Houston Business Resources

Resources for Small Business

Resource Assistance for Small Businesses

Accion Texas, Inc

Provides credit and services to small businesses and entrepreneurs who do not have access to loans from commercial sources and provides leadership and innovation to the microlending industry. Visit Website

GCEDD Loan Progam

Loans of $10,000 to $150,000 to help businesses purchase assets, working capital and closing costs. Also provides gap financing when businesses are unable to obtain all of the financing they need from banks. Visit Website

Houston Business Development, Inc (HBDi)

Flexible and affordable loans to expand businesses and work closely with banks and commercial lenders to provide bridge financing. Visit Website

Texas Workforce Commission Skills for Small Business

This opportunity supports businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and emphasizes training for new workers though it also may help upgrade the skills of incumbent workers. Skills for Small Business emphasizes training newly hired employees, those who have been hired by the business up to twelve months prior to the date that TWC receives an application. The program pays up to $1,800 for each new employee being trained and $900 for existing employees per 12-month period. Funding for training is for full-time employees. Visit Website

Insurance for Small Businesses

HealthyTexas: Health insurance for Small Businesses

Health insurance for small businesses. Visit Website

Organizational Operations for Small Businesses

Houston Minority Supplier Development Council

Non-profit organization for minority businesses and major corporations interested in establishing relationships with minority entrepreneurs and helping them to successfully grow their businesses. Services include MBE certification, MBE scholarships, programs and more. Visit Website

BioHouston

Non-profit Corporation founded by Houston area academic/research institutions to provide capital development, business match-making opportunities and support to emerging companies in the areas of life science and biotechnology commercialization. Visit Website

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives)

A national, all-volunteer group with real-world business experience that offer free business resources, counseling, workshops, and more. Visit Website

Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University

Supports the creation of technology-based companies and the commercialization of new technologies in the Houston community and Southwest. Visit Website

Workforce Solutions

The Gulf Coast Workforce Board and its operating affiliate Workforce Solutions, are the public workforce system in the 13-county Houston-Galveston region of Texas. We help employers meet their human resource needs and individuals build careers, so both can compete in the global economy. During 2017, we served more than 426,000 customers and look forward to serving more in the coming year. Visit Website

Permits & Registration for Small Businesses

Houston Export Assistance Center

Assists businesses in getting started in exporting or increasing sales in new global markets. Also provides Trade Counseling, Business Match-making and Market Intelligence. Visit Website

Texas Online (Information on business registrations, licenses and permits)

Information on state business registrations, licenses and permits. Visit Website

Centers for Small Businesses

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses

Provides quality business education, access to capital, business support services and alumni service for business owned who are poised to grow. Visit Website

Mayor's Office of Business Opportunity

Promoting the growth and success of local small businesses, with special emphasis on historically underutilized groups by ensuring their meaningful participation in the government procurement process. Visit Website

University of Houston- PTAC

Free consulting on finding contracting opportunities that match your business. Visit Website

University of Houston-Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Education, counseling, resources and assistance in starting or expanding your business. Visit Website

US Small Business Administration (SBA)

Government assistance with starting and managing a small business. Visit Website

Women's Business Enterprise Alliance

The WBEA provides support to entrepreneurs in education, scholarships, and matchmaking with corporate contracting offices. We are committed to inspiring and empowering women who want to start or expand their business. Visit Website

Technical Programming for Small Businesses

Houston Exponential

Houston Exponential serves, organizes, champions and grows the region’s innovation ecosystem. HX is accelerating the development of Houston’s innovation economy, fostering a robust ecosystem that supports high-growth, high-impact startups. Visit Website

Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (SATOP)

FREE service designed to provide technical assistance and speed the transfer of space technology to small businesses. Visit Website

NASA Office of Small Business Programs

Provides all categories of small businesses an opportunity to participate in both NASA prime contracts and subcontracts. Visit Website

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Incubators

Station Houston

Station Houston aims to transform Houston into a world-leading hub for technology innovation and entrepreneurship. This vision unfolds as a vibrant community where people live, work and play, with Station serving as the connective tissue fostering our culture of innovation. Learn More

Houston Exponential

Business Resources

Publications, Reports & Guides

Resources for Small Business

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Executive Partners