Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS)
El Paso starting point for local business programs, referrals and funding resources.
View help & contact optionsSmall Business Resources
A starting place for veteran-owned and all other small businesses across Texas and New Mexico. These guides and preparation tools are free to browse.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. REAL PEOPLE.
Find the right help
Choose your next step and your area. These independent organizations can help you move forward; provider fees and service areas vary.
4 starting points for your selection
EPCC Small Business Development Center
No-cost business advising. Ask about business plans, cash flow and preparing for financing.
View help & contact optionsPioneers 21
Explore business incubation and its free, confidential Venture Mentoring Service. Other programs may have fees or eligibility requirements.
View help & contact optionsSBA · Find assistance by ZIP code
Find the appropriate office or resource partner for your location, including communities outside the immediate El Paso area.
View help & contact optionsNot sure what to ask? Prepare your first conversation
Take your service description, general service area, question and any public opportunity link. Replace the brackets before contacting an adviser.
Hello, I run a small business in [city/county]. I would like help to start or grow my business. My business provides [services]. My main question is [question]. Is your organization the right place to start, and what should I bring to an appointment?
Nothing is sent by this page. Contact the provider directly.
Training & mentoring
Learn at your paceFind free sessions and practical advice. Some workshops charge a fee; check the provider’s current schedule, cost and registration details.
PLAN AHEAD
Upcoming procurement forecasts
See what federal agencies expect to buy so you can prepare, research buyers and ask about requirements earlier. A forecast is a planning estimate, not an open solicitation or a promise of work.
Open official agency forecasts ↗External directory · Forecasts are not imported into your current results.
Plain-language bid terms / Términos de contratación
- RFP · Request for Proposal
- A request for a proposal explaining how you will meet the buyer’s needs. Read how proposals will be evaluated.
- RFQ · Request for Quotation
- A request for a price quote. Follow the exact scope, pricing format and response instructions.
- NAICS
- An industry classification code. A code match suggests relevant work; it does not establish eligibility.
- Set-aside / Reserva
- An opportunity limited to businesses meeting specified requirements. Confirm the applicable size and certification rules.
- Amendment / Enmienda
- A change to a notice or its documents. Check the official source before responding and acknowledge changes when required.
Plain-language explanations, not official translations. The issuing agency’s original documents control.
Federal purchasing reference ↗Starting fresh? What to expect
- Define your service, customer and realistic price; build a cash-flow plan before taking on work.
- Compare legal structures with an adviser and complete required registrations. An LLC does not replace licenses or permits.
- Check taxes, bookkeeping, insurance, staffing, safety and bonding relevant to your work.
- Prepare a public capability statement and register with relevant buyers. Vendor registration and business formation are separate steps.
- Read scope, amendments, payment terms and delivery instructions before promising a price.
Resources for every small business
TX
Texas — start a business
State guidance on planning, financing, registration, permits and employer responsibilities. Use its resource portal to find help for your community.
Open resource ↗TX
Texas Secretary of State — business structures
Compare entity types and official formation instructions. An LLC is one option; ask a qualified adviser which structure fits your ownership, taxes and risks.
Open resource ↗TX
Texas Comptroller — business taxes
Find sales tax, franchise tax and local tax guidance. Verify registrations and reporting deadlines for your actual business activity.
Open resource ↗TX
Texas Counties Deliver — find your county
The Texas Association of Counties map links county websites. Find the county clerk, purchasing and development offices for your location.
Open resource ↗TX
Texas — county appraisal and tax directory
Find the official appraisal district and county tax office for local property-tax questions.
Open resource ↗NM
New Mexico — build your business
Official starting points for planning, registration and business support. Follow links for your stage and location.
Open resource ↗NM
New Mexico Secretary of State — registration
Official filing portal, including domestic LLC formation. Check forms, fees and ongoing requirements before hiring a filing intermediary.
Open resource ↗NM
New Mexico SBDC — business counseling
No-cost individual counseling and low- or no-cost training on planning, bookkeeping, capital and contracting. Spanish navigation is available.
