Texas business funding across four big metros and one huge map

Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio

The four big metros each have a distinct small-business mix.

City pages: Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio.

Beyond the metros

The Rio Grande Valley, the Panhandle, West Texas and East Texas carry their own economies.

Agriculture and ranching dominate large parts of the state. West Texas and the Permian Basin run on oil and gas and the trucking, welding and supply firms around them. The Gulf Coast supports ports, refining and fishing. The Rio Grande Valley has cross-border trade, produce and healthcare. In these areas, banks can be far apart, so an online process helps.

Oil cycles and the supplier's cushion

Oilfield suppliers feel price swings before everyone else.

Illustrative example. A Midland trucking and hauling supplier earns $120,000 a month at 20 percent margin, or $24,000. A $6,000 monthly payment is 25 percent of margin. If work falls by a third, margin drops to $16,000 and the payment takes 37.5 percent. Plan for the dip. Our guide on revenue share for payments explains the ceiling. Note that many funders restrict long-haul trucking; local and regional haulers are treated differently.

Two time zones, mostly Central

Most of Texas is on Central Time, one hour behind our team; the far west (El Paso area) is on Mountain.

A Houston owner submitting by early afternoon still falls inside our Eastern business day. El Paso owners are two hours behind and should apply earlier. Same-day delivery applies to approved, complete files, meaning the application plus three months of business bank statements.

Which product fits

Match product to purpose.

• Rigs, trucks, kitchen or medical equipment: equipment financing.
• Payroll and materials ahead of customer payment: working capital.
• Recurring gaps: line of credit.
• Planned expansion: term loan.
• Lowest cost, time available: SBA loan.

Construction and the trades

Texas growth keeps builders, electricians, HVAC firms and landscapers busy.

Trades businesses buy tools, trucks and materials ahead of payment. A commercial electrician waiting on a general contractor's draw, or an HVAC company with a busy summer, uses working capital or a line of credit to smooth timing. Many funders restrict residential remodeling and new residential construction, so builders focused on homes should expect more scrutiny and should not assume approval. Commercial and specialty trades are typically treated differently. See construction trades and home services.

Restaurants, retail and events

Texas has a huge hospitality sector, from barbecue joints to boutiques.

These businesses run on thin margins and tight inventory. A restaurant replacing a $25,000 kitchen system needs to know how many covers it takes to pay the cost. At a 15 percent net contribution per extra cover, the math can be tested before borrowing. Use the inventory payback guide or the restaurant page for examples.

Stress-testing a Texas payment

Use your slowest month, not your average.

Texas businesses ride cycles in energy, housing and tourism. Before signing, take the weakest month of the past year, subtract costs, and subtract the proposed monthly-equivalent payment. If the result is thin, ask for a smaller amount or a longer term. That one exercise protects more owners than any rate comparison. See the stress-test guide.

A word on speed

Same-day is a tool, not a goal.

Use it when a deal, a repair or a hire cannot wait. If you can plan weeks ahead, compare slower, cheaper options first. In either case, ask for total repayment, term and monthly equivalent before you accept.

State and federal resources

The Texas Governor's Office of Economic Development and Tourism and the SBA's Texas district offices list programs.

Programs change, so confirm directly. Texas has no state personal income tax, but ask your accountant about business taxes that may apply.

Apply

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