Please reach us at vets@texasveterans2step.org if you cannot find an answer to your question about the Texas Veterans Two-Step process.
We streamlined the process for Veterans to form their business entities in Texas with the $300.00 State Fee waived in accordance with Senate Bill 938 (87th Leg., 2021). We assist Veterans with forming their business entities at no cost to the Veteran. Fee waiver for Veterans is available from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025.
UPDATE:
House Bill 346 (89th Leg., 2025) which makes the new-veteran-owned business franchise tax exemption and business filing fee waiver permanent, has been signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 12, 2025.
We streamlined the process for Veterans to form their business entities in Texas with the $300.00 State Fee waived in accordance with Senate Bill 938 (87th Leg., 2021). We assist Veterans with forming their business entities at no cost to the Veteran. Fee waiver for Veterans is available from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025.
UPDATE:
House Bill 346 (89th Leg., 2025) which makes the new-veteran-owned business franchise tax exemption and business filing fee waiver permanent, has been signed into law by Governor Abbott on June 12, 2025.
A Veteran Verification Letter is an authentication issued by the Texas Veterans Commission - Veteran Entrepreneurship Program which is required by the The Office of the Texas Secretary of State for waiver of State Filing Fee.
All qualified veterans will receive a Veteran Verification Letter from the TVC Veteran Entrepreneur Program waiving the $300.00 registration fee with the Secretary of State and the first five years of state franchise tax with step-by-step instructions on processing their documents with the Secretary of State.
Please note that even though a qualifying new veteran-owned business is NOT subject to state franchise tax for its initial five-year period, the business MUST still file certain reports with the Comptroller of Public Accounts. For more information, visit the Comptroller’s website.
We host Office Hours at a different location on the 4th Wednesday evening of every month from 5pm to 8pm.
If you are outside of Greater San Antonio, reach out to us by sending an email to vets@texasveterans2step.org
NOTE: VA DISABILITY LETTERS ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTED BY TVC
Yes. Eligible Texas National Guard Veterans must bring NGB-22
Yes. Texas Veterans Two-Step, Inc. is a non-profit corporation. Contributions made to Texas Veterans Two-Step, Inc. (EIN 99-2807349) are tax deductible to the fullest extent of law.
Our purpose is to assist Veterans with obtaining their Veteran Verification Letter from the Texas Veterans Commission and submitting it with other documents to the The Office of the Texas Secretary of State to form new business entities i.e. LLC, PLLC and S Corporation at no cost to the Veteran.
Texas Veterans Two-Step, Inc. is not a government agency or part thereof nor is it in any relation to the Texas Veterans Commission and it's programs. We simply volunteer to assist Veterans with filing business entities with the State of Texas at no cost to the Veteran.
There are additional documents needed to transact business such as banking and tax planning. Document preparation services may be done yourself or purchased from The Sam Austin Group®️ at Texas Veterans Next Step or the paid document preparer of your choice.
Below you will find the step-by-step process through FREE RESOURCES to prepare your new Veteran-owned business for government contracting:
NAICS Codes
Determine Your North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Codes which identify the goods and services your business entity will provide.
Obtain EIN
Apply for your Employer Identification Number Online
Get an employer identification number | Internal Revenue Service
Set Yourself Up For Contracting
Step 1
Once you have EIN and NAICS Codes, Register Your Entity and Get a Unique Entity ID and CAGE code.
Click the following link to view a registration tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ6LM69niuk
Register your business entity here:
Step 2
Once you have your Unique Entity ID and CAGE Code, Get your Federal Veteran-owned Business (VOB) or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Business (SDVOB) Certifications. Some Veterans may also be eligible for Federal 8a, HUBZone, Women-owned, or Economically Distressed Women-owned business certifications.
View SBA Certifications Webinar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nug7Ik-p3V8
Apply for your SBA Certifications here:
***AS OF OCTOBER 28, 2025 STEP 3 IS SUSPENDED. PROCEED TO STEP 4. DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
“The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has suspended new certifications of Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs) pending further action to ensure the program’s administrative procedures and rules comply with the U.S. and Texas constitutions.”
What This Means for You
This action applies only to the State HUB Program administered by the Texas Comptroller.
This does not impact the SCTRCA Local Certification Program, which will continue without interruption.
Existing HUB-certified firms and those currently in the application process should await further guidance from the Comptroller’s Office.***
Step 4
Apply for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and/or local Small/Minority/Women/Veteran Business Enterprise (S/W/M/VBE) certifications. (Choose only the agency that serves your local area)
Greater San Antonio
South Texas Certification Agency - Get Certified - SCTRCA
Greater Houston
City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
Greater Austin
City of Austin - SMBR’s Certification and Compliance System
Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/North Texas
All other areas of Texas
Texas Department of Transportation DMS
Step 5
Once steps 1 through 4 are complete, register with your local APEX Accelerator to learn how to locate and bid on solicitations and obtain procurement technical assistance. Having Steps 1 through 4 complete before contacting your APEX Accelerator will save yourself A LOT of time.
(Choose only the agency that serves your local area)
Greater San Antonio/Greater Austin/Hill Country/SW Texas
https://apexaccelerator.iedtexas.org/
Corpus Christi and Coastal Bend
Del Mar College APEX Accelerator - Del Mar College
Rio Grande Valley
Greater Houston/SE Texas
Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex/North Texas
Cross Timbers APEX Accelerator - The University of Texas at Arlington
NW Texas/Permian Basin/Panhandle
Northwest Texas APEX Accelerator Centers | procurement assistance in Texas
Greater El Paso
https://www.elpasococ-events.org/mission
Once you completed ALL OF THEE ABOVE and you think you are ready to shine, consider getting on the General Services Administration FAST Lane program. Learn more at: