Initial Fees and Licenses in Texas

April 13, 2006

	Visited: 163
	Not rated
	Rate:

If you're going to operate your business in Texas, when you start up you're likely to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership or limited liability company (LLC)).

Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in Texas) in Texas, you will be subject to the following initial fees when you start up. You pay these fees to the Texas Secretary of State:

Document	Fee
articles and certificate of incorporation	$300
articles of amendment	$150
articles of merger or consolidation	$300
restated articles of incorporation	$300
reservation of corporate name	$40
articles of dissolution	$40

If you're doing business as a foreign corporation (a corporation that is incorporated somewhere other than in Texas) in Texas, you will be subject to the following initial fees when you start up. You pay these fees to the Texas Secretary of State:

Document	Fee
certificate of authority	$750
amended certificate of authority	$150
withdrawal of certificate of authority	$15
registration of corporate name	$75

Limited liability companies (LLCs). If your company is either a domestic (organized in Texas) or a foreign (organized in another state) limited liability company (LLC), you must file with the Texas Secretary of State. You can form an LLC by filing articles of organization with the Texas Secretary of State. If you are a foreign LLC, you are permitted to do business in Texas if you first obtain a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State. If your company is a domestic LLC, you must pay $200 for the filing of articles of organization and the issuance of a certificate of organization. If you are a foreign LLC, you must pay a fee of $500 for the filing of an application for a certificate of authority to transact business in Texas and the issuance of a certificate of authority.

Business license and fees. Texas requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Be sure to check with the state to make sure you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.