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A company formed in another state may need authority to transact business in Texas. A sole proprietor or partnership using a name other than the owners' names may instead need an assumed-name filing with the county clerk. The right path depends on the entity and activity, so confirm it with the Texas Secretary of State and a qualified tax or legal adviser.
1. Choose the location before filing around it
Your city and county affect zoning, occupancy, local permits, property taxes, utilities, and whether the address is in a competitive electricity market. Before signing a lease, confirm that the intended use is allowed and ask the local planning or permitting office what must be completed before opening.
2. Register the business or assumed name
- Separate legal entity formed elsewhere: review the Texas Secretary of State requirements for foreign or out-of-state entities.
- Sole proprietor or partnership using another business name: the Governor's office directs owners to file the DBA or assumed name with the relevant county clerk.
- Existing contracts, payroll, licenses, and banking: make a list of every record that carries the old legal name or address so nothing gets stranded after the move.
3. Map the tax responsibilities
Federal obligations remain with the IRS. Texas state filings run through the Texas Comptroller. Local business personal-property and real-property questions belong with the county appraisal district or tax assessor-collector. Online sellers should separately review Texas marketplace and sales-tax rules.
4. Find the permits tied to the activity
Texas does not require one general statewide business license, but a particular activity can still require federal, state, county, or city approval. Use the state's current Business Permit Office and Business Licenses & Permits Guide, then verify local requirements for the exact address.
5. Prepare for employees and opening day
- Review employer registration, unemployment tax, wage, and workforce resources with the Texas Workforce Commission.
- Update insurance, payroll, banking, vendors, shipping accounts, customer notices, and emergency contacts.
- Schedule internet, phone, water, waste, security, and electricity far enough ahead to test them before customers or employees arrive.
- Keep a move folder with confirmation numbers, account contacts, installation dates, permits, and inspection results.
Commercial electricity is an address-level decision
In much of Texas, the local transmission and distribution utility maintains the wires and responds to outages while a retail electricity provider sells the supply plan. A city name or ZIP is only the starting point; the exact service address determines availability. Business pricing can also depend on usage, meter type, peak demand, and contract terms.
See business electricity options for the new address
Enter the Texas ZIP code to open the commercial marketplace. Final availability is confirmed for the service address.
Free to compare. Availability, pricing, and enrollment requirements are confirmed during the marketplace flow.
A practical move sequence
| When | Focus | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Before signing a lease | Location fit | Zoning, occupancy, permits, utilities, build-out, and service availability |
| After choosing the address | Registration and tax setup | Entity authority, assumed name, Comptroller accounts, and local records |
| 30–60 days before opening | Operations | Insurance, internet, electricity, vendors, payroll, and required inspections |
| Before the first workday | Testing | Power, connectivity, safety systems, payment tools, and emergency contacts |
| After the move | Cleanup | Final bills, old registrations, address updates, and records retention |
Moving your household too?
Use the personal moving checklist for driver licenses, vehicles, mail, insurance, and home utilities.
Primary sources: Office of the Texas Governor — Moving Your Small Business to Texas, Texas Secretary of State, Texas Comptroller, and Texas Workforce Commission. This guide is general operational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or licensing advice. Requirements can vary by entity, activity, city, county, and property.