GOVERNMENT JUSTICE RESIDENTS BUSINESSES ONLINE SERVICES Search HomeBusinesses 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. Interested in working with Bexar County offices and departments? Bexar County is committed to working together with business owners, regional partners, state & federal agencies, and other resources to deliver the best environment for entrepreneurs and small businesses. Starting your own business can feel very complicated. Every business is different, and the requirements and steps necessary to ensure you are doing everything properly can be daunting. When you don't know your DBA from your EIN or your permits from your sales tax info, 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 Purchasing Manual 2019 Bexar County Administrative Policy 8.1 Purchase of Goods and Services and Procurement of Professional Understanding the Solicitation Packet Departments to Work With The Purchasing Department is responsible for the procurement of goods and services for Bexar County Departments and Offices. The Public Works Department focuses on capital improvements and construction, as well as professional services. The Small Business & Entrepreneurs Department works with small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and more. Systems to Work With The Contract & Diversity Management System (CDMS) is a directory of all certified SMWBE / DBE / HUB businesses in the Bexar County area. With CivCastUSA from the Purchasing Department, businesses can find current road/repair solicitations, construction opportunities, and public works and flood control opportunities. Current solicitations can be found on the Supplier Poral. Register as a Bexar County Vendor We invite you to register in the Bexar County supplier portal. Doing so will open the door 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 that are selected by your company 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. PURCHASING PORTAL & VENDOR REGISTRATION Please use Chrome for the Purchasing Portal. How to register as a New Supplier/Vendor W-9 Form 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. COOPERATIVE PURCHASING INFORMATION CURRENT SOLICITATIONS CIVCASTUSA ROAD/REPAIR COSNTRUCTION FLOOD CONTROL PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES: FACILITIES MANAGEMENT DOING BUSINESS IN BEXAR COUNTY Every business is different, and the requirements and steps necessary to ensure you are doing everything properly can be daunting. When you don't know your DBA from your EIN or your permits from your sales tax info, we're here to help get you on the right track. 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. SMALL BUSINESS & ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEPARTMENT STARTING A BUSINESS BUSINESS RESOURCES GROWING YOUR BUSINESS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CERTIFICATION INFORMATION GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS CDMS & SMWBE DIRECTORY INTERNATIONAL TRADE Write a Business Plan A good business plan guides you through each stage of starting and managing your business by helping you to identify the key elements of your business. Business plans work as a roadmap for how to structure, run, and grow your new 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 Business Structure/Nonprofit Naming Your Business EIN & Permits 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 Learning is one of the best things you can do for your business. Expanding your knowledge about your field lets you make the best decision and take advantage of resources and tools that you might not have been aware of otherwise. In addition to the programs offered through Bexar County departments, a variety of educational opportunities to help expand the knowledge of you and your employees are available through other organizations. Visit the "Education & Training Programs" page for more. Mentor-Protégé Program The Mentor/Protégé relationship is a two year commitment where the protégé, their mentors, AGC, and the County Mentor Protégé 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 Association of General Contractors (AGC) / Bexar County "Basics" of Construction Training Program is designed to assist small business contractors in understanding the basic elements of running a commercial construction business. Bonding Education Program The U.S. Department of Transportation's Bonding Education Program (BEP) is a free program tailored to small businesses competing for construction-related contracts in the transportation industry. The program consists of a comprehensive set of sessions designed to provide small and disadvantaged businesses the tools and resources required to compete for transportation 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. The sessions include elements of estimating, understanding procurement, financial management, safety, business development, and reviewing RFPs. Growing Your Business The Bexar County Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department is committed to helping small businesses in Bexar County grow, build capacity, and succeed. Whether you’re looking to find capacity-building programs; get your business certified as a small, minority, or women-owned business; or register as a vendor with the county, many great resources are available to assist with your goals. HR/Employee Help Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) offers an array of services to help businesses with recruitment and screening services, information on tax incentive programs, labor market information, training, and more. Business services can be customized to meet your specific needs. 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. Watch their E-Verify Small Business Series to learn more about 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 that exist with public and private sector entities for the procurement of goods and services. A forum to further enhance the knowledge of procurement staff of the availability and ability of local firms with the desire to do business. 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 all certifications granted by the regional certification agencies, the State of Texas, the U.S. Small Business Administration, and other private and public certification 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 which will create or retain jobs, or expand the property tax base. The bonds must be used to finance projects for manufacturing, producing, or processing a tangible product. Funding Resources Business finance varies considerably. It is used to describe activities, decisions, and techniques that deal with many aspects of a company's finances and capital. Assistance may be needed for a variety of issues, and these resources can help with finding that assistance. CONTACT SBED Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department Email SBE Department Physical Address 203 W Nueva San Antonio, TX 78207 Phone: 210-335-2478 Schedule an Appointment CONNECT WITH SBED WATCH US ON YOUTUBE FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM FOLLOW US ON TWITTER LIKE US ON FACEBOOK CONTACT PURCHASING Purchasing Department Physical Address 1103 S. Frio, Purchasing Suite San Antonio, TX 78207 Phone: 210-335-2211 Economic & Community Development Facilities Management Public Works Department Purchasing & Procurement SMWBE/Small Business & Entrepreneurship Dept. Business Related Policies & Guidelines Other Business Resources Assumed Business Names/DBA (County Clerk) Beer/Wine Permits & Liquor Licenses (Tax Office) Civil Cases (Justices of the Peace) Dispute Mediation (Dispute Resolution Center) Preparedness & Recovery (Emergency Management) Theft by Check Assistance (District Attorney) Tax Payments (Tax Office) City of San Antonio Business Website Economic & Community Development Facilities Management Public Works Department Purchasing & Procurement SMWBE/Small Business & Entrepreneurship Dept. Business Related Policies & Guidelines Other Business Resources CONTACT SBED Small Business & Entrepreneurship Department Email SBE Department Physical Address 203 W Nueva San Antonio, TX 78207 Phone: 210-335-2478 Fax: 210-335-0673 Schedule an Appointment Contact Purchasing Purchasing Department Physical Address 1103 S. Frio, Purchasing Suite San Antonio, TX 78207 Phone: 210-335-2211 Fax: 210-335-2219 COMMISSIONERS COURT BROADCAST & AGENDAS JOB OPPORTUNITIES WITH BEXAR COUNTY REGISTER TO VOTE ADULT DETAINEE VISITATION & INFORMATION COURTS PORTAL JURY DUTY BEXAR COUNTY COURTHOUSE 100 Dolorosa, San Antonio, TX 78205 Phone: 210-335-2011 Weather Line: 210-335-2258 Bexar County Directory Quick Links Mission Statement County Departments & Offices Press Releases Transparency Bexar County Holidays Bexar County Calendars Bexar County Subscriptions FAQs How do I apply for a marriage license? When are property taxes due? How do I find someone recently arrested? How do I obtain a certified copy of a document? Where do I report for jury duty? How do I find who represents me? What dates are jury cases set for? 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