CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHERE TO FILE FOR MY DBA REGISTRATION
IM KIND OFF CONFUSED I LIVE IN TEXAS AND IM TRYING TO GET LEGAL . FIRST I WANTED A STORE FRONT ,SOMETHING SMALL BUT EVEN IF I TRY TO START SMALL I MAY END UP IN DEBT TOO, AFTER TALKING WITH MY HUSBAND WE DECIDED TO BUILD THE KITCHEN AND A SEPARATE SPACE FOR DECORATING. THEN AFTER THAT IS DONE I'LL START THINKING ABOUT THE FRONT OF THE STORE . ITS A LONG LONG WALK (PROCESS ) SO I MAY NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET THANKS A LOT TO ALL I WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW THAT THIS SITE IS A MILLION TIMES BETTER THAN ANYTHING ELSE ,THE SUPPORT AND IDEAS I GET FROM YOU ALL IS AMAZING .THANK YOU

You need to decide what kind of a business you are going to have (Corporation, Sole Proprietorship, LLC, etc) and then file your papers with the Texas Secretary of State. It's a good idea to get your papers drawn
up by a business attorney.

After you have done that and formally created your business, you need to register with the Texas Comptroller's office to get a sales tax permit (even though bakery items are not taxed in Texas). Every business must have one.

That's completely separate from getting your license from the health department. Your county's health department will tell you what you need for that.

Good luck

THANK YOU KELLYM

CAKE BOSS REPR. IS SO HELPFUL ..... JUST WANTED EVERY ONE TO KNOW

It sounds like you have got a plan at least.
Are you and your husband building your kitchen and separate decorating space as an addition to your home? Can we do this in Texas?
I admire your enthusiasm and am looking forward to seeing how this goes for you with the DBA. Best of luck and don't let anything stop you!!

I just wanted to add my 2 cents on having an attorney help with this. While you CAN do it yourself, I have a much greater ease-of-mind knowing all the I's were dotted and the T's were crossed.

The money you think you're saving up front could cost you way more down the road.

THANK YOU FOR THOSE WORDS
WE DO HAVE A LITTLE WORK DONE I LIVE IN THE SUBURBS AS SOME MAY CALL IT HERE IN HOUSTON AND I OWN A LOT THAT MAY FIT TWO HOUSES .ONE IS MY HOME AND THE OTHER ONE WILL BE MY BUSINESS .IT WILL BE 25 X 30 IF IM NOT MISTAKEN , WELL BUILD THE KITCHEN AND A SPACE FOR DECORATING THE CAKES SEPARATE AND A SMALL STORE FRONT WHERE I PLAN TO HAVE DISPLAYS AND A TABLE WITH CHAIRS WITH MY ALBUMS SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN AND SIT AND TALK WITH ME ABOUT CAKES .A SMALL BATHROOM IS REQUIRED BY THE HEALTH INSPECTORWHICH WAS VERY NICE TO ME .TODAY I SPOKE TO A MAN WHO WILL BE MAKING MY SIGNS AND HE SAID I NEEDED TO REGISTER MY BUSINESS NAME BEFORE SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE ITSA FIRST COME FIRST SERVED (THATS EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID )I WENT TO SOS WEBSITE BUT DIDNT FIND ANYTHING ILL TRY CALLING INSTEAD OF JUST WONDERING ONLINE CAUSE I NEED TO COVER MY BACK AND TRY TO DO EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY THE FIRST TIME CAUSE IT IS MY DREAM ,AND I WANT IT TO GO AS SMOOTH AS POSSIBLE ILL SHOW MY HUSBAND I CAN ....

I live in Cypress, TX (Harris County). I think Channelview is Harris County as well.

Here is the link to the county clerk's website with the forms you need to register your DBA: http://www.cclerk.hctx.net/PersonalRec/assumnamDF.htm
It costs $15.

Also here's the link to get your Sales Tax Permit (it's free):
www.window.state.tx.us
or you can call 1-800-252-5555 and talk to Patrick. I spoke with him yesterday b/c I was confused on what was taxable and what wasn't. He told me that anything that is ready to eat is taxable, which is confusing b/c for example someone picking up a Birthday Cake, that is not taxable, but if you deliver and set up a Wedding Cake that is taxable. He is way better at explaining it than me.

Here's a link to a publication that's supposed to explain all of this:

http://window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/taxpubs/tx94_115.html

But if it doesn't make sense just call him, he was super nice!

I hope this helps you out. Let me know if you have any other questions. I definitely don't know everything but I love to research!!!

Good luck with the build out!

Oh also another helpful site is http://www.scorehouston.org/StartUpKit.htm
SCORE Houston

A bunch of business people willing to help out new businesses. The link I put there has an outline of starter materials with a bunch of links to different sites.

Okay, I'm really done now. I guess I should actually do some work since I'm at work and that's what they pay me to do.

I LOVE CAKECENTRAL!

thank you all ,really
xoxoxoxoxo
linda

Jewelykaye, you have provided extremely useful information and I for one very much appreciate it! I am glad you like to research so much!!
I am saving all your info in case we ever decide to open a small shop.
Thanks so much!


LindaV76, how nice you have the room to build right next to your home! Sounds like a perfect setup to me! Not a chance of that happening here where I live but it is what I would love the do, walk next door to my own shop.
Keep us informed!

jewelykake
in deed you have helped me i and a couple of steps closer to accomplish my goals

thank you again
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo