Contemplating starting a business in Houma, Louisiana? We walk you through the process of opening a business in Houma.
Are You Sure You Want to Do This?
Before you get too far along in the process, assess your entrepreneurial instincts and capabilities.
Here are three things we recommend you do before you fully commit to starting a new business of your own.
- Talk to other entrepreneurs in Houma. Ask them candidly what it's like to run a business.
- We recommend reading Why Small Businesses Fail. For aspiring new entrepreneurs, it's a must read article.
- Get feedback from somebody whom you trust. The people who know you best are often in the best position to tell you bluntly whether you will be a good entrepreneur.
Which Business to Choose?
An important decision is what kind of business you want to start. If you are struggling with what type of business to start, read Free Business Ideas.
For step-by-step instructions on starting a variety of business types, visit the Good Businesses to Start section of our site. For example, you might be interested in our How to Start a Patent & Proprietary Pharmaceuticals Business guide or our How to Start a Stereo Equipment Installation & Service Business guide.
Don't forget that starting a business in Houma has some implications. Some businesses will do better in Houma than others. Don't forget to review Houma demographics to see if there's a market for what you want to sell.
Houma, Louisiana Demographic Information
Houma has an active business community that includes small businesses,
mid-sized businesses and large businesses.
To give you a better feel for Houma demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in Houma.
| Business Size | # of
Businesses |
| 1-4 Employees |
3483 |
| 5-9 Employees |
1689 |
| 10-19 Employees |
1089 |
| 20-49 Employees |
690 |
| 50-99 Employees |
228 |
| 100-249 Employees |
159 |
| 250-499 Employees |
24 |
| 500-999 Employees |
9 |
| 1000+ Employees |
6 |
| All Houma Businesses |
7377 |
As a new Houma entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Houma 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 |
1 |
| Air Traffic Control |
1 |
| Amusement and Theme Parks |
1 |
| Amusement Arcades |
1 |
| Appliance Repair and Maintenance |
3 |
| Architectural Services |
5 |
| Automobile Driving Schools |
1 |
| Automotive Exhaust System Repair |
1 |
| Automotive Glass Replacement Shops |
6 |
| Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores |
16 |
| Automotive Transmission Repair |
3 |
| Baked Goods Stores |
3 |
| Beauty Salons |
16 |
| Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores |
1 |
| Boat Building |
3 |
| Boat Dealers |
11 |
| Book Publishers |
1 |
| Book Stores |
4 |
| Bowling Centers |
2 |
| Building Inspection Services |
2 |
| Business Associations |
3 |
| Cable and Other Program Distribution |
1 |
| Cafeterias |
2 |
| Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores |
1 |
| Canvas and Related Product Mills |
1 |
| Car Washes |
3 |
| Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services |
3 |
| Caterers |
4 |
| Cemeteries and Crematories |
1 |
| Charter Bus Industry |
1 |
| Child and Youth Services |
2 |
| Child Day Care Services |
17 |
| Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores |
3 |
| Civic and Social Organizations |
7 |
| Claims Adjusting |
1 |
| Clothing Accessories Stores |
3 |
| Collection Agencies |
3 |
| Commercial Lithographic Printing |
2 |
| Commercial Screen Printing |
1 |
| Computer and Software Stores |
2 |
| Computer Systems Design Services |
2 |
| Computer Training |
1 |
| Confectionery and Nut Stores |
1 |
| Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Consumer Lending |
29 |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities |
1 |
| Convenience Stores |
12 |
| Convention and Trade Show Organizers |
1 |
| Cosmetology and Barber Schools |
1 |
| Couriers |
1 |
| Court Reporting and Stenotype Services |
1 |
| Credit Unions |
6 |
| Curtain and Drapery Mills |
1 |
| Custom Computer Programming Services |
6 |
| Custom Roll Forming |
1 |
| Dental Laboratories |
2 |
| Diagnostic Imaging Centers |
2 |
| Direct Life Insurance Carriers |
1 |
| Directory and Mailing List Publishers |
1 |
| Discount Department Stores |
2 |
| Display Advertising |
1 |
| Document Preparation Services |
1 |
| Drafting Services |
2 |
| Drilling Oil and Gas Wells |
2 |
| Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) |
21 |
| Drywall and Insulation Contractors |
8 |
| Educational Support Services |
1 |
| Electric Power Distribution |
4 |
| Electrical Contractors |
30 |
| Elementary and Secondary Schools |
4 |
| Employment Placement Agencies |
1 |
| Engineering Services |
15 |
| Environmental Consulting Services |
5 |
| Exam Preparation and Tutoring |
1 |
| Exterminating and Pest Control Services |
9 |
| Family Clothing Stores |
12 |
| Fine Arts Schools |
4 |
| Finfish Fishing |
4 |
| Finish Carpentry Contractors |
9 |
| Fish and Seafood Markets |
5 |
| Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers |
11 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers |
11 |
| Floor Covering Stores |
5 |
| Flooring Contractors |
3 |
| Florists |
10 |
| Food (Health) Supplement Stores |
4 |
| Food Service Contractors |
5 |
| Footwear and Leather Goods Repair |
1 |
| Formal Wear and Costume Rental |
2 |
| Framing Contractors |
2 |
| Freight Transportation Arrangement |
1 |
| Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing |
5 |
| Full-Service Restaurants |
60 |
| Funeral Homes and Funeral Services |
5 |
| Furniture Stores |
7 |
| General Automotive Repair |
18 |
| General Freight Trucking, Local |
7 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals |
2 |
| General Rental Centers |
3 |
| Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores |
7 |
| Glass and Glazing Contractors |
1 |
| Golf Courses and Country Clubs |
3 |
| Grantmaking Foundations |
1 |
| Graphic Design Services |
1 |
| Hardware Merchant Wholesalers |
3 |
| Hardware Stores |
5 |
| Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores |
3 |
| Home Centers |
3 |
| Home Health Care Services |
12 |
| Home Health Equipment Rental |
1 |
| Homes for the Elderly |
3 |
| Household Appliance Stores |
7 |
| Industrial Building Construction |
2 |
| Industrial Launderers |
1 |
| Industrial Valve Manufacturing |
4 |
| Inland Water Freight Transportation |
12 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages |
56 |
| Internet Service Providers |
1 |
| Investment Advice |
5 |
| Janitorial Services |
18 |
| Jewelry Stores |
8 |
| Kidney Dialysis Centers |
2 |
| Land Subdivision |
1 |
| Landscaping Services |
8 |
| Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing |
1 |
| Lessors of Other Real Estate Property |
11 |
| Limited-Service Restaurants |
66 |
| Locksmiths |
3 |
| Logging |
1 |
| Machine Shops |
23 |
| Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers |
4 |
| Marinas |
1 |
| Marine Cargo Handling |
2 |
| Marketing Consulting Services |
1 |
| Masonry Contractors |
4 |
| Meat Markets |
3 |
| Medical Laboratories |
1 |
| Men's Clothing Stores |
4 |
| Miscellaneous Intermediation |
5 |
| Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers |
3 |
| Motion Picture and Video Production |
1 |
| Motor Vehicle Towing |
3 |
| Motorcycle Dealers |
3 |
| Museums |
1 |
| Musical Groups and Artists |
2 |
| Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores |
5 |
| Nail Salons |
3 |
| Natural Gas Liquid Extraction |
2 |
| Navigational Services to Shipping |
7 |
| New Car Dealers |
10 |
| New Housing Operative Builders |
2 |
| Newspaper Publishers |
2 |
| Nonresidential Property Managers |
5 |
| Nursing Care Facilities |
5 |
| Office Administrative Services |
4 |
| Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
2 |
| Office Supplies and Stationery Stores |
7 |
| Offices of Certified Public Accountants |
24 |
| Offices of Chiropractors |
10 |
| Offices of Dentists |
33 |
| Offices of Lawyers |
81 |
| Offices of Optometrists |
4 |
| Offices of Other Holding Companies |
2 |
| Offices of Podiatrists |
1 |
| Offices of Real Estate Appraisers |
8 |
| One-Hour Photofinishing |
1 |
| Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing |
1 |
| Optical Goods Stores |
6 |
| Outdoor Power Equipment Stores |
1 |
| Packaging and Labeling Services |
1 |
| Paging |
1 |
| Paint and Wallpaper Stores |
5 |
| Painting and Wall Covering Contractors |
7 |
| Payroll Services |
3 |
| Periodical Publishers |
2 |
| Pet and Pet Supplies Stores |
4 |
| Pharmacies and Drug Stores |
13 |
| Photography Studios, Portrait |
8 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil |
3 |
| Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas |
8 |
| Political Organizations |
1 |
| Portfolio Management |
1 |
| Precision Turned Product Manufacturing |
2 |
| Private Mail Centers |
1 |
| Professional Employer Organizations |
3 |
| Professional Organizations |
1 |
| Public Relations Agencies |
1 |
| Quick Printing |
1 |
| Radio Networks |
1 |
| Real Estate Credit |
10 |
| Remediation Services |
4 |
| Residential Property Managers |
4 |
| Residential Remodelers |
11 |
| Retail Bakeries |
3 |
| Reupholstery and Furniture Repair |
2 |
| Roofing Contractors |
4 |
| Rooming and Boarding Houses |
1 |
| Sales Financing |
1 |
| Savings Institutions |
2 |
| School and Employee Bus Transportation |
