Thank you for your interest in starting or growing your business in the City of Laurel. We are proud to have you and are looking forward to seeing you succeed!

On this page,  you will find resources to help you start or grow your business.

Your first step may be to develop your business idea by crafting a business plan. The U.S. Small Business Administration's website has multiple resources to help small business owners, including their guide to writing a business plan. They also have information about creating operating agreements and a 10-Step Guide that you may find useful.

After you have reviewed the resources offered by the SBA, you may want to check out the Mississippi Secretary of State's website for additional support as well as the Jones county Chamber of Commerce's website. The Jones County Chamber of Commerce can provide information on major employers and target industries, taxes and incentives, demographic research, and other information specific to our area.

Finally, in order to operate in the City of Laurel, business owners must work with the city to ensure that their business and business sites are in line with the city's code of ordinances. it is important to keep the city's zoning ordinances in mind as you develop your business idea and begin looking for your new location. Local zoning regulations will determine if your business is allowed to operate in a particular zone. Information about our districts and interactive maps can be found below. Sometimes, exceptions can be granted. To get more information about exceptions, please contact the city's inspection department.