How to Start an LLC in Louisiana: Step-by-step

Creating an LLC in Louisiana

Forming an LLC in Louisiana means filing Articles of Organization (Form #365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State, for most founders through the geauxBIZ portal. This guide covers each step in order: confirming a compliant business name, appointing a registered agent, filing Form #365, registering for Louisiana state taxes, and meeting annual reporting obligations. You'll know exactly what to file, what it costs, and what keeps your LLC legally active.

Key takeaways

• To form a Louisiana LLC, file Articles of Organization (Form #365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State and submit the Initial Report (Form #973) at the same time.
• Louisiana's state filing fee is $100 by mail or $105 online through geauxBIZ.
• Your LLC must have a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address.
• After approval, most LLCs still need an EIN, state tax registration, a business bank account, and any required local licenses.
• Inc Authority can prepare your Louisiana LLC formation for free. You only pay the required Louisiana state filing fees.

How to Form a Louisiana LLC in 6 Steps

Starting a Louisiana LLC means choosing a compliant name, appointing a registered agent, and filing the required formation paperwork with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The steps below walk through the main decisions and filings you need to complete before your LLC is officially approved.

Step 1: Check Louisiana LLC Name Availability

Before filing, confirm your business name is legally available. Search the Louisiana Secretary of State's database at coraweb.sos.la.gov. Type your desired name without designators like "LLC" and leave all other fields blank to get the broadest results.

Your name must be distinguishable. Names are checked against corporate, LLC, and trade names on file, including phonetic matches. Swapping letters or adding filler words won't make a taken name available.

Required designators. LLCs must end with "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Low-profit LLCs may use "L3C" or "l3c."

Prohibited and restricted words. Louisiana restricts or prohibits certain words, including terms related to banking, insurance, credit unions, engineering, surveying, and other regulated industries. Some terms may require written approval from the relevant licensing board.

Before filing, also check whether your preferred name is available as a domain name and whether it could conflict with a federal trademark or Louisiana trade name.

Name reservation. Reserve your name for 120 days by filing Form #398 and paying a $25 fee through geauxBIZ or by mail. Verify current naming rules at sos.la.gov.

Step 2: Appoint a Louisiana Registered Agent

Every LLC formed or doing business in Louisiana must designate a registered agent under Louisiana LLC laws § 12:1305. This is a person or entity that receives legal documents, lawsuits, subpoenas, and official state correspondence at a physical Louisiana address during normal business hours.

Who qualifies?

• A Louisiana resident at least 18 years of age
• A domestic business entity authorized to conduct business in Louisiana
• A foreign business entity authorized to transact business in Louisiana

A P.O. box doesn't satisfy the address requirement. Your agent's name and physical address must appear on Form #365 and stay current with the Secretary of State at all times.

You can serve as your own registered agent if you meet Louisiana's requirements, but your name and address become part of the public record. A professional registered agent can help keep a home address off public filings and make sure legal notices are received during business hours.

Have your agent confirmed before starting your geauxBIZ filing. You'll need that information to complete Form #365.

Step 3: File Louisiana Articles of Organization (Form #365) via GeauxBIZ

Filing Articles of Organization (Form #365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division legally creates your LLC. You must also file an Initial Report (Form #973) at the same time. There's no additional fee for the Initial Report, but omitting it will get your filing rejected.

Filing online through geauxBIZ is the preferred method and is required in certain parishes.

1. Create a geauxBIZ account at geauxbiz.com and verify your email.
2. Optionally reserve your business name using Form #398.
3. Obtain your EIN from the IRS at irs.gov before proceeding. geauxBIZ will ask for it.
4. Log in, select "Start a business Registration," and complete Form #365 with your LLC name, principal office address, registered agent information, and member/manager details. Complete Form #973 at the same time.
5. Your registered agent will receive a digital consent request and must respond within seven days.
6. Submit and pay: $105 online ($100 filing fee plus $5 convenience fee).

