Louisiana Business Startup Guides

Starting a Business in New Orleans, Louisiana

Thinking about starting a business in New Orleans, Louisiana? This step-by-step guide walks you through the major decisions you should consider before opening a new business in New Orleans.

New Orleans, Louisiana Demographic Information

New Orleans has an active business community that includes small businesses, mid-sized businesses and large businesses.

To give you a better feel for New Orleans demographics for small businesses, we have tabulated the small business sizes, based on number of employees, for business in New Orleans.

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
16832
5-9 Employees
6790
10-19 Employees
4799
20-49 Employees
3585
50-99 Employees
1302
100-249 Employees
786
250-499 Employees
165
500-999 Employees
87
1000+ Employees
63
All New Orleans Businesses
34409

As a new New Orleans entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in New Orleans 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
Air and Gas Compressor Manufacturing
1
Ambulance Services
5
Amusement Arcades
2
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
11
Apprenticeship Training
3
Architectural Services
59
Armored Car Services
2
Automobile Driving Schools
2
Automobile Manufacturing
1
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
2
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
7
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
46
Automotive Transmission Repair
5
Baked Goods Stores
2
Beauty Salons
83
Bed-and-Breakfast Inns
22
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
1
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
17
Blind and Shade Manufacturing
1
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Building
1
Book Publishers
4
Book Stores
27
Books Printing
1
Bowling Centers
2
Breweries
2
Broadwoven Fabric Finishing Mills
1
Building Inspection Services
8
Business Associations
25
Business to Business Electronic Markets
2
Cable and Other Program Distribution
7
Cafeterias
16
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
10
Canvas and Related Product Mills
3
Car Washes
8
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
8
Casinos (except Casino Hotels)
2
Caterers
24
Cemeteries and Crematories
13
Charter Bus Industry
2
Child and Youth Services
20
Child Day Care Services
148
Civic and Social Organizations
52
Claims Adjusting
12
Clothing Accessories Stores
24
Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
5
Coin-Operated Laundries and Drycleaners
16
Collection Agencies
5
Commercial Bakeries
7
Commercial Lithographic Printing
20
Commercial Photography
12
Commercial Screen Printing
5
Commodity Contracts Brokerage
2
Community Food Services
4
Computer and Software Stores
13
Computer Facilities Management Services
8
Computer Training
6
Concrete Pipe Manufacturing
2
Confectionery and Nut Stores
9
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Consumer Lending
26
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
9
Convenience Stores
62
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
3
Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
1
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
3
Couriers
13
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
19
Credit Bureaus
1
Credit Card Issuing
1
Curtain and Drapery Mills
5
Custom Computer Programming Services
59
Dance Companies
1
Deep Sea Freight Transportation
6
Dental Laboratories
2
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
9
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
23
Direct Mail Advertising
1
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
7
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
1
Discount Department Stores
3
Display Advertising
4
Distilleries
1
Doll and Stuffed Toy Manufacturing
1
Drafting Services
1
Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
1
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
7
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
190
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
11
Educational Support Services
6
Electrical Contractors
76
Electronic Shopping
9
Elementary and Secondary Schools
64
Emergency and Other Relief Services
5
Employment Placement Agencies
12
Engineering Services
99
Environmental Consulting Services
5
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
17
Facilities Support Services
7
Family Clothing Stores
46
Family Planning Centers
5
Farm Product Warehousing and Storage
1
Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers
4
Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing
1
Finfish Fishing
2
Finish Carpentry Contractors
17
Fish and Seafood Markets
13
Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers
10
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
27
Flat Glass Manufacturing
1
Flight Training
1
Flooring Contractors
17
Florists
22
Fluid Milk Manufacturing
1
Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing
1
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
13
Food Product Machinery Manufacturing
2
Food Service Contractors
66
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
4
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
1
Framing Contractors
3
Freight Transportation Arrangement
51
Fresh and Frozen Seafood Processing
4
Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
1
Fruit and Vegetable Canning
3
Full-Service Restaurants
424
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
22
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
7
Furniture Stores
29
General Automotive Repair
68
General Freight Trucking, Local
18
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
15
General Warehousing and Storage
24
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
125
Glass and Glazing Contractors
9
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
7
Grantmaking Foundations
24
Graphic Design Services
21
Greeting Card Publishers
1
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
8
Hardware Stores
23
Hat, Cap, and Millinery Manufacturing
1
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
1
Heating Oil Dealers
1
Historical Sites
1
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
17
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
14
Home Health Care Services
39
Home Health Equipment Rental
4
Homes for the Elderly
8
Household Appliance Stores
7
Human Rights Organizations
9
Industrial Building Construction
5
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
2
Industrial Launderers
10
Inland Water Freight Transportation
5
Inland Water Passenger Transportation
2
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
156
Interior Design Services
25
Internet Service Providers
7
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
3
Investigation Services
10
Investment Advice
14
Iron and Steel Mills
2
Janitorial Services
57
Jewelry (except Costume) Manufacturing
3
Junior Colleges
1
Kidney Dialysis Centers
18
Land Subdivision
9
Landscape Architectural Services
15
Landscaping Services
53
Language Schools
2
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
11
Limited-Service Restaurants
335
Limousine Service
10
Linen Supply
4
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
10
Locksmiths
6
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
8
Luggage Manufacturing
2
Mail-Order Houses
13
Marinas
5
Marine Cargo Handling
10
Marketing Consulting Services
23
Masonry Contractors
8
Meat Markets
8
Meat Processed from Carcasses
4
Media Representatives
2
Medical Laboratories
13
Men's and Boys' Neckwear Manufacturing
2
Men's Clothing Stores
36
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
1
Miscellaneous Intermediation
18
Mobile Food Services
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
18
Motion Picture and Video Distribution
2
Motion Picture and Video Production
21
Motor Vehicle Towing
6
Motorcycle Dealers
4
Museums
18
Music Publishers
1
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
4
Nail Salons
7
Natural Gas Distribution
2
Navigational Services to Shipping
13
New Car Dealers
16
New Housing Operative Builders
2
News Dealers and Newsstands
2
Newspaper Publishers
9
Nitrogenous Fertilizer Manufacturing
1
Nonresidential Property Managers
28
Nursing Care Facilities
22
Office Administrative Services
52
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
21
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
9
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
87
Offices of Chiropractors
18
Offices of Dentists
131
Offices of Lawyers
681
Offices of Optometrists
16
Offices of Other Holding Companies
12
Offices of Podiatrists
8
One-Hour Photofinishing
2
Open-End Investment Funds
5
Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing
4
Optical Goods Stores
14
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
2
Packaging Machinery Manufacturing
1
Packing and Crating
5
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
15
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
20
Parking Lots and Garages
141
Passenger Car Leasing
2
Passenger Car Rental
16
Payroll Services
5
Periodical Publishers
9
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
8
Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
3
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
86
Photography Studios, Portrait
18
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil
1
Plastics Bag Manufacturing
1
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
2
Port and Harbor Operations
1
Portfolio Management
14
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Private Mail Centers
7
Professional Employer Organizations
9
Professional Organizations
12
Quick Printing
8
Racetracks
1
Radio Stations
23
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
6
Real Estate Credit
23
Record Production
1
Recreational Goods Rental
3
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
4
Remediation Services
5
Residential Property Managers
63
Residential Remodelers
76
Retail Bakeries
9
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
9
Roofing Contractors
20
Sales Financing
11
Sanitary Paper Product Manufacturing
1
Satellite Telecommunications
3
Savings Institutions
18
Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
7
School and Employee Bus Transportation
1
Security Guards and Patrol Services
23
Sewage Treatment Facilities
2
Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing
6
Shellfish Fishing
2
Ship Building and Repairing
10
Shoe Stores
64
Siding Contractors
6
Site Preparation Contractors
16
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
95
Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing
1
Soft Drink Manufacturing
2
Software Publishers
3
Solid Waste Collection
4
Sound Recording Studios
4
Spice and Extract Manufacturing
2
Sporting Goods Stores
14
Sports and Recreation Instruction
10
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Spring (Light Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Steel Wire Drawing
1
Tax Preparation Services
26
Telecommunications Resellers
4
Telemarketing Bureaus
3
Telephone Answering Services
1
Television Broadcasting
4
Temporary Help Services
59
Temporary Shelters
9
Testing Laboratories
8
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
9
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
2
Tire Dealers
21
Tire Manufacturing (except Retreading)
1
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
20
Tobacco Stores
6
Tour Operators
21
Tradebinding and Related Work
2
Translation and Interpretation Services
1
Travel Agencies
26
Used Car Dealers
14
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
15
Used Merchandise Stores
68
Veterinary Services
25
Video Tape and Disc Rental
19
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
18
Voluntary Health Organizations
17
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
3
Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
1
Window Treatment Stores
2
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
34
Women's Clothing Stores
95
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1
Zoos and Botanical Gardens
2

