To open a business in Caddo Parish (outside of incorporated municipalities) follow these steps: 

1. Obtain a Certificate of Occupancy All businesses (even businesses run from your home) that are within the Shreveport Metropolitan Planning  Commission boundaries (roughly 5 miles from the city limits) must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy prior to  applying for an occupational license.

• • City of Shreveport, Permit Center  
    • 505 Travis Street, Suite 130
    • Shreveport, LA 71101
    • Phone: (318) 673-6442

2. Obtain an Occupational License  An Occupational License tax is due and payable upon commencement of the business. This license  requires a minimum fee of $50.00 or a prorated fee of $25 (cash, credit card, money order, or check) if start  of business date is on or after July 1st. If your intent is to sell retail or purchase wholesale Alcohol you  will need both a business license and related Alcohol Licenses for your business

• • Parish of Caddo, Department of Finance  
    • 505 Travis Street, Suite 850
    • Shreveport, LA 71101
    • Phone: (318) 677-5372
    • Email: licenses@caddo.gov
    • Occupational License Form

3. Register with Parish and State Sales Tax Authorities 
   

• • Caddo-Shreveport Sales Use Tax Commission
    • 3300 Dee Street, Shreveport, LA 71105
    • Phone: (318) 865-3312
  • Louisiana Secretary of State 
    • 8585 Archives Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70809
    • Phone: (225) 922-2880
  • State of Louisiana Department of  Revenue Sales Tax Division
    • 617 North Third Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802
    • Phone: (855) 307-3893

4. Obtain Federal Tax ID Number - Federal Tax Identification numbers will be required for new businesses with a bank account. New business owners with  employees will require a State and Federal Identification number.

• • Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer Assistance Center
    • 3007 Knight Street, Room 100  Shreveport, LA 71105
    • Phone: (318) 869-6310
  • State Income Tax State Building 
    • 1525 Fairfield Shreveport, LA  71101
    • Phone: (318) 676-7500 
      

Note: If your business is a restaurant, day care center, nursing home, or any business that serves food or beverages, you will need to apply for a Health Certificate. 

• • Caddo Parish Health Unit (318) 676-5265  

Secure Trade Names, Charter Business, & Patent Products - Information to secure trade names, charter business (corporation or partnership), or patent products will  require applications from the listed locations.  

• Trade Names/DBA  
  • Caddo Parish Clerk of Court
    • Courthouse - Room 103  Shreveport, LA 71101
    • Phone:  (318) 226-6780
• Patent Products 
  • Patent Office 
    • 2021 Jefferson Davis Hwy Arlington, VA 22202
    • Phone: (703) 308-4357
    • (703) 305 -8600
• Charter Business  
  • Secretary of State Corporation
    • Baton Rouge, LA
    • Phone: (225) 925-4704 
      

ALCOHOL RELATED BUSINESS 

(In Addition To Occupational  License Requirements) 

OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS  

• Parish of Caddo Finance Department  
  • 505 Travis Street, Suite 850  
  • Shreveport, LA 71101  
  • Phone: (318) 673-5372 

Occupational License  - Occupational License tax is due and payable upon commencement of the business.  The Parish may issue a temporary license to conduct business for a period of 30 days if requested. Temporary license must be updated after 30 days, and the original license will be mailed. This license requires a minimum fee of $50.00 or  a prorated fee of $25 (cash, credit card, money order, or check) if start of business  date is on or after July 1st. 

Alcoholic Beverage License - Alcoholic Beverage License shall require the completion of an application  supplied by the parish, shall be sworn to, and shall be accompanied by certified  funds, in the proper amount payable to the parish.  

ABO Cards  

• • Sheriff Department  
    • Basement of the Courthouse
    • Phone: (318) 681-0657 

STATE 

Alcohol Beverage License  

• Revenue & Taxation Department Alcoholic Beverage Control  
  • 1525 Fairfield Av 
  • Shreveport, LA 71101 
  • Phone: (318) 676-7511
    

LICENSING REQUIREMENTS CITY OF SHREVEPORT WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS  

• • City of Shreveport, Permit Center  
    • 505 Travis Street, Suite 130  
    • Shreveport, LA 71101  
    • Phone: (318) 673-5500  

Occupational License - All Occupational License will require initial registration with Sales and Used Tax  Office and Zoning Office for Certificate of Occupancy.  

• Caddo-Shreveport Sales and Used Tax  
  • 3300 Dee Street  
  • Shreveport, LA 71105  
  • Phone: (318) 865-3312  
• City of Shreveport, Office of Zoning Administration  
  • 505 Travis Street, Suite 440  
  • Shreveport, LA 71101  
  • Phone: (318) 673-6440  

Alcoholic Beverage License  - Alcoholic Beverage License shall require the completion of a Certificate of  Occupancy application supplied by the Office of Zoning Administration.  

ABO Cards

• • Police Department  
    • 1234 Texas Street  
    • Shreveport, LA 71006  
    • Phone: (318) 673-6140