Filing by mail. Complete and notarize Forms #365 and #973. Mail them with a check or money order payable to "Secretary of State" to: Louisiana Secretary of State Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. Hand delivery goes to 8585 Archives Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70809.

Processing time. Standard processing is 3 to 5 business days. Need it faster? 24-hour processing costs $30; same-day processing costs $50. Verify current times and fees at sos.la.gov.

Parish filing requirement. Businesses in the following parishes must file online through geauxBIZ. Mail isn't an option:

• Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne

Step 4: Create a Louisiana LLC Operating Agreement

An operating agreement governs how your LLC runs: who owns what, who votes on what, how profits are split, and what happens when a member wants to leave.

Louisiana doesn't require a written operating agreement. But skipping it means your business defaults to Louisiana's generic statutory rules, which may not reflect what your members actually intended. Banks typically require one before they'll open a business account. You don't file it with the Secretary of State, but under Louisiana Revised Statute § 12:1319, you must keep it on file at your principal business location.

Single-member LLCs need one too. It helps establish that your LLC is a distinct legal entity, which matters if your liability protection is ever challenged.

Louisiana community property consideration. Louisiana is a community property state. Assets gained during a marriage, including business ownership or distribution rights, may be subject to division in a divorce. Your operating agreement should address this directly.

Strong operating agreements cover ownership percentages, voting rights, profit distribution, management structure, and dissolution procedures.

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your Louisiana LLC

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it for free. You need it before opening a business bank account, hiring employees, or registering for Louisiana state taxes. Apply at irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online. Most applicants get their EIN immediately.

As noted in Step 3, geauxBIZ will ask for your EIN before processing your application. Get it first.

Step 6: Set up Louisiana Taxes, Licenses, and Ongoing Compliance

Forming your LLC is only the first part of launching a compliant Louisiana business. You may also need to register for state taxes, check parish or city licensing rules, and keep up with annual Secretary of State filings. The exact requirements depend on what your business does, where it operates, and whether it sells taxable goods or services. However, you’ll likely need to consider the following.

• Louisiana state tax registration. You can register through geauxBIZ at geauxbiz.com or through the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP) at latap.revenue.louisiana.gov. By default, LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities, so profits flow to members and are reported on personal Louisiana income tax returns and federal returns. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you may also need to register for Louisiana sales and use tax. The state rate is 4.45%, with local parish and municipal rates added on top, so verify your obligations at revenue.louisiana.gov.
• Louisiana franchise tax. Louisiana doesn't impose a franchise tax on LLCs, unlike Texas and California. Verify current tax treatment with business tax guidance at revenue.louisiana.gov.
• Local business licenses and permits. Local parishes may require an occupational license. New Orleans requires a Business License through the Bureau of Revenue, and East Baton Rouge Parish requires a Parish Occupational License from the Parish Finance Department. Industry-specific licenses may also apply. Veterinary services require licensure from the Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine, for example, and contractors must register with the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Use geauxBIZ to identify what applies to your business, and check with your local parish government directly.
• Annual report. Louisiana LLCs must file an annual report every year by the LLC's formation anniversary date. The fee is $30 for domestic LLCs. You can file online through geauxBIZ or by mail to the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. Missing the deadline marks your LLC "not in good standing," and three consecutive years of non-filing can trigger administrative dissolution under RS 12:1308.2.

What to do after your Louisiana LLC is approved

Once your Louisiana LLC is approved, there are a few follow-up steps to help keep your business organized and ready to operate. These tasks can help separate your business from your personal finances, confirm local requirements, and keep your LLC in good standing.

• Save your formation documents. Keep your approved Articles of Organization and Initial Report with your business records.
• Open a business bank account. Use your EIN and formation documents to separate business and personal finances.
• Check local license requirements. Parish and city rules vary, so confirm whether you need an occupational license or industry permit.
• Calendar your annual report deadline. Louisiana LLC annual reports are due each year on the LLC's formation anniversary.
• Use certificates when needed. A bank, lender, vendor, or expansion filing may ask for certified copies or a Certificate of Good Standing.

