Texas Secretary of State

Business entity registration and filing services

Official Website

Visit the Texas Secretary of State for official forms and filing

Business Entity Formation

The Texas Secretary of State is responsible for registering and maintaining records for all business entities in Texas. Whether you're forming an LLC, corporation, partnership, or other business structure, you'll need to file with the SOS.

Available Business Structures

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Flexible structure with liability protection and pass-through taxation

Corporation (C-Corp or S-Corp)

Formal structure with shareholders, directors, and officers

General Partnership

Two or more owners sharing profits and liabilities

Limited Partnership (LP)

General partners manage, limited partners invest

SOSDirect Online Filing System

SOSDirect is the Texas Secretary of State's online filing system that allows you to file business documents electronically, search business records, and manage your entity information 24/7.

What You Can Do on SOSDirect

File formation documents for new business entities
Submit amendments, mergers, and conversions
File periodic reports and franchise tax reports
Search existing business entity records
Order certificates of filing and certified copies
Update registered agent information

Business Name Availability Search

Before filing your formation documents, you must ensure your desired business name is available and complies with Texas naming requirements.

Name Requirements

Must Be Distinguishable

Your business name must be distinguishable from existing entities registered in Texas

Include Entity Designation

LLCs must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Corporations must include "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Company," or abbreviations

Avoid Restricted Words

Certain words like "bank," "insurance," "university" require special approval

Pro Tip: Use the SOSDirect Taxable Entity Search to check name availability before filing. You can also reserve a business name for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation form.

Registered Agent Requirements

Every business entity in Texas must maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Texas. The registered agent receives legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of your business.

Registered Agent Must:

Have a physical street address in Texas (no P.O. boxes)
Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process
Be an individual resident of Texas or a business entity authorized to do business in Texas
Consent to serve as registered agent for your entity

You can serve as your own registered agent, designate an officer or employee, or hire a professional registered agent service.

Filing Fees

Filing fees vary depending on the type of entity and document being filed. All fees are non-refundable.

Document Type	Filing Fee
Certificate of Formation - LLC	$300
Certificate of Formation - Corporation	$300
Certificate of Formation - Partnership	$750
Amendment to Certificate of Formation	$150
Certificate of Termination	$40
Name Reservation	$40
Registered Agent Change	$15

Note: Expedited processing is available for an additional fee. Same-day processing costs $25-$100 depending on the document type.

Contact Information

Business & Public Filings Division

Phone: (512) 463-5555

Fax: (512) 463-5709

Email: corpinfo@sos.texas.gov

Mailing Address

Texas Secretary of State
P.O. Box 13697
Austin, TX 78711-3697

Need Help with Business Registration?

Our team can guide you through the Texas Secretary of State filing process and ensure your business is properly registered.