Louisiana Small Business Statistics: 25+ Facts (2026)

Louisiana has 511,235 small businesses that employ 889,431 workers and account for 99.5% of all companies in the state. These aren't stale numbers from a decade ago. The data below comes from the SBA's 2025 Louisiana profile, the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Here's what the latest data reveals.

How Many Small Businesses Operate in Louisiana in 2026

Most of the companies operated in Louisiana are small businesses. The SBA defines “small” as fewer than 500 employees, and by that measure, only 3,646 firms in the entire state qualify as large. The rest, 511,235, are small operations that drive most of the state's private-sector employment.

• Louisiana has 511,235 small businesses, representing 99.5% of all businesses in the state.
• The state has a total of 514,881 employer and nonemployer businesses across all sizes; only 3,646 have 500 or more employees.
• Small businesses in Louisiana employ 889,431 workers, accounting for 54.1% of all private-sector employees.
• Between March 2023 and March 2024, Louisiana small businesses generated a net gain of 5,470 jobs, representing 44.4% of the state's 12,323 net new jobs from opening and expanding establishments.
• During that same period, 12,078 Louisiana establishments opened and 12,456 closed, for a net loss of 378 establishments statewide.
• Small businesses alone accounted for 11,047 openings and 11,456 closures over that 12-month window.
• Louisiana has 189,136 small businesses owned by Hispanic or racial minority entrepreneurs, including 178,000 nonemployer firms and 11,136 employer firms.
• The state has 216,396 women-owned businesses and 257,597 men-owned businesses based on 2022 Census Annual Business Survey data.

Louisiana Economy Facts for Small Business Owners in 2026

Louisiana's economy hit a record high in 2024, and operating costs remain well below the national average. That combination matters for anyone considering where to launch or grow a business. Here's the macro picture.

• Louisiana's real GDP reached approximately $256.4 billion in 2024, up 3.1% from 2023 and the highest level on record for the state.
• Real GDP per capita was about $55,771 in 2024, placing the state in the middle tier nationally.
• The unemployment rate stood at 4.2% in December 2025, down from 4.6% a year earlier.
• Louisiana's composite cost of living index was 92.9 in 2025 (U.S. average = 100), with housing at 84.5 and utilities at 83.6. Statewide living and operating costs run roughly 7-16% below national levels depending on the category.
• Louisiana's estimated median household income was $58,273 in 2023, ranking around 48th among U.S. states.

What Category Do the Majority of Businesses in Louisiana Fall Into

The answer is straightforward: small businesses. Not Fortune 500 companies, not publicly traded corporations, and not large employers. The SBA's data leaves no ambiguity about which category dominates.

• The majority of businesses in Louisiana fall into the small business category (fewer than 500 employees). 99.5% of all private enterprises in the state qualify as small businesses under the SBA's size standards.
• Large employers like Entergy Corporation, Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink) in Monroe, and Ochsner Health System collectively employ tens of thousands of workers, yet they represent a tiny fraction of Louisiana's 511,235 total businesses.
• In a 2014 national survey by Governing.com and Thumbtack, Louisiana ranked as the fifth friendliest state for small businesses, behind Virginia and Texas. The state administration has been bolstering business activity through incentives and capital funding since the early 2000s, especially after the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Tabasco Sauce and Louisiana's Iconic Business Success Stories

Louisiana's crawfish industry and its food brands generate global recognition. A few of those brands started as small family operations and stayed that way.

• McIlhenny Company, the family-owned producer of Tabasco sauce based on Avery Island, Louisiana, has estimated annual revenue of about $72.1 million.
• Tabasco-brand hot sauce is distributed in more than 195 countries and territories worldwide, making it one of Louisiana's most recognizable small business export success stories.

Top Industries for Small Businesses in Louisiana (2026 Data)

The industry mix in Louisiana leans heavily on services, construction, and health care. The numbers below reflect the 2022 Statistics of U.S. Businesses, the most recent dataset available from the SBA's 2025 Louisiana profile.

Five industries have the largest number of small businesses in Louisiana:

• Other services (except public administration): 66,737 small businesses
• Administrative, support, and waste management: 58,767 small businesses
• Professional, scientific, and technical services: 56,416 small businesses
• Construction: 54,852 small businesses
• Health care and social assistance: 47,299 small businesses

Five industries claim the largest share of small business employees:

• Health care and social assistance: 149,910 small-business employees
• Accommodation and food services: 122,119
• Retail trade: 91,517
• Construction: 81,213
• Professional, scientific, and technical services: 69,803

The information industry remains one of Louisiana's smallest sectors, with 4,420 small businesses statewide. Only utilities (390), management of companies (292), and a small “industries not classified” category have fewer small firms.

Louisiana Entrepreneur Income and Demographics in 2026

Income data for Louisiana entrepreneurs remains limited at the state level. The SBA's 2020 Louisiana profile, using 2018 American Community Survey numbers, put the median at $46,877 for incorporated business owners and around $23,000 for unincorporated operators. Updated state-specific breakdowns haven't been published in the same format since then.

