Entrepreneurs of Bexar County

Bexar County supports many aspects of owning a business as well as provides opportunities to do business with Bexar County. These resources will get you to where you need to go for your business in Bexar County.  

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Do you want to work with Bexar County offices and departments? Bexar County offers a variety of resources to assist entrepreneurs and small businesses in connecting with Bexar County.

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Every business is different with different requirements necessary to ensure everything has been done properly, We're here to help get you on the right track to doing business in Bexar County.


Working with Bexar County

Once registered as a vendor to work with Bexar County offices and departments, businesses will have a variety of resources available through various departments and offices.

Get Informed

Departments to Work With

Systems to Use

Register as a Bexar County Supplier

Registering in the Bexar County supplier portal is key to doing business with Bexar County and will fulfill the requirement for payment upon receipt of goods and/or services.

By registering, you will automatically receive bid notifications based on the commodity codes your company selected and attached to the supplier record during the registration process. Please see the presentation for information on how to register in the Bexar County supplier portal.

Reminder: We require a signed copy of your W-9 for payments, the Diversity Codes for meeting certain requirements on work should they be requested, and the Commodity Codes for selecting which businesses to solicit for specific bids or events that we have available through the County. This information is kept confidential. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

 


 

Doing business IN BEXAR COUNTY

Starting your own business can feel very complicated. The Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department (SBED) is here to help in any way we can. If you have questions about where to go or what to do next, feel free to visit our office or call us at (210) 335-1937. You can also request an appointment with our staff to discuss your business needs in greater depth.

Write a Business Plan

Business plans work as a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new business by helping you identify the key elements of your business. 

Business plans are a tool to help your business get funding or bring on new business partners. It shows investors that you have put thought into your future goals and have a plan for how to achieve those goals. 

There are two types of business plans: traditional and lean startup. Traditional business plans are comprehensive and detailed. They take time to write, but lenders/investors often ask for this type of plan. In contrast, the lean startup plan is high-level and only focuses on key elements. It can help start a conversation with lenders/investors.

For information on how to write a business plan and what type of information to include, visit the Small Business Administration’s page on business plans.


Setting Up Your Business

  1. Business Structure/Nonprofit
  2. Naming Your Business
  3. EIN & Permits
  4. Taxes

The decision regarding business structure is a decision that a person should make in consultation with an attorney and accountant, taking into consideration issues regarding tax, liability, management, continuity, transferability of ownership interests, and formality of operation. There are six different structures; to learn more, visit the Texas Secretary of State (TSOS) webpage "Selecting a Business Structure."

Structure Types

  • Sole proprietorship
  • General partnership
  • Corporation
  • Limited Liability Corporation
  • Limited partnership
  • Limited liability partnership

Nonprofit organizations must also identify their organization type (nonprofit corporation or unincorporated nonprofit association) in addition to determining if they are tax exempt. The TSOS page for nonprofit organizations provides details and resources for setting up a nonprofit organization.

Educational Programs

Expanding your knowledge about your field  helps you to make the best decision and take advantage of resources and tools that you might not have been aware of otherwise. Through Bexar County departments and other organizations a variety of educational opportunities are available to help expand the knowledge of you and your employees. Visit the "Education & Training Programs" page for more.

Mentor-Protégé Program

A two year commitment where protégés, their mentors, Association of General Contractors (AGC), and the Program Manager work together to help develop the protégé firm's marketing, operations, and financial performance strategy.

Skills Development Program

The Bexar County Skills Development Fund allows for tailored training opportunities through grants to ensure your current and new employees are trained with the skills your industry requires.

Sheriff's Office Business Initiatives

Training and certifications offered by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office related to public safety.

The "Basics" Program

The AGC/Bexar County "Basics" of Construction Training Program assists small business contractors in understanding the basic elements of running a commercial construction business.

Bonding Education Program

The Bonding Education Program (BEP) is a free program tailored to small businesses competing for construction-related contracts in the transportation industry providing small and disadvantaged businesses the tools and resources required to compete for projects.

Turner School of Construction Management

The Virtual Turner School of Construction Management is a six-session educational program designed to assist small, minority, and women-owned construction businesses understand the elements of estimating, procurement, financial management, safety, business development, and reviewing RFPs.

Growing Your Business

SBED is committed to helping small businesses in Bexar County grow, build capacity, and succeed by assisting small business owners with  certifying as a small, minority, or women-owned business; or register as a vendor with the county.

HR/Employee Help

Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) offers customizable services to help businesses with recruitment and screening, information on tax incentive programs, labor market information, training, and more.

Verify Employment Eligibility

E-Verify is a web-based system that allows enrolled employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.  The E-Verify Small Business video series demonstrates how E-Verify can help with employment management.

SMWVBO Business Conference

The Small, Minority, Women and Veteran Business Owners (SMWVBO) Conference is a forum to develop relationships, acquire knowledge, and access opportunities  from public and private sector entities for the procurement. It is also a forum to enhance procurement staff’s knowledge of  the availability and ability of local firms.

Find Networking Opportunities

Chambers of commerce, trade associations, and economic/community development organizations provide a way for business owners to come together with the goal of helping businesses and business industries grow.

Find Certification Information

Certifying your business is an important step for businesses looking to contract or sell to government entities. Bexar County accepts certifications granted by regional and governmental agencies.

Industrial Development Corporation

The Bexar County Industrial Development Corporation's primary activity is to issue tax-exempt Industrial Development Bonds to finance projects for manufacturing facilities to help  create or retain jobs, or expand the property tax base.

Funding Resources

“Business finance” is used to describe activities, decisions, and techniques that deal with many aspects of a company's finances and capital. These resources can help with finding assistance for a variety of issues.


  1. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department


    Physical Address
    203 W Nueva
    San Antonio, TX 78207



  1. Purchasing Department

    Physical Address
    1103 S. Frio, Purchasing Suite
    San Antonio, TX 78207