Starting a Business

Starting a Business - Is Entrepreneurship For You?

In business, there are no guarantees. There is simply no way to eliminate all the risks associated with starting a small business - but you can improve your chances of success with good planning, preparation, and insight. Start by evaluating your strengths and weaknesses as a potential owner and manager of a small business.

Visit the Small Business Administration website for a check list of things to consider before you start a small buisness.

Collin College Small Business Development Center - The Collin SBDC has its main office located at the Collin County Community College Courtyard Center. 4800 Preston Park Blvd., Suite A126 Plano, Texas 75093.
The Collin SBDC is a partnership between the U.S. Small Business Administration , the State of Texas, and Collin County Community College District. Through this partnership, one-on-one, confidential consulting is provided at no charge, as well as workshops and seminars on topics that are essential to business success.

Resources in McKinney and Collin County for samll business owners:

City of McKinney - 972 542-7500

Collin County Assumed Names (DBA) - 972 548-4185 An Assumed Name is required to ensure that consumers have access to the true name and access of the owners of a business. All other individuals, partnerships or corporations are required to register their Assumed Name at the County Clerk's office, according to these guidelines:

An Assumed Name Certificate must be filed to begin a business.
Assumed Name Certificate is effective for 10 years.
An Assumed Name Certificate must be filed with the County Clerk's Office in the county in which you plan to conduct business.
An applicant may have more than one (1) Assumed Name.
There may be more than one (1) registrant per Assumed Name.
If filing by mail, a copy of your driver's license is required to be submitted with the application if sending a personal check.
If filing electronically, you must come to the office to pay the filing fee and sign the original document. For the correct filing fee, call 972-548-4185.

Registering for a Texas Sales and Use Tax Permit

Texas Comptroller's Office - (800) 252-5555,

You must obtain a sales tax permit if:

you are an individual, partnership, corporation, or organization engaged in business in Texas; and
you are selling tangible personal property or providing taxable services in Texas to customers in Texas; and/or
you acquire tangible personal property or taxable services from out-of-state suppliers that do not hold a Texas permit; or
you sell or resell telecommunications services, such as the electronic transmission of tax returns or other information, the provision of phone service for a charge to tenants or hotel guests, fax services, or paging services, or you are a telecommunications utility or a mobile service provider collecting and paying telecommunications receipts under Texas Tax Code, Chapter 151; or
you are a telecommunications utility, a mobile service provider, or a business service user that provides local exchange access, equivalent local exchange access, wireless telecommunications connections, or intrastate long-distance service, and you are responsible for collecting emergency communications charges and/or surcharges under Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 771; or
you collect tax on the retail sale of fireworks; (You are required to charge both the sales tax and the fireworks tax.) or
you collect tax on sale of health spa memberships; or
you sell, lease, or rent off-road, heavy duty diesel powered equipment (You are required to charge both the sales tax and the surcharge.); or
you are an out-of-state winery direct shipping wine to consumers in Texas.
(You are required to obtain an Out-of-State Winery Direct Shipper permit from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.) or
You sell cigarette and/or tobacco products (You are required to obtain a cigarette/tobacco retailer's permit, AP-193. Refer to Cigarette/Tobacco Products under Texas Taxes.)

Both wholesalers and retailers must apply for a sales tax permit. Internet and catalog sellers engaged in business in Texas must be permitted and are responsible for collecting and remitting the applicable state and local taxes on sales delivered to customers in Texas.