Business Environment

Through pro-growth policy, smart regulation and a favorable tax regime, Texas has emerged as a world-class business environment and the premier state for expansion and relocation. We are a right-to-work state and have no corporate or personal income tax, electing instead for a business franchise tax and a state sales tax.

The City of Houston has set priorities of its own to support growth and innovation. The City has no local minimum wage, permitting is fast and friendly, and the cost of doing business in Houston is well-below the U.S. major metro average. Because of our business-friendly climate, Houston has emerged as one of the nation’s preeminent centers for corporate headquarters and back office facilities.

Between 2010 and 2018, Greater Houston grew by more than a million residents to 7 million, and the regional economy (real GDP) grew by 5.7% since 2012.

Key Stats
Texas Has No Personal, State, or Corporate Income Tax
Texas is Right-to-Work State
Houston Business Costs Beat Other Major Metros
Percent Above/Below the U.S. Average Cost of Living (COLI) 2018, (100 = U.S. Average)
  • 148.5 New York City

  • 96.3 San Francisco

  • 54.8 Seattle

  • 23.2 Chicago

  • 5.4 Dallas

  • 1.8 Atlanta

  • -3.8 Houston

Houston Construction Cost Advantage (100 = U.S. Average)
  • 87.6 Houston

  • 118.8 Chicago

  • 131.2 New York

  • 118.8 Boston

  • 92.7 Denver

  • 103.5 Seattle

  • 97.6 Washington D.C. (not in district)