Collins founded his investment firm in 1985, Richard H. Collins Enterprises. At age 25, he was chairman of two Texas banks. Collins manages investments in a portfolio of companies and marketable securities. In his career, he successfully participated in energy, media and commercial real estate investments. Collins commits about half of each day on business interests and the rest on charitable and public policy activities.

• Istation is a private, Dallas-based, interactive education technology company whose products helped students excel in four at risk areas: reading, math, science, and Spanish. The Istation curriculum and assessments are delivered with Disney quality animation and is designed for all children especially struggling students. The company uses science of reading as the basis for its curriculum and provides comprehensive reports for teachers and school administrators.  In June 2024 Istation merged with Amira Learning to become the industry leader in AI with innovative animation. The company now has over 5 million students using its products worldwide.

• The Today Foundation is a public foundation that creates and supports effective educational programs and initiatives to make a positive difference in the lives of children in Texas. The programs created focus on scholastic achievement, character building, drug use prevention, and the exploration of economic issues.
  Through the Today Foundation, and in conjunction with the SMU Cox School of Business, Richard Collins periodically hosts Collins Economic Forums that spotlight international leaders who advise Dallas-area executives on critical aspects of current affairs. The forum presenters advocate and educate visitors on economic policies that promote free enterprise.

• The Collins Academy develops, delivers, and demonstrates innovative educational programs that revitalize communities and support economic sustainability generated by the skillful leveraging of available human, natural, and cultural resources in Jefferson, Texas.The Collins Academy team partners with area organizations to establish the Port Jefferson History and Nature Center. The project includes a series of public trails, centers, and amenities that will feature local habitats, and recognize historical people, events, and locations.

• The Calvert K. Collins Family Foundation supports education programs to help Americans from all walks of life achieve their full economic potential. It also believes a key prerequisite a fulfilling future is a profound understanding and respect of the past. To those ends, the Foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on programs associated with education and historical preservation.