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Permits, licenses and filings for Texas businesses. Pick the ones you need, or tell us what you are opening and we will build the full list for you.

Alcohol Permits (TABC)

Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission · Full TABC permit guide →

Selling beer, wine or liquor in Texas requires the right TABC permit for your business type, and the application involves local certification, publication requirements, background checks and posted notices. We handle the whole sequence for new locations, ownership changes and renewals.

Wine and beer retailer's off-premise permit (BQ) for convenience and grocery stores
Wine and beer retailer's permit (BG) and mixed beverage permit (MB) for restaurants and bars
Package store, late hours, food and beverage certificates and other add-ons
City and county certification, sign posting and publication handled for you

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Sales & Use Tax Permits

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Every business selling taxable goods or services in Texas must hold a sales and use tax permit before its first sale. It is also the foundation most other permits are built on. We register your business, add locations, and update ownership or address changes.

New permits for LLCs, corporations, partnerships and sole proprietors
Additional outlets for multi-location operators
Ownership, name and address changes

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Tobacco Permits

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts · Full tobacco & e-cig guide →

A cigarette, cigar and tobacco products retailer permit is required for every location that sells tobacco. Permits run on a fixed cycle, so timing your application matters. We file new permits and keep renewals on schedule.

Retailer permits for each physical location
Renewals and location transfers

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E-Cigarette Permits

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts · Full tobacco & e-cig guide →

Texas requires a separate retailer permit for e-cigarette and vapor products, in addition to any tobacco permit. We file it alongside your tobacco permit so both are active before you stock shelves.

E-cigarette retailer permits for smoke shops, convenience stores and gas stations
Combined tobacco and e-cigarette filings

Tobacco permit first

The Comptroller requires an active sales tax permit for the location, and the e-cigarette permit is filed after the tobacco permit for the same location. Holding the tobacco permit also cuts the e-cigarette permit fee in half. We file them in the right order so both are active before you stock shelves.

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Texas Lottery Permits

Texas Lottery Commission · Full Texas Lottery license guide →

Becoming a Texas Lottery retailer adds foot traffic and commission income, but the application requires a sales tax permit, background checks on owners, and bank authorization. We prepare the full package and coordinate the terminal install.

New retailer license applications
Ownership changes and additional locations
Fingerprint scheduling for every owner and officer

How Texas Lottery fingerprinting works

Every owner, partner, officer, director and member of a business applying for a Texas Lottery Ticket Sales License must submit electronic fingerprints for a Texas Department of Public Safety criminal history check. The order matters:

Do not get fingerprinted before the application is filed. The Texas Lottery Commission cannot accept fingerprints until it has received your application. We file it first.
The Lottery contacts each owner with instructions once the application is in. Fingerprints are taken by IdentoGO, the DPS-contracted live-scan provider, at locations across Texas and nationwide. We help each owner book the appointment and bring the right ID.
Owners already licensed to sell Texas Lottery tickets at another location do not need new fingerprints.
Owners living outside Texas without a live-scan office nearby submit paper fingerprint cards, which the Lottery provides after the application is filed.

Official sources: Texas Lottery Applicant Fingerprint Submission Requirements (PDF) · IdentoGO Texas locations · Texas Lottery retailer information

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SNAP Permits

USDA Food & Nutrition Service · Full SNAP permit guide →

Accepting SNAP / EBT requires federal authorization from the USDA, including proof that your store stocks the required staple food categories. We prepare the application, document your inventory, and respond to any USDA follow-up.

New store authorization
Ownership changes and reauthorization
Guidance on stocking requirements before you apply

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Certificate of Occupancy

City permitting office

Before you can open the doors, the city has to certify the building is approved for your use. We coordinate the application, inspections and any required corrections so your certificate is in hand before your grand opening.

New certificates for new businesses and change of use
Inspection scheduling and coordination

Checklist by consultation

Certificate of occupancy requirements, inspections and fees vary by city and county. There is no one-size checklist, so we start every application with a short consultation and send you a checklist built for your location. Reach out and we will walk you through it.

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Health Permits

City or county health department

Restaurants, food trucks, convenience stores with prepared food, and grocery retailers need a food dealer's or health permit from the local health authority. We file the application and get you ready for the opening inspection.

Food dealer's permits and food establishment permits
Renewals and change of ownership

Checklist by consultation

Health permit requirements, inspections and fees vary by city and county health department. There is no one-size checklist, so we start every application with a short consultation and send you a checklist built for your location. Reach out and we will walk you through it.

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Hemp Permits

Texas Department of State Health Services

Consumable hemp products such as CBD, hemp-derived edibles, tinctures and beverages are regulated by DSHS under Health and Safety Code Chapter 443. There are two credentials, and the one you need depends on what you do with the products. We create the DSHS portal account, file the application, and follow up until the registration or license is issued and posted at each location.

Retail Hemp Permit (DSHS Retail Hemp Registration): required for every store that sells consumable hemp products to customers. Issued per location and renewed every year.
Consumable Hemp Permit (DSHS Consumable Hemp Product License): required to manufacture, process or distribute consumable hemp products, including making products on site at a store.
Renewals, additional locations and changes of ownership

Current DSHS requirements

The Retail Hemp Registration is $5,000 per year per location and the Consumable Hemp Product License is $10,000 per year per location, plus the Texas Online processing fee. Retailers must check a valid government-issued ID and may not sell to anyone under 21. Products may contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC and only trace, naturally occurring delta-8 THC. Sole proprietors must have an assumed name certificate on file before applying, which we can handle first.

Official source: DSHS Consumable Hemp Program

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Entity Formation & Amendments

Texas Secretary of State & IRS · Guide: how to register an LLC in Texas →

Start with the right structure. We form LLCs and corporations, obtain your EIN, and file amendments when owners, names or registered agents change, so your permits always match your entity.

LLC and corporation formation with certificate of formation
EIN, registered agent and franchise tax setup
Amendments, ownership changes and conversions

Checklist by consultation

The right structure depends on your ownership, your other businesses and the permits you plan to hold. We start with a short consultation, then send you a checklist for the filing you need. Reach out and we will walk you through it.

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Assumed Name Certificates

County Clerk / Secretary of State

Operating under a name other than your legal entity name requires an assumed name certificate, commonly called a DBA. We file at the county and state level and make sure the name matches across all your permits and bank accounts.

DBA filings for entities and sole proprietors
Multi-county filings for businesses with several locations

Checklist by consultation

Assumed name filing requirements differ by county and by entity type. We confirm what you need on a short consultation and send you a checklist for your county. Reach out and we will walk you through it.

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Notary Public

In-house

Many applications require notarized signatures. Our in-house notary handles affidavits, applications and business documents on the spot so nothing waits on a third party.

Notarization of permit applications and affidavits
Business and ownership documents

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Other Permits

City, county and state agencies

Not every license fits a standard category. We regularly handle non-traditional permits such as the Harris County Operational Fire Permit, Dance Hall Permits and Fish Dealer's Permits, and we can research and file the ones you have never heard of. Call us and see how we are able to help with the non-traditional licenses and permits your business needs.

Harris County Operational Fire Permit
Dance Hall Permits
Fish Dealer's Permit
Any other city, county or state permit your operation requires

Checklist by consultation

Non-traditional permits vary by city, county and agency. Every one starts with a short consultation, after which we send you a checklist built for that specific permit. Reach out and we will walk you through it.

Request a Consultation