The first and most important step for individuals interested in establishing a business is to schedule an appointment with their local SBDC Office, listed below are the topics that will be discussed;

1  Deciding on the legal structure of the business:

• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership
• Corporation

2 Contacting the appropriate local/state/federal agencies to register a business:

• For a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership:

Register with the LUBBOCK COUNTY CLERK, located at the County Courthouse-904 Broadway, #207-Lubbock-TX-79408 – (806) 775-1630, to file a fictitious name or doing-business-as (DBA form with the county of record where business is being transacted). The cost of a DBA form is $9.00 + .50 per additional names.

• For a Partnership:

Contact an attorney to obtain legal advice and to draw up the partnership agreement to determine the division of assets and liabilities.

• For a Corporation, limited partnerships, limited liability companies:

Contact the Office of the SECRETARY OF STATE of Texas-PO Box 13697-Austin-TX 78711-3697 – (512) 463-5555, to obtain guidelines to incorporate and register as a domestic or foreign business (to get certificate of authority). Contact an attorney for legal advice and counsel.

• For new start-ups:

Contact local city officials for building codes, permits and licenses:
Lubbock City Secretary – (806) 775-2028.
Lubbock Building Inspection Department – 1625 13th #106 – (806) 775-2088.
Lubbock Environmental Inspection Services – (806) 775-2123.
Lubbock Health Department – (806) 775-2933.

• For new start-ups:

Other government agencies to consider:

Texas Worker’s Compensation Commission – 22 Briercroft Office Park Ste. A 79412 (806) 744-4569.
Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission-3223 S. Loop 289, Suite #301-79423- (806) 793-3221.
Texas Dept. of Licensing & Regulation POB 12157 – Austin – TX – 78711 – 512/463-6599 * (800) 803-9202.
Texas Dept. of Economic Development POB 12728 – Austin – TX – 78711 – 512/936-0081 * (800) 888-0511. www.tded.satate.tx.us
Texas Department of Health, Occupational Safety Board – (806) 767-0435.

3 Contact Comptroller of Public Accounts for determination of appropriate state taxes to be collected for a business (retail/wholesale).

Comptroller of Public Accounts-
Austin Office – LBJ State Bldg. – 111 East 17th, Austin, TX 78774 – (800) 252-5555.
Lubbock Office – 6202 Iola Avenue, Ste. 900B, Lubbock, TX 79424-2733 – (806) 783-0316.

4 Contact Texas Workforce Commission for unemployment taxes if company is to hire personnel.

Texas Workforce Commission Tax Office-4611 50th Suite D-79414- (806) 791-4251.

5 Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to obtain taxpayer identification number.

This is also the taxpayer’s social security number. Application for this number is made on Federal Form SS-4 which may be obtained from the IRS.
Internal Revenue Service: (800) 829-1040.
Credit Reporting Agencies & Bureaus
Experian (Formerly TRW)-National Consumer Assistance Center-PO Box 949-Allen-TX 75013-0949 – (888) 397-3742.
(Experian will provide one free report of consumers each year}.

Equifax-Equifax Information Services Center-PO Box 740241-Atlanta-GA-30374 – (800)-685-1111.
Report Fee: $8.00 (Free in some states).

TransUnion Corp.-National Consumer Disclosure Center-PO Box 7000-North Olmstead-OH-44070 – (800) 680-7289.
Report Fee: $8.00.

Also, if you have been denied credit or employment in the past 30 days, you can get a complimentary copy of your credit report from the credit bureau that was used in the denial.
Other Organizations:
US-SBA: 1205 Texas Ave. #408 – 79401 -806/472-7462 (800) 676-1005.
Better Business Bureau: 916 Main St., Suite 800-79401 – (806) 763-0459.
Lubbock Chamber of Commerce: 1301 Broadway #101 – 79401 – (806) 761-7000. http://lubbock.org
Lubbock Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: 1500 Broadway, Suite 806-79401 – (806) 762-5059.
African American Chamber of Commerce c/o Regji Davis – PO Box 1796 Lubbock Texas-79408 – Phone: (806) 535-8081 Fax: (806)795-9164