1 |
| Securities Brokerage |
11 |
| Security Guards and Patrol Services |
1 |
| Septic Tank and Related Services |
1 |
| Shellfish Fishing |
3 |
| Ship Building and Repairing |
8 |
| Shoe Stores |
16 |
| Siding Contractors |
1 |
| Site Preparation Contractors |
5 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars |
10 |
| Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing |
1 |
| Software Publishers |
1 |
| Solid Waste Collection |
2 |
| Special Needs Transportation |
1 |
| Specialty Canning |
1 |
| Sporting Goods Stores |
6 |
| Sports and Recreation Instruction |
2 |
| Tax Preparation Services |
11 |
| Taxi Service |
2 |
| Telecommunications Resellers |
1 |
| Telephone Answering Services |
3 |
| Temporary Help Services |
8 |
| Temporary Shelters |
1 |
| Testing Laboratories |
5 |
| Thread Mills |
2 |
| Tile and Terrazzo Contractors |
2 |
| Tire Dealers |
12 |
| Title Abstract and Settlement Offices |
6 |
| Tobacco Stores |
5 |
| Travel Agencies |
2 |
| Used Car Dealers |
9 |
| Used Household and Office Goods Moving |
1 |
| Used Merchandise Stores |
4 |
| Vending Machine Operators |
4 |
| Veterinary Services |
4 |
| Video Tape and Disc Rental |
5 |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
3 |
| Voluntary Health Organizations |
1 |
| Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters |
2 |
| Water Supply and Irrigation Systems |
1 |
| Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers |
4 |
| Wired Telecommunications Carriers |
3 |
| Women's Clothing Stores |
19 |
| Wood Window and Door Manufacturing |
1 |
Have You Considered Buying an Existing Houma Business?
We've created a handy website page for those who want to Buy a Business in Louisiana. Follow that link and you may find several good businesses for sale in Houma.
If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: How to Buy a Business.
Forming a Company in Houma, Louisiana
It's essential that your business is formed as a legal entity that is separate from its owners. Doing so will separate you from personal liability for business debts and obligations.
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. If you are starting a business in Louisiana, you don't necessarily have to incorporate in Louisiana. In fact, you can incorporate in any state you would like to. However, if you do incorporate in another state, you'll have to register as a foreign corporation in your home state.
There are many nuances to forming a company. We recommend you read some of the educational articles about company formation that are availabe on our site, such as Why Incorporate in Delaware. You may also want to seek the advice of an attorney. Finally, if you are starting a business in Houma, Louisiana, our information on Incorporating in Louisiana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Louisiana.
Raising Money for Your New Venture
Getting your Houma business the capital it needs to succeed is a difficult chore. The reality is that there is very little funding available for new small businesses, and you have to explore every possible alternative.
Take advantage of our many articles on raising capital, such as Realistic Debt Financing Options.
For Houma entrepreneurs in need of startup financing, check out our List of Louisiana Angel Investors and our List of Louisiana Venture Capital Firms.
The Art of Selling
Being able to sell is critical to your business success. Whether you are focused on selling local customers in Houma or are selling to customers throughout Louisiana, the United States or even the world, you have to be able to sell.
Not knowing how to sell can result in lost customers and minimal market share. Let us help you refine your selling techniques through our many useful sales advice tips.
Hiring Telemarketing Firms to Generate Sales Leads offers some helpful tips on how to sell. It's one of several good articles on our site regarding Entrepreneurial Selling.
Next Steps
You have a dream -- starting a business in Houma. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.
If you choose the right business and love what you do, you will greatly increase your odds of success.
We are here to help Houma businesses to be successful. We believe entrepreneurship is an amazing engine for job creation in Houma, neighborhood development and overall economic health.
More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in Houma, Louisiana
Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in Houma.
Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Louisiana
Starting a Business in Homer
Starting a Business in Jeanerette
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