Naming the Company

A big decision when starting a company is choosing a company name. Believe it or not, choosing a good company name can be a big contributor to your business success.

Before you decide on a company name, run it by some prospective customers and see what they think. If they don't like it, it's probably a good idea to go back to the drawing board.

Numerous company naming issues are discussed in more detail in this article: Branding Advice.

On a final note, given that you are opening a business in New Orleans, it's critical that you ensure that no Louisiana company has already registered the company name you have selected.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

Creating a business plan is vital to the health of your new business. Indeed, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Failure to write a business plan

To learn more about business plans, read Business Plan Software. You should also take advantage of free business counselors available to you through your local SCORE chapter in Louisiana.

Raising Money for Your New Venture

Obtaining startup financing for your New Orleans business is not an easy task. Bootstrapping, which means growing the business without outside funding, is the best alternative, but that's not a viable option for many startup plans.

To learn about raising money, we recommend you read the fundraising articles on our site, such as Angel Investors.

For New Orleans entrepreneurs on the hunt for startup funding, you'll want to take a look at our List of Louisiana Angel Investors and our List of Louisiana Venture Capital Firms.

Marketing Your New Startup

Whether your goal is to attract New Orleans customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you'll need to have a good marketing plan.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Advertising on the Web is an article that will stimulate a few thoughts on your marketing plan. There are many more articles on marketing on our site. Visit our Small Business Marketing resource section to see them all.

Selling Tips

Do you know how to sell? In order to attract customers to your new New Orleans 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.

How to Build and Motivate a Sales Team is worth reading, as it may give you some good ideas on how to sell your products or services. We have many more good articles on selling that you may enjoy reading.

Moving Forward

As an entrepreneur in New Orleans, you won't be working for the boss anymore. You are the boss.

Owning your own business will be a daunting task, but you can do it.

This site is all about helping entrepreneurs in New Orleans and elsewhere to achieve real success. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new New Orleans entrepreneur who is just getting started or you are already up and running with your new venture.

More Entrepreneurial Resources for Starting a Business in New Orleans, Louisiana

Here are more links that we believe will help you be successful in starting a business in New Orleans.

Starting-a-Business Guides for Other Cities in Louisiana

Starting a Business in New Iberia
Starting a Business in New Roads

Browse All Business Startup Guides for Louisiana
Starting a Business Guides for Other States

 

 

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