• According to 2018 ACS data, self-employed individuals running incorporated businesses in Louisiana had a median income of $46,877. Those with unincorporated businesses earned about $23,000.
• Louisiana's median household income of $58,273 (2023) ranks near the bottom nationally, which partly explains why small-business owner earnings in the state trail the U.S. average.
• In 2022, Orleans Parish recorded one of the highest rates of new business applications in Louisiana, with about 25 applications per 1,000 residents, outpacing both the statewide and national averages.

Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Businesses in Louisiana

Ownership data from the 2022 Census Annual Business Survey and Nonemployer Demographics gives the clearest picture of who runs Louisiana's small businesses.

• Louisiana has an estimated 216,396 women-owned businesses and 257,597 men-owned businesses.
• 189,136 businesses are owned by Hispanic or racial minority entrepreneurs, including 178,000 nonemployer firms and 11,136 employer firms.
• The minority-owned business count is nearly three times the 64,735 figure from the SBA's older 2020 profile, which used a narrower “self-employed minorities” definition.

Cost of Starting a Small Business in Louisiana (LLC and Corporation Fees)

State filing fees in Louisiana are among the lower ones you'll find in the South. The Secretary of State's office handles all business entity filings, and the numbers below are current as of 2026.

• Starting a Louisiana LLC requires filing Articles of Organization for $100 by mail or $105 online via GeauxBIZ (includes a $5 card processing fee). An initial report is included with the filing.
• The annual report fee is $30 online or $35 by mail, due each year to keep the LLC in good standing.
• To form a corporation in Louisiana, you need to file Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The filing fee is $75.
• To form a partnership, file a Statement of Partnership Authority. The filing fee is $100.
• State law requires that every new Louisiana LLC designates a Louisiana registered agent available during regular business hours at a physical address within the state.
• You can find a full Louisiana LLC cost breakdown in our dedicated guide.

Louisiana Small Business Tax Structure in 2026

Louisiana passed sweeping tax reform legislation in late 2024 that changes the game for corporations and pass-through owners alike. If your tax information still references the old graduated rates, it's outdated. Here's what applies now.

• For tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025, Louisiana imposes a flat 5.5% corporate income tax on Louisiana-sourced income, replacing the previous graduated rate structure.
• The corporate franchise tax is repealed for tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026. The 2025 franchise-tax return (based on 2024 year-end capital) will be the last filing for most corporations. The old rates of $1.50 and $3.00 per $1,000 of capital no longer apply going forward.
• Individual income tax moves to a flat 3.0% rate starting in 2025, with higher standard deductions. This directly affects pass-through business owners (LLCs, S-corps, partnerships) who report business income on personal returns.

Small Business Lending in Louisiana (2026 Update)

Access to capital shapes whether small businesses survive their first few years or close their doors. CRA lending data from 2023 shows how much banks are putting into Louisiana's small business economy.

• In 2023, Community Reinvestment Act reporting banks issued $1.2 billion in new small-business loans of $100,000 or less in Louisiana.
• Those same banks issued $1.4 billion in loans specifically to businesses with revenues of $1 million or less.
• Total reported new business lending through loans of $1 million or less reached $3.7 billion across the state.
• The state, through the Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) program, helps entrepreneurs boost their managerial and technical skills, which may include hiring consultants to help businesses overcome growth barriers.

Louisiana Small Business Exporters and International Trade in 2026

Louisiana's ports, petrochemical industry, and agriculture sector make it one of the most export-intensive states in the country. Small firms punch well above their weight in the state's international trade numbers.

• Louisiana has 2,971 small-business exporters, and 84.7% of all exporting companies in the state are small firms.
• Small firms exported $30.6 billion in goods, accounting for 38.9% of Louisiana's $78.6 billion in total identified-firm export value (2023 trade year).
• In 2024, Louisiana's total goods exports reached $87.0 billion, reinforcing the state's position as a major U.S. trade hub.

PEO Companies for Louisiana Small Businesses

Search Console data shows strong demand for “Louisiana PEO” and “New Orleans PEO” queries. PEOs handle payroll, HR compliance, workers' compensation, and employee benefits so that small business owners can focus on operations. Louisiana has a sizable PEO market.

• Roughly 83 Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs) operate in Louisiana, serving employers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Shreveport, and smaller markets.
• Small businesses that partner with a PEO grow 7-9% faster, have 10-14% lower employee turnover, and are about 50% less likely to go out of business than comparable firms without a PEO.
• For a detailed comparison of the best PEO companies in Louisiana, see our dedicated guide.

Sources

• SBA Office of Advocacy, Louisiana 2025 Small Business Profile – primary source for business counts, employment, exports, demographics, and CRA lending data
• U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis via USAFacts – Louisiana GDP figures and per-capita output for 2024
• Bureau of Labor Statistics, LAUS via FRED – Louisiana unemployment rate time series through December 2025
• Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC) – 2025 state-level cost of living indices
• Louisiana Secretary of State, Forms and Fee Schedule – current business entity filing fees for 2026
• Moss Adams, Sweeping Tax Reform in Louisiana – summary of House Bills 2 and 3 signed December 2024 covering corporate, franchise, and individual tax changes