10 steps.
One at a time.
Every business you admire started with these same ten steps. Walk them at your pace — DowUrk is in your corner for each one. You are capable. Your business matters.
🔎Research your market
Know your people before you build.
Gather real data on your customers and competitors. This tells you if the idea has legs and where your edge is.
📝Write your business plan
Your roadmap on paper.
A plan — lean canvas or traditional — that explains what you do, who you serve, how you'll make money, and what you need to start. Funders will ask.
💰Fund your business
Know the capital you need. Find the right kind.
Self-funding, crowdfunding, SBA-guaranteed loans, CDFIs, venture, grants — each has tradeoffs. Match the capital to your stage and your goals.
📍Pick your business location
Your address shapes your taxes, your permits, your customers.
Brick-and-mortar, online, or hybrid — location impacts cost, zoning, foot traffic, and what incentives you qualify for (e.g., HUBZone).
🏛️Choose your business structure
Sole prop · LLC · S-Corp · Nonprofit — each has real consequences.
Your structure affects liability, taxes, paperwork, and what investors can do. Louisiana-specific filings happen through geauxBIZ.
🏷️Choose your business name
Something that fits you — and is actually available.
Check state availability, domain, trademark, and social handles before you print a single card.
📄Register your business
Make it legal. Protect the brand.
Register your entity with Louisiana Secretary of State (and federally if needed). Trademark if you plan to scale the brand.
🔢Get your federal & state tax IDs
Free. Takes 15 minutes with the IRS.
Your EIN is your business's social security number. You need it to open a bank account, file taxes, hire, and apply for most funding.
✅Apply for licenses & permits
Stay compliant — parish, state, and federal.
What you need depends on your industry and where you operate. Food, childcare, construction, and professional services have stricter rules.
🏦Open a business bank account
Separate your business money from your personal money — day one.
A dedicated account protects your personal liability, simplifies taxes, and is required for most funders.
DowUrk is your co-pilot.
Every step above links to the SBA source plus the DowUrk tool that gets you through it faster — Grant Concierge for funding, Business Builder for your plan, Stay Right for compliance, and the Launch Calculator for the numbers. This isn't theory. This is the path.