Louisiana Business Startup Guides

Start a Business in Shreveport, Louisiana

Are you starting a business in Shreveport, Louisiana? This article discusses the most important things to consider when opening a business in Shreveport.

Shreveport, Louisiana Demographic Information

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

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

Business Size
# of
Businesses
1-4 Employees
8545
5-9 Employees
3649
10-19 Employees
2619
20-49 Employees
1851
50-99 Employees
627
100-249 Employees
306
250-499 Employees
81
500-999 Employees
27
1000+ Employees
30
All Shreveport Businesses
17735

As a new Shreveport entrepreneur, you may also be interested in the table below. It shows how many businesses there are in Shreveport 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 Traffic Control
1
Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting)
2
Ambulance Services
4
Amusement and Theme Parks
1
Appliance Repair and Maintenance
9
Apprenticeship Training
2
Architectural Services
17
Art Dealers
1
Automobile Driving Schools
3
Automobile Manufacturing
2
Automotive Exhaust System Repair
3
Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
6
Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
41
Automotive Transmission Repair
12
Barber Shops
3
Beauty Salons
43
Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers
2
Beer, Wine, and Liquor Stores
26
Blood and Organ Banks
3
Boat Building
2
Boat Dealers
3
Books Printing
1
Bowling Centers
2
Broadwoven Fabric Mills
1
Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing
2
Building Inspection Services
2
Business and Secretarial Schools
3
Business Associations
12
Cafeterias
7
Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
2
Canvas and Related Product Mills
1
Car Washes
14
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Services
3
Casino Hotels
3
Caterers
6
Charter Bus Industry
1
Child and Youth Services
12
Child Day Care Services
59
Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
6
Civic and Social Organizations
32
Claims Adjusting
7
Clothing Accessories Stores
5
Collection Agencies
7
Commercial Flexographic Printing
3
Commercial Lithographic Printing
7
Commercial Photography
1
Commercial Screen Printing
2
Community Food Services
3
Computer and Software Stores
10
Computer Systems Design Services
14
Computer Training
1
Confectionery and Nut Stores
1
Confectionery Merchant Wholesalers
2
Construction Machinery Manufacturing
1
Consumer Lending
37
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
4
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
2
Cosmetology and Barber Schools
1
Cotton Ginning
1
Couriers
13
Court Reporting and Stenotype Services
5
Credit Unions
30
Curtain and Drapery Mills
2
Custom Roll Forming
1
Dance Companies
1
Dental Laboratories
16
Diagnostic Imaging Centers
9
Diet and Weight Reducing Centers
2
Digital Printing
1
Direct Life Insurance Carriers
16
Direct Title Insurance Carriers
3
Directory and Mailing List Publishers
3
Display Advertising
3
Document Preparation Services
3
Drafting Services
6
Drilling Oil and Gas Wells
14
Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages)
31
Drywall and Insulation Contractors
13
Educational Support Services
5
Electric Power Distribution
21
Electrical Contractors
47
Electronic Shopping
7
Elementary and Secondary Schools
13
Emergency and Other Relief Services
1
Engineering Services
50
Environmental Consulting Services
5
Exam Preparation and Tutoring
7
Exterminating and Pest Control Services
12
Facilities Support Services
3
Family Clothing Stores
28
Family Planning Centers
1
Fine Arts Schools
6
Finish Carpentry Contractors
11
Fish and Seafood Markets
3
Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers
24
Floor Covering Stores
18
Flooring Contractors
13
Florists
18
Food (Health) Supplement Stores
9
Food Service Contractors
9
Footwear and Leather Goods Repair
1
Footwear Merchant Wholesalers
3
Formal Wear and Costume Rental
6
Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation
2
Framing Contractors
8
Full-Service Restaurants
130
Funeral Homes and Funeral Services
10
Furniture Merchant Wholesalers
3
Furniture Stores
29
General Automotive Repair
32
General Freight Trucking, Local
6
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
10
General Warehousing and Storage
11
Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores
21
Glass and Glazing Contractors
1
Golf Courses and Country Clubs
5
Grantmaking Foundations
5
Graphic Design Services
4
Hardware Merchant Wholesalers
4
Hobby, Toy, and Game Stores
6
Home Centers
5
Home Furnishing Merchant Wholesalers
6
Home Health Care Services
28
Home Health Equipment Rental
7
Homes for the Elderly
6
Household Appliance Stores
4
Ice Manufacturing
1
Industrial Building Construction
2
Industrial Gas Manufacturing
1
Industrial Launderers
3
Industrial Mold Manufacturing
2
Institutional Furniture Manufacturing
1
Insurance Agencies and Brokerages
127
Internet Service Providers
5
Interurban and Rural Bus Transportation
2
Investigation Services
6
Investment Advice
12
Iron Foundries
1
Janitorial Services
26
Jewelry Stores
25
Kidney Dialysis Centers
6
Land Subdivision
5
Landscape Architectural Services
3
Landscaping Services
48
Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
15
Libraries and Archives
1
Lime Manufacturing
1
Limousine Service
2
Linen Supply
2
Local Messengers and Local Delivery
2
Locksmiths
3
Logging
3
Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
1
Machine Shops
12
Manufactured (Mobile) Home Dealers
4
Marinas
1
Marketing Consulting Services
6
Masonry Contractors
14
Meat Markets
2
Media Representatives
2
Medical Laboratories
10
Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
1
Metal Window and Door Manufacturing
2
Miscellaneous Intermediation
20
Mobile Food Services
2
Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers
6
Motor and Generator Manufacturing
2
Motor Vehicle Towing
5
Museums
5
Musical Groups and Artists
2
Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
6
Nail Salons
8
Natural Gas Distribution
4
Natural Gas Liquid Extraction
2
New Car Dealers
21
Newspaper Publishers
5
Nonresidential Property Managers
14
Nursing Care Facilities
22
Office Administrative Services
23
Office Equipment Merchant Wholesalers
9
Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
10
Offices of Certified Public Accountants
70
Offices of Dentists
106
Offices of Lawyers
192
Offices of Optometrists
6
Offices of Other Holding Companies
4
Offices of Podiatrists
7
Offices of Real Estate Appraisers
15
One-Hour Photofinishing
1
Optical Goods Stores
11
Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
4
Packaging and Labeling Services
2
Packing and Crating
1
Paging
2
Paint and Wallpaper Stores
11
Painting and Wall Covering Contractors
18
Parking Lots and Garages
26
Passenger Car Leasing
1
Passenger Car Rental
5
Payroll Services
6
Periodical Publishers
3
Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
8
Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services
7
Petroleum Refineries
1
Pharmacies and Drug Stores
32
Photography Studios, Portrait
14
Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas
8
Plastics Bottle Manufacturing
1
Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
1
Political Organizations
4
Portfolio Management
8
Precision Turned Product Manufacturing
2
Prepress Services
1
Printing Ink Manufacturing
1
Private Mail Centers
1
Professional Employer Organizations
4
Professional Organizations
5
Quick Printing
4
Radio Stations
11
Ready-Mix Concrete Manufacturing
5
Real Estate Credit
26
Recreational Vehicle Dealers
2
Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage
1
Remediation Services
4
Repossession Services
1
Residential Property Managers
25
Residential Remodelers
39
Retail Bakeries
4
Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
3
Roofing Contractors
9
Rooming and Boarding Houses
2
Satellite Telecommunications
1
Savings Institutions
3
Saw Blade and Handsaw Manufacturing
1
Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
4
Securities Brokerage
31
Security Guards and Patrol Services
9
Septic Tank and Related Services
2
Shoe Stores
21
Siding Contractors
2
Sign Manufacturing
6
Site Preparation Contractors
17
Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars
22
Software Publishers
3
Solid Waste Collection
3
Sporting Goods Stores
10
Sports and Recreation Instruction
2
Sports Teams and Clubs
2
Storage Battery Manufacturing
1
Support Activities for Forestry
6
Support Activities for Metal Mining
1
Tax Preparation Services
18
Telemarketing Bureaus
2
Telephone Answering Services
3
Telephone Apparatus Manufacturing
1
Television Broadcasting
7
Temporary Help Services
31
Temporary Shelters
3
Testing Laboratories
8
Tile and Terrazzo Contractors
5
Timber Tract Operations
2
Tire and Tube Merchant Wholesalers
3
Tire Dealers
19
Tire Retreading
2
Title Abstract and Settlement Offices
11
Tobacco Stores
7
Tour Operators
1
Travel Agencies
11
Truss Manufacturing
1
Used Car Dealers
19
Used Household and Office Goods Moving
7
Used Merchandise Stores
11
Vending Machine Operators
4
Video Tape and Disc Rental
10
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
9
Voluntary Health Organizations
5
Warehouse Clubs and Supercenters
5
Watch, Clock, and Part Manufacturing
1
Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
2
Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers
18
Wired Telecommunications Carriers
19
Women's Clothing Stores
43
Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
1
Wood Preservation
2
Wood Window and Door Manufacturing
1

