Texas New Business Openings Dip, Still Above Last Year; Austin and Williamson County See Notable Slowdown

Texas saw a significant decrease in new business formations this week, falling to 2,269. This figure represents a 50% drop compared to the previous week, placing it at the 0th percentile historically for this time of year. However, new business openings remain 7.5% higher than the same week last year, indicating continued growth year-over-year. Travis and Williamson Counties experienced the most significant slowdowns, marking a shift in regional activity.

New Business Formations Below Historical Averages

The latest data reveals a notable decrease in new business formations across Texas. This week's total of 2,269 new businesses represents a 50% decrease compared to last week's 4,538. While this week's number falls below the historical average of 4,596 for this time of year, it's important to note that it still exceeds the number of new businesses formed during the same week last year by 7.5%. This suggests that while there's a weekly dip, the overall trend remains positive on an annual basis. According to a recent WalletHub report, Texas ranks as the third-best state for starting a business in 2026, citing a strong business environment, workforce growth, and industry clusters (queondamagazine.com). Sales professionals can leverage these leads to discover new business opportunities and grow sales.

Regional Activity Shifts

Several key counties experienced notable declines in new business formations this week. Williamson and Travis Counties both saw a 50% decrease. Harris County, despite remaining the leader with 297 new businesses, also experienced a 50% decline, as did Bexar and Montgomery counties. This broad regional slowdown contrasts with the Comerica Bank survey indicating that nearly 80% of Texas small-business owners expect sales growth in 2026 (houstonchronicle.com). Despite the slower week, there are still opportunities to build trust when you're making cold calls to these new businesses.

Industry Trends: Electronic Shopping Still Leads

Among the top industries, Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses continues to lead with 316 new businesses, despite a 50% decrease compared to last week. Mobile Food Services remains strong with 119 new businesses, followed by Full-Service Restaurants with 92. Other Direct Selling Establishments accounted for 91 new businesses. It's worth noting that recent news indicates that Texas H.B. No. 2844, signed into law on June 20, 2025, will simplify the regulatory process for mobile food establishments beginning July 1, 2026. For those targeting the restaurant sector, many new restaurant openings and expansions continue in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston. As you pursue leads to grow sales, remember that these numbers reflect trends and circumstances at a specific moment in time.

This Week's Data

Top Counties by New Business Formations

Rank	County	New Businesses
1	Harris	297
2	Dallas	188
3	Bexar	164
4	Tarrant	145
5	Travis	136
6	Collin	103
7	Denton	78
8	Fort Bend	70
9	Williamson	62
10	Montgomery	55

Top Business Types

Rank	Industry	New Businesses
1	Electronic Shopping and Mail-Order Houses	316
2	Mobile Food Services	119
3	Full-Service Restaurants	92
4	Other Direct Selling Establishments	91
5	All Other General Merchandise Stores	57
6	Limited-Service Restaurants	53
7	All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Tobacco Stores)	49
8	Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars	44
9	General Automotive Repair	41
10	Used Merchandise Stores	40

Top Cities

Rank	City	New Businesses
1	Houston	221
2	San Antonio	147
3	Austin	121
4	Dallas	96
5	Fort Worth	67
6	El Paso	47
7	Lubbock	35
8	Brownsville	33
9	Plano	29
10	Mckinney	24

Week of January 20, 2026.