrepreneurs forming an LLC in California and intending to do business online should consider a few basic characteristics of successful online businesses and try to incorporate them into a business plan.Malek Ashtar writes at Helium.com that the low ope...
Posted: Aug 25th, 2010
Manhattan entrepreneurs trying to reduce their tax burden might consider filing articles of incorporation in New York state as an S corporation, or incorporate in Texas to benefit from lower tax rates.An S corporation allows corporate profit to pass thro...
Posted: Aug 24th, 2010
Entrepreneurs forming an LLC in New York can benefit from the state''s 80 Small Business Development Centers and their free advice, research, training and loan assistance.Many people facing a tough job market have decided to strike out on their own, and ...
Posted: Aug 23rd, 2010
There are a few steps business owners must follow to form an LLC in New York. First, entrepreneurs need to find the startup capital (BoeFly.com''s new "dating service" for banks and borrowers is a good start). Of course, business owners also need to file...
Posted: Aug 20th, 2010
A new website connects capital-starved entrepreneurs who want to form an LLC with lenders willing to finance the business, thus reducing the paperwork and man-hours that more traditional borrowing strategies required.Robert Tannenhauser, who spent 15 yea...
Posted: Aug 19th, 2010
Using a sweepstakes or contest can be a great way to launch a new business, especially for entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC in New York, California, Texas or Arizona.Sweepstakes and contests can actually be an inexpensive way to advertise or brand a ...
Posted: Aug 17th, 2010
Business owners looking to form an LLC in New York State, Arizona, California or Texas often wish to do business under a different name than the one registered with the state. But what are the legal requirements for a corporation or LLC?According to Busi...
Posted: Aug 16th, 2010
More than 170 entrepreneurs looking to incorporate in Texas recently got some firsthand advice from 20 area lenders at the Dallas Small Business Development Center''s "Deal Day," the Dallas Morning News reports."Banks are lending to start-ups," Dallas en...
Posted: Aug 12th, 2010