Is a Franchise Opportunity Right For You?

Browse the Yellow Pages for Shreveport and you'll conclude that many business owners have opted to buy a franchise, rather than starting a business on their own. But is franchising the right option for you?

We highly recommend you evaluate the possibility of your buying a franchise opportunity. To help you learn more about franchising, we've gathered a ton of articles on franchising, including Benefits of Owning A Franchise. Get a thorough education on franchising by browsing all of our Articles on Franchising.

You can find franchise opportunities by browsing our Franchise Opportunities Directory.

Sample franchise opportunities include Residence Inn by Marriott and Arby's, LLC. Alternatively, you can browse franchise categories, such as Senior Care Franchises and Child Entertainment Franchises.

Note on Shreveport Franchise Opportunities: To find out if a franchise you are interested in is available in Shreveport, you will need to get in direct contact with the franchisor.

Should You Buy an Existing Shreveport 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 Shreveport.

If you are serious about buying a business, you may want to read this article: Buying a Business.

Forming a Company in Shreveport, Louisiana

It's very important that you are forming a legal entity that operates independently from you. Without a legal structure for the business, you can be held personally liable for the actions, debts and obligations of your company.

When forming a company, you will pick from many company types, such as 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, it doesn't mean you are required to incorporate in Louisiana. As it turns out, you are allowed to 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. On a final note, since you will be starting a business in Shreveport, Louisiana, our web page covering Incorporating in Louisiana may be a useful resource if you decide to incorporate in Louisiana.

Make Sure You Have a Business Plan

Writing a business plan is vital in maximizing the prospects of your new company. Simply put, a business plan describes what you plan to do with the business and how you plan to do it. Starting a business without a business plan will greatly reduce your chances of business success.

If writing a business plan is on your to-do list, be sure to read Expert Advice on Business Plans. You can also get free counseling sessions provided by your local SCORE chapter in Louisiana.

Marketing Your New Venture

Whether your goal is to attract Shreveport customers or you plan on selling elsewhere, you need a solid marketing plan.

You can learn quite a bit about marketing on our site. Getting Publicity is a good read to get your marketing creativity flowing. That's just a sampling of the many useful articles we have on Marketing a Small Business.

How to Improve Your Entrepreneurial Abilities

Good entrepreneurs recognize that they don't know everything.

Given that you are starting a business in Shreveport, Louisiana, you should check out some of the many programs available at nearby Louisiana universities, colleges and community colleges. You should also check if there are any Shreveport networking organizations.

What's Next?

You have a dream -- starting a business in Shreveport. To achieve your dream, you have to persevere, even when the odds are against you.

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

We are here to help Shreveport businesses to be successful. We want to be there for you to answer your business questions, whether you are a new Shreveport 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 Shreveport, Louisiana

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

More Business Startup Guides for Louisiana

Starting a Business in Schriever
Starting a Business in Springhill

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

 

 

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