Louisiana LLC Costs

The only unavoidable cost is the state filing fee. Louisiana imposes no franchise tax on LLCs, which keeps ongoing costs predictable. Inc Authority's formation service is free, so you pay only the required Louisiana state filing fees. Verify current fees at sos.la.gov.

Louisiana LLC Annual Report and Ongoing Compliance

Due Date and Fee

Annual reports are due on the exact anniversary of your LLC's formation each year. The fee is $30 for domestic LLCs. File online through geauxBIZ or by mail to the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125.

What Happens if You Miss It

Louisiana doesn't charge late fees, but a missed deadline can mark your LLC "not in good standing," which may affect loans, partnerships, and other business needs. After three consecutive years of non-filing, your LLC may face administrative dissolution under RS 12:1308.2. Reinstatement generally requires Articles of Reinstatement (Form SS1444), the most current annual report, any missed annual report fees, and a reinstatement fee.

Keep Your Records Current

Annual report filing confirms your registered agent, office address, and ownership structure are accurate. Update any changes when you file so the state can reach your LLC and your public records stay current.

Common Louisiana LLC Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding common Louisiana LLC filing mistakes can save time, prevent rejected paperwork, and help keep your business in good standing after formation. Before you submit your documents, make sure your name, registered agent information, Initial Report, tax registrations, and annual report deadlines are all accounted for.

• Filing without checking name availability. Search coraweb.sos.la.gov first. A conflicting name gets your filing rejected outright.
• Using a P.O. box as your registered agent address. Louisiana Revised Statutes § 12:1305 requires a physical street address. A P.O. box won't cut it.
• Submitting Form #365 without Form #973. The Initial Report must be filed at the same time. Leave it out and your filing comes back rejected.
• Submitting incomplete or incorrect information. Double-check every field, including your registered agent address and principal office address, before you hit submit.
• Skipping the operating agreement for a multi-member LLC. Without one, Louisiana's default statutory rules under RS 12:1301 et seq. govern your business, whether you like those rules or not.
• Missing the annual report deadline. Three consecutive missed filings trigger administrative dissolution under RS 12:1308.2.
• Failing to register for Louisiana state taxes. Secretary of State approval doesn't set up your tax accounts. That requires a separate business tax registration through geauxBIZ or LaTAP.

How to Register a Foreign LLC in Louisiana

If your LLC was formed in another state and you want to do business in Louisiana, you must register as a foreign LLC before operating. Operating without registering bars your business from Louisiana courts and makes it liable for all fees and taxes it would have owed during its unregistered period.

• File the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana. Available through geauxBIZ at geauxbiz.com or at sos.la.gov. The filing fee is $150 by mail and $155 online.
• Submit a Certificate of Good Standing from your state of formation, dated no more than 90 days before filing.
• Appoint a Louisiana registered agent with a physical street address, consistent with requirements under Louisiana Revised Statutes § 12:1305.

Verify current forms, fees, and requirements at sos.la.gov before filing.

Start your Louisiana LLC for free with Inc Authority

Inc Authority can help prepare your Louisiana LLC formation documents for free. You only pay the required Louisiana state filing fees.

Here's what you get at no charge:

• Business name check against the Louisiana Secretary of State's database
• Paperwork preparation for Form #365 and Form #973
• Step-by-step filing guidance
• EIN guidance is available as part of the formation process

Start your Louisiana LLC with Inc Authority.

Louisiana LLC FAQs

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent for My Louisiana LLC?

Yes, as long as you're at least 18, maintain a physical Louisiana street address, and are consistently available there during business hours. Your name and address will appear in public records, which is why many owners prefer a third-party service.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Louisiana LLC Approved?

Standard processing is 3 to 5 business days. Need it faster? 24-hour processing costs $30; same-day processing costs $50. Verify current times at sos.la.gov.

How Much Does it Cost to Open an LLC in Louisiana?

The mandatory upfront cost is $100 by mail or $105 online. After that, the only recurring mandatory cost is the $30 annual report fee. Louisiana imposes no franchise tax on LLCs. Inc