New Orleans is a unique market for moving companies. With a population of nearly 400,000 inside the city and over 1.3 million in the metro area (including Jefferson, St. Tammany, and St. Bernard parishes), there is steady demand from residential moves, apartment relocations, and commercial office moves. The city's dense layout – narrow streets in the French Quarter, shotgun houses in the Marigny, and historic mansions in the Garden District – creates specialized challenges that require skilled crews. Seasonal factors play a big role: hurricane season (June through November) brings both emergency moves and evacuation relocations, while Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest cause disruptions that can shift move dates. The market is competitive but fragmented, with a mix of large national franchises (Two Men and a Truck, U-Haul) and dozens of independent operators. Many local movers rely on word-of-mouth and repeat business from real estate agents. A newcomer can gain traction by offering transparent pricing, handling delicate antiques and pianos common in historic homes, and providing short-notice or after-hours moves.
Louisiana does not have a specific statewide license exclusively for moving companies, but you must comply with the Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) if you operate as a household goods carrier. For moves entirely within the state, you need a "Household Goods Carrier" permit from the LPSC. To apply, submit a completed application (Form HGC-1), pay a $500 filing fee, and provide proof of insurance: minimum $300,000 cargo liability and $1,000,000 general liability. You must also file an annual report and pay a $250 renewal fee.
In New Orleans, you must register your business with the City of New Orleans Office of Revenue. Apply for a "Home Occupation" if you run the business from your residence, or a "Commercial" license if you lease a warehouse. The license costs around $100–$200 depending on the classification. You also need to register with the Louisiana Secretary of State for a state business tax ID (or use your EIN). Additionally, the City requires a "Sales Tax Certificate" because moving services are subject to Louisiana sales tax (4.45% state + 5% Orleans Parish = 9.45% total). Collect and remit sales tax on labor and transportation, though some exemptions apply for interstate moves.
Beyond LPSC minimums, most clients and commercial contracts will require you to carry workers' compensation insurance (mandatory in Louisiana if you have employees). General liability insurance of $1,000,000 is standard, and many moving contracts ask for $2,000,000. Also consider cargo coverage for goods in transit. File proof of insurance with the City of New Orleans as part of your license application.
Form an LLC or corporation for personal asset protection. File Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State ($100 filing fee). Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. If you hire drivers, you must comply with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety's commercial driver's license (CDL) requirements – only needed if your truck GVWR exceeds 26,000 lbs.
Go to business.google.com and enter your business name and location. For a moving company operating in multiple areas, you can set your service area as New Orleans and surrounding parishes (Jefferson, St. Tammany, etc.) but you must have a physical address – even if it's a home office – that is either storefront-visible or a legitimate office where you receive mail. You cannot use a P.O. Box. Verify by postcard, phone, or video call.
Business name: Use exactly the name on your license. Category: "Moving Company" or "Mover" (Google offers "Moving Company," "Moving and Storage Service," "Piano Moving Service"). Add secondary categories like "Local Moving Service" and "Packing Service." Phone: Use a local New Orleans area code (504 or 985). Website: Have at least a simple site with your services, pricing, and contact. Hours: Set accurate hours; consider extending hours for "emergency moves" and "weekend service." Services: List "Residential Moving," "Commercial Moving," "Packing and Unpacking," "Furniture Assembly," "Antique Moving," "Local Moves within New Orleans," "Long-Distance Moves." Attributes: Check "offers military discount," "offers senior discount," "free estimate." Add a business description that includes keywords: "New Orleans moving company," "French Quarter movers," "Garden District moving services," "uptown movers."
Reviews are the #1 ranking factor for local movers. Ask every satisfied customer to leave a review on your Google profile. Respond to every review – thank positive ones, and address negative ones professionally. Aim for 50+ reviews within the first six months. Embed your Google review link in invoices and follow-up emails.
Upload high-quality photos of your trucks branded with your logo, your team in uniform, a clean interior of a truck, before/after of a move, and a photo of you shaking hands with a happy customer. Post Google Business Profile updates at least once a week: "Hurricane season prep tips," "Our team just completed a piano move in the Marigny," "Free packing supplies with every local move this month."
Create a dedicated "Service Areas" page listing every neighborhood and suburb: French Quarter, Marigny, Bywater, Treme, Mid-City, Uptown, Garden District, Central City, Lakeview, Gentilly, Algiers, Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Harahan, Westwego, Covington, Mandeville, Slidell. Also create "Moving Services" pages for specific offerings: "Residential Moving New Orleans," "Apartment Movers in CBD," "White Glove Moving for Antiques." Use title tags with the primary city name: "Best Moving Company in New Orleans | [Company Name]" and meta descriptions with location phrases. Include your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) in the footer on every page.
Get listed on New Orleans-specific directories: New Orleans Chamber of Commerce, NOLA.com business directory, New Orleans Business Alliance, and local real estate agent blogs. Sponsor a local sports team (e.g., a little league in Gentilly) or partner with a charity (e.g., Second Harvest Food Bank) to get backlinks from their websites. Offer to write guest posts for neighborhood blogs (Uptown Messenger, The Lens, NOLA Family Magazine) about moving tips specific to New Orleans – "5 Tips for Moving During Carnival Season."
Write blog posts that solve problems for New Orleans residents: "How to Move a Grand Piano in a French Quarter Apartment," "Avoiding Roof Damage During a Move in Hurricane Season," "The Best Parks in Metairie for Moving Truck Parking." Use geo-specific keywords like "long-distance mover New Orleans to Baton Rouge." Include a "Moving Checklist for New Orleans Residents" downloadable PDF.
Ensure your NAP is identical on every online platform: Google, Yelp, Facebook, Nextdoor, YellowPages, Angi, Manta, Bing Places, Apple Maps. Use a consistent phone number (ideally a local 504 number) and address. Use a service like Moz Local or BrightLocal to manage citations.
Google and Yelp are critical. Also get reviews on Facebook, Angi, and Nextdoor (very popular in New Orleans neighborhoods). Positive reviews on multiple sites increase trust and local authority.
New Orleans moving
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