Thinking about starting a business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in Baton Rouge.
An entrepreneurial life is demanding, much harder than working as an employee. Are you positive you want to start a business?
Because entrepreneurship is not for everyone, we recommend you do the following to help you assess whether you should move forward with starting a business:
Baton Rouge has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Baton Rouge demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Baton Rouge.
As a new Baton Rouge entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Baton Rouge for each business category. By looking at this chart, you can get
a general sense for how much competition there is in the business niche that
you are pursuing.
| Business Type |
# of
Businesses |
| Advertising Agencies |
28 |
| Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing |
2 |
| Alumina Refining |
2 |
| Ambulance Services |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
2 |
| Amusement Arcades |
2 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
7 |
| Apprenticeship Training |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
59 |
| Armored Car Services |
2 |
| Art Dealers |
7 |
| Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing |
2 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
4 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
10 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
22 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
61 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
15 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Barber Shops |
6 |
| Beauty Salons |
113 |
| Bed-and-Breakfast Inns |
1 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
13 |
| Blood and Organ Banks |
5 |
| Boat Building |
1 |
| Boat Dealers |
7 |
| Book Publishers |
4 |
| Book Stores |
21 |
| Books Printing |
1 |
| Bowling Centers |
3 |
| Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
10 |
| Business and Secretarial Schools |
2 |
| Business Associations |
64 |
| Business to Business Electronic Markets |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
3 |
| Cafeterias |
16 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
2 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
2 |
| Car Washes |
16 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
5 |
| Casino Hotels |
1 |
| Casinos (except Casino Hotels) |
2 |
| Caterers |
21 |
| Cement Manufacturing |
1 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
4 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
2 |
| Child and Youth Services |
11 |
| Child Day Care Services |
112 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
51 |
| Claims Adjusting |
16 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
16 |
| Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners |
8 |
| Collection Agencies |
9 |
| Commercial Bakeries |
2 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
12 |
| Commercial Photography |
8 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
6 |
| Community Food Services |
3 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
22 |
| Computer Facilities Management Services |
4 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
35 |
| Computer Training |
6 |
| Concrete Block and Brick Manufacturing |
1 |
| Concrete Pipe Manufacturing |
2 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
5 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
1 |
| Consumer Lending |
104 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
2 |
| Convenience Stores |
64 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
3 |
| Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing |
2 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
3 |
| Couriers |
10 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
14 |
| Credit Bureaus |
5 |
| Credit Unions |
38 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
4 |
| Custom Compounding of Purchased Resins |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
55 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
2 |
| Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing |
2 |
| Dance Companies |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
10 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
18 |
| Diet and Weight Reducing Centers |
6 |
| Digital Printing |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
24 |
| Direct Mail Advertising |
2 |
| Direct Title Insurance Carriers |
3 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
8 |
| Discount Department Stores |
3 |
| Display Advertising |
6 |
| Document Preparation Services |
6 |
| Drafting Services |
14 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
4 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
50 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
25 |
| Educational Support Services |
5 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
12 |
| Electrical Contractors |
85 |
| Electronic Computer Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Connector Manufacturing |
1 |
| Electronic Shopping |
6 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
42 |
| Emergency and Other Relief Services |
3 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
19 |
| Engineering Services |
169 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
44 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
19 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
24 |
| Facilities Support Services |
4 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
38 |
| Family Planning Centers |
3 |
| Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
4 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
11 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
24 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
6 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
44 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
22 |
| Flooring Contractors |
10 |
| Florists |
23 |
| Fluid Milk Manufacturing |
1 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
17 |
| Food Service Contractors |
11 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
4 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
14 |
| Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation |
1 |
| Framing Contractors |
9 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
10 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
2 |
| Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Fruit and Vegetable Markets |
4 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
254 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
7 |
| Furniture Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Furniture Stores |
47 |
| General Automotive Repair |
104 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
17 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
8 |
| General Rental Centers |
10 |
| General Warehousing and Storage |
13 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
43 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
5 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
8 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
21 |
| Graphic Design Services |
13 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
13 |
| Hardware Stores |
21 |
| Hazardous Waste Collection |
2 |
| Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal |
2 |
| HMO Medical Centers |
1 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
18 |
| Home Centers |
8 |
| Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers |
14 |
| Home Health Care Services |
51 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
5 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
11 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
12 |
| Human Rights Organizations |
4 |
| Ice Manufacturing |
1 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
10 |
| Industrial Design Services |
1 |
| Industrial Gas Manufacturing |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
8 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
1 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
3 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
252 |
| Interior Design Services |
24 |
| Internet Service Providers |
4 |
| Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Investigation Services |
12 |
| Investment Advice |
37 |
| Janitorial Services |
76 |
| Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Jewelry Stores |
51 |
| Junior Colleges |
1 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
6 |
| Land Subdivision |
18 |
| Landscape Architectural Services |
13 |
| Landscaping Services |
73 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
270 |
| Limousine Service |
2 |
| Livestock Merchant Wholesalers |
1 |
| Local Messengers and Local Delivery |
2 |
| Locksmiths |
6 |
| Logging |
2 |
| Machine Shops |
14 |
| Mail-Order Houses |
2 |
| Manifold Business Forms Printing |
1 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
