Have you done more than dream about starting your own business? The entrepreneur bug may have bitten you more than once, and now you have decided to go for it.
Here is a round-up of resources readily available for business owners-to-be or owners ready-to-grow in the City and County of Dallas.
Are you interested in starting a business?
Consult one of our Dallas business attorneys today>>
THE DALLAS B.R.A.I.N.
The first place to go is the Dallas Business Resource and Information Network (BRAIN). This website is chock-full of resources for the small business owner. You can get in touch with the specific types of assistance you need for your stage of business growth, and industry from a variety of drop-down menus on the homepage.
As of this writing, the site stated there were 127 providers waiting to help. You can find:
- A mentor
- Funding sources
- Internship programs and startup services
- Import-export
…almost any type of business you can imagine
For each area of assistance you select, you can access a list of needs specific to that area, narrowing your search to exactly what you need. You can have just a business concept, a startup, or an established business in one of a wide variety of industries from Administration and business support to wholesale.
The Dallas B.R.A.I.N. also provides tools and learning materials that fit to each stage of business to keep you rolling along.
DALLAS OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
A full-service economic development program for the city, the Office of Economic Development supports existing and prospective Dallas businesses. Part of its mission is the development and redevelopment of the downtown area and neighborhoods in southern Dallas.
Dallas Economic Development targets three sectors:
- Services
- Manufacturing
- Assembly and Distribution
Within services, the office supports headquarters and operations, IT services, logistics, creative industries and media, and telecommunications. All building design, construction, and furnishings are under manufacturing along with food manufacturing and instruments, both wireless and medical. Assembly and distribution include transportation equipment and aviation.
The Dallas Office of Economic Development is the place to go to learn about incentives for development within the city. You can download the Small Business Guide to Starting a Business in Dallas, get your IRS Employer Tax ID and State of Texas Sales Tax ID numbers, and browse a list of corporations new to Texas.
SCORE – SERVICE CORPS OF RETIRED EXECUTIVES
SCORE is a non-profit that provides free one-on-one counseling to small business owners and those interested in starting a business. You can go to the site to find a mentor, take a workshop, or browse an online library stocked with blog posts, templates, articles, and more about everything from being a college student and business owner to what you need to know before buying a restaurant.
From January 12 through February 13, SCORE is running the 2017 American Small Business Championship. You can enter to win one of three $25,000 grand prizes. Another 102 state finalists will each win a $1,000 Sam’s Club gift card, a trip to a networking and training event, and some free publicity.
DALLAS COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE
If you are Doing Business As (DBA) or under an assumed name, you need to contact the Dallas County Clerk’s Office. You can either show up at the office or mail in the paperwork plus the filing fee to set up your DBA.
Decide on your business name and search the County Assumed Name Records to make sure it is available. Then you complete a form and present it to the county clerk. All owners must be present, and you must have a valid government issued ID. Otherwise, you can mail it with a SASE; just be sure to get the form notarized before mailing it.
The filing fee is $24 plus 50 cents per additional partner or owner. If the deputy takes the acknowledgment instead of the notary, it will be another $2.00.
The County Clerk also handles certificates of ownership for unincorporated businesses or professions and assumed name certificates for incorporated businesses or professions. The office is also where you go to withdraw a notice of assumed name.Address:
Office of the Dallas County Clerk
Renaissance Tower, 21st and 22nd floor
1201 Elm Street
Dallas Texas, 750270
You can call (888) 666-5908 or fax 214-653-7176.
They are open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday except for court approved holidays.
SEE CHARLES VETHAN SPEAKING IN DALLAS
Charles Vethan will be speaking in Dallas on March 8, 2017, about Intellectual Property. He will tell you how to protect your business and determine what is considered intellectual property.
He will talk about patents, inventions, designs, trademarks and trade dress, and more, all about proprietary information and property. The event is sponsored by the Dallas Chapter of SCORE and will be held at the Meadows Conference Center in Dallas.
You can contact Claudia Guevara for more information at (888) 666-5908 or email reception_22-2@scorevolunteer.org.
Dallas, Texas, is a great city to start a business, and these resources are just the tip of the iceberg. Start your research here, and we hope to see you at the Meadows Conference Center next month.
