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Create. Expand. Relocate.

Gov. Abbott speaks to music industry executives during a reception at the Governor's Mansion during SXSW 2016.
Photo: Gov. Abbott speaks to music industry executives during a reception at the Governor's Mansion during SXSW 2016.
 

The Texas Music Office is the State of Texas' official economic development office for the Texas music industry, and the office's resources are an unparalleled source of information into why the Texas Music industry annually has a multi-billion dollar economic impact on the state's economy.

Our economic development team at the Texas Economic Development Division have joined us in creating incentives, programs, and workshops throughout Texas to provide opportunities and information that can help both small and large businesses. We have no doubt that after reviewing the programs that make Texas the #1 state for business, you’ll be ready to join our economy, which is so successful that we have become the 9th largest GDP economy in the world (if Texas were considered a nation).

Ready to make the move?

Please send a message to TMO Director Brendon Anthony or call at (512) 463-6666. Also make sure to read the Texas Expansion & Relocation Guide, which includes various services to assist companies and their decision-makers with the expansion and relocation process.  

Why Texas?

  • No corporate or individual income tax! 
  • In 2020, Texas continues to lead all states in private-sector job creation over the last 10 years with nearly 2 million jobs added.  
  • #1 Exporter: In 2020, Texas exported nearly $279 billion in goods to destinations all over the world, leading the nation for the 19th year running. 
  • In 2019, there was a record breaking $83 billion in Travel Spending from resident and non-residents alike. 
  • 50 Fortune 500 Companies: Fifty of the nation’s leading companies base their headquarters in Texas.
  • 14 Million Productive Workers: Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the Lone Star State continues to add jobs back to the economy. Texas still has the second largest civilian workforce in America – more than 14 million industrious people.
  • In 2020, Texas led the nation in job creation and capital investment for the record breaking 9th year in a row with 781 projects coming to the state and thousands of jobs being created. 

Small businesses drive the Texas economy. Small businesses excite with innovative ideas, invigorate with new jobs and change the market landscape. As of 2019, more than 2.7 million small businesses call Texas home and employ over 4.7 million individuals. This number includes over 1.1 million women and minority owned small businesses. 

For info on how to start-up a small business in Texas, please see our Small Business Handbook or visit our Small Business Website. 

State Incentives & Programs

  1. Texas Enterprise Fund: The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) is one of the nation’s largest “deal closing” funds created to attract businesses and new jobs to Texas. Since the program’s inception, the TEF has awarded approximately $677 million to companies that have committed to an expansion or relocation in Texas, which has resulted in over $34 billion in capital investment (as of 12/31/2020).
  2. Historically Underutilized Business Certification Program "HUB": The HUB program requires all Texas state agencies to make a good faith effort to use HUBs for purposes of contracting for construction services or commodity purchases. To obtain HUB certification, a business must be at least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American and/or American woman, and as a result of the recent legislative session, now service-rendered disabled veterans are considered a minority for purposes of the HUB program. A business must also be a for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standards prescribed by 34 Texas Administrative Code §20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas. Additionally, the business must have an owner residing in Texas with a proportionate interest that actively participates in the control, operations and management of the entity's affairs. The Texas Comptroller’s Office organizes and administers the HUB certification program. 
  3. Sales Tax Exemption for Producers of Master Tapes: Many items purchased, used, rented or repaired during the studio master recording process are exempt from the 6.25 percent state sales and use tax, as well as local sales and use taxes. These exemptions are included in the Texas Tax Code Section 151.318, and the Comptroller of Public Accounts Administrative Rule 3.300. 
  4. Events Trust Funds: The Legislature transferred the administration of the Events Trust Fund (“Program”) from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (“Comptroller’s Office”) to the Economic Development & Tourism Office (“EDT”) within the Office of the Governor (“OOG”) during the 84th Legislative Session, with an effective date of September 1, 2015. The Program consists of the Events Trust Fund (ETF), Major Events Reimbursement Program (MERP, formerly the “Major Events Trust Fund”) and Motor Sports Racing Trust Fund (MSRTF). The Program permits local governments and local organizing committees to apply to the State for the establishment of an event trust fund to help pay for certain eligible costs associated with conducting events if all statutory and administrative requirements are met under Article 5190.14, Section 5A to 5C, Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes. 

Resources

  1. Governor's Small Business Webinars: The Governor’s Small Business Team has launched a series of webinars to provide Texas small businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources they need during this crisis. Businesses receive timely, relevant, actionable information on COVID-19 recovery resources and will connect with local experts and support systems. Each webinar is custom tailored to provide education and training that is relevant to the small business needs of the audience for each respective topic. 
  2. Governor's Small Business Resource Portal: Whether you are an aspiring entrepreneur or an established business owner, the Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal will provide you with the most relevant resources and contacts to help you find success. This important tool offers a customized list of useful business resources to assist you in starting or growing your business in Texas.
  3. SCORE: SCORE stands for Service Corps. of Retired Executives and is a nonprofit association dedicated to helping small businesses get off the ground, grow, and achieve their goals through education and mentorship. SCORE has a variety of resources available to small businesses. 
  4. Small Business Administration: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) can provide a plethora of information on available loans and grants, small business workshops, advocacy efforts and much more.
  5. Small Business Development Centers "SBDCs": SBDCs provide assistance to small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the United States. SBDCs help entrepreneurs realize the dream of business ownership and help existing businesses remain competitive in a complex, ever-changing global marketplace. SBDCs are hosted by leading universities and state economic development agencies, and funded in part through a partnership with SBA. SBDC advisors provide aspiring and current small business owners a variety of free business consulting and low-cost training services including: business plan development, manufacturing assistance, financial packaging and lending assistance, exporting and importing support, disaster recovery assistance, procurement and contracting aid, market research help, program support, and healthcare guidance. For more information on SBDCs and to find the closest SBDC is to you, please visit the SBA’s website, Texas Local Resources.
  6. Skills for Small Business Program: Skills for Small Business Program finances tuition and fees for community and technical college courses for current and newly hired employees of small businesses (fewer than 100 employees) in Texas, successfully merging small business needs and local training opportunities into a winning formula for putting people to work in Texas.
  7. Shuttered Venue Operators Grant: The Shuttered Venue Operators (SVO) Grant program was established by the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act, signed into law on December 27, 2020. The program includes $15 billion in grants to shuttered venues, to be administered by the SBA’s Office of Disaster Assistance.