5 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
1 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
21 |
| Marking Device Manufacturing |
2 |
| Masonry Contractors |
22 |
| Mattress Manufacturing |
2 |
| Meat Markets |
10 |
| Meat Processed from Carcasses |
2 |
| Media Representatives |
4 |
| Medical Laboratories |
6 |
| Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing |
1 |
| Mineral Wool Manufacturing |
1 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
11 |
| Mobile Food Services |
1 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
40 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
13 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
13 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
10 |
| Museums |
6 |
| Music Publishers |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
1 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Nail Salons |
48 |
| Natural Gas Distribution |
2 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
4 |
| New Car Dealers |
30 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
12 |
| News Dealers and Newsstands |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
7 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
12 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
22 |
| Office Administrative Services |
61 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
17 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
15 |
| Offices of Bank Holding Companies |
1 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
140 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
27 |
| Offices of Dentists |
189 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
457 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
18 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
17 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
7 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
25 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
22 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
7 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
4 |
| Packing and Crating |
3 |
| Paging |
7 |
| Paint and Coating Manufacturing |
3 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
14 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
33 |
| Parking Lots and Garages |
9 |
| Passenger Car Leasing |
1 |
| Passenger Car Rental |
12 |
| Payroll Services |
14 |
| Periodical Publishers |
15 |
| Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing |
1 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
8 |
| Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services |
9 |
| Petrochemical Manufacturing |
1 |
| Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals |
7 |
| Petroleum Refineries |
1 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
50 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
25 |
| Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing |
3 |
| Plate Work Manufacturing |
1 |
| Political Organizations |
8 |
| Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing |
1 |
| Port and Harbor Operations |
3 |
| Portfolio Management |
15 |
| Prepress Services |
1 |
| Private Mail Centers |
6 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
11 |
| Professional Organizations |
33 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
27 |
| Quick Printing |
13 |
| Radio Networks |
3 |
| Radio Stations |
9 |
| Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
56 |
| Recreational Goods Rental |
1 |
| Recreational Vehicle Dealers |
6 |
| Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage |
1 |
| Remediation Services |
9 |
| Repossession Services |
1 |
| Residential Property Managers |
43 |
| Residential Remodelers |
40 |
| Retail Bakeries |
6 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
8 |
| Roofing Contractors |
15 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
13 |
| Sales Financing |
7 |
| Savings Institutions |
4 |
| Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
6 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Secondary Market Financing |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
64 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
20 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Sewage Treatment Facilities |
1 |
| Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing |
6 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
1 |
| Shoe Stores |
57 |
| Siding Contractors |
7 |
| Sign Manufacturing |
6 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
15 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
61 |
| Soft Drink Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
11 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
6 |
| Solid Waste Landfill |
2 |
| Sound Recording Studios |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
3 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
31 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
8 |
| Sports Teams and Clubs |
1 |
| Steel Foundries (except Investment) |
1 |
| Support Activities for Coal Mining |
1 |
| Support Activities for Forestry |
3 |
| Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
30 |
| Taxi Service |
1 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
6 |
| Telemarketing Bureaus |
7 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
11 |
| Television Broadcasting |
6 |
| Temporary Help Services |
63 |
| Temporary Shelters |
5 |
| Testing Laboratories |
28 |
| Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
11 |
| Timber Tract Operations |
1 |
| Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Tire Dealers |
27 |
| Tire Retreading |
1 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
42 |
| Tobacco Stores |
8 |
| Tour Operators |
1 |
| Tradebinding and Related Work |
1 |
| Translation and Interpretation Services |
2 |
| Travel Agencies |
14 |
| Used Car Dealers |
18 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
8 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
24 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
7 |
| Veterinary Services |
34 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
26 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
22 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
12 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
6 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
5 |
| Web Search Portals |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
66 |
| Window Treatment Stores |
9 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
29 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
81 |
| Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
2 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
7 |
A critical step is ensuring that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Among other things, forming a legal entity for the business limits your liabilities.
The entity you form can be a traditional C-corporation, a Limited Liability Company (LLC), or an S-corporation.
Incorporating is a very popular way to form a business. Of course, you have to decide which type of corporation to form and where to incorporate. Just because you are starting a business in Louisiana, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Louisiana. In fact, you are allowed to incorporate in the state of your choosing. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There's a lot to know about forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Piercing the Corporate Veil. You should also consider getting professional assistance from your business lawyer. Finally, if you are starting a business in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, our information on Incorporating in Louisiana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Louisiana.
A business plan is essential in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, your business plan is your game plan for how you hope to grow your business. Not having a business plan is a recipe for disaster.
Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new Baton Rouge business, you need to focus on sales.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Fortunately, we've got plenty of good advice to help you improve your selling skills.
Good entrepreneurs know that what they know now may not be enough to ensure their future success.
With your business being located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, you will want to take advantage of the learning programs at local Louisiana educational institutions. It's also worthwhile to see if there are any networking organizations for Baton Rouge entrepreneurs.
As an entrepreneur in Baton Rouge, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Baton Rouge businesses to be successful. We have a wealth of experience in business start-ups, financing, marketing, sales and more...and we've made all of our knowledge available to you.
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Baton Rouge.