Open resource ↗NM
New Mexico EDD — business resource map
Locate lenders, business assistance, training and timely opportunities throughout New Mexico, including smaller communities.
Open resource ↗NM
New Mexico EDD — business programs
Explore financing and development programs. Check eligible applicants, expenses, matching funds and intake dates; many are not general startup grants.
Open resource ↗Both states / national
IRS — employer identification number
Learn when an EIN is needed and apply directly through the IRS at no charge. Enter tax identifiers only in the official application.
Open resource ↗Both states / national
SBA — local business assistance
Find SBDC, SCORE and other assistance serving your area. Ask about planning, pricing, cash flow and registration before your first contract.
Open resource ↗Both states / national
SBA — loans and lender connections
Explore loan programs and lender referrals. A loan requires repayment and approval; an introduction is not a guaranteed funding offer.
Open resource ↗Both states / national
Operation Opportunity — grants and local funding guides
Filter by applicant and topic, then read the current notice. A grant may restrict business type, costs, geography or matching funds. Loans and grants differ.
Open resource ↗Both states / national · Commercial service
LegalZoom — optional commercial filing help
Formation tools and access to attorney services. Compare provider fees, state fees, add-ons and renewals with direct filing. Buying a package does not establish bidding eligibility.
Open resource ↗County buyer and local-office gateways
County purchasing gateways represented in our directory. Ask about vendor registration and local business assistance; use the statewide directories above for other counties, permits or tax offices. A portal does not guarantee an available startup grant.
Texas
New Mexico
More business organizations & procurement help
This filters organizations, not your identity. Each provider sets membership and certification requirements.
El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Hispanic and Latino business support, including Mexican American businesses. Its public procurement roundup includes past deadlines; verify each lead with the original buyer. No automatic import.
Visit organization ↗U.S. Black Chambers — ByBlack
Certification and business connections for qualifying Black-owned companies. Review ownership and control rules directly with ByBlack; its certification does not establish federal set-aside eligibility.
Visit organization ↗National Minority Supplier Development Council
Opportunity Awareness connects certified minority business enterprises with corporate procurement opportunities. Access and certification requirements apply; these may be private-sector contracts.
Visit organization ↗U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce
Pan Asian American business procurement connections, education and supplier programs. Check participation requirements and event dates on the provider's site.
Visit organization ↗National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development — APEX
Government-contracting assistance for eligible Native-owned businesses and tribes. Its APEX program has ownership, tribal and service-region requirements; confirm eligibility with the program.
Visit organization ↗Women's Business Enterprise National Council
Women-owned business certification and procurement connections. Ownership/control review and application fees apply. Each buyer decides which certifications it accepts.
Visit organization ↗El Paso Contract Opportunities Center — APEX Accelerator
Local government-contracting workshops and guidance for small businesses. Use its official center resources for bid readiness and buyer connections.
Visit organization ↗New Mexico VBOC
New Mexico's veteran business center offers counseling, workshops, mentoring and referrals. Its resource page includes Boots to Business, APEX, SBDC and procurement training.
Visit organization ↗Texas Veterans Commission — entrepreneur assistance
Find the Veterans Entrepreneur Program for business tools, training and consulting. Ask the program which services apply to your stage and location.
Visit organization ↗SBA VetCert — VOSB / SDVOSB
Use SBA's current certification portal and preparation checklists. Certified SDVOSBs can pursue qualifying federal reserved contracts; certified VOSBs have additional VA opportunities. Military service alone does not certify a business.
Visit organization ↗VA — Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
Explore doing business with VA, outreach and small-business contracting support. Follow the official solicitation for eligibility, procurement contacts and submission instructions.
Visit organization ↗Sources reviewed September 15, 2026. General preparation guidance; obtain qualified legal or tax advice for your situation. Providers set eligibility, fees and availability. Links do not promise grants, contracts or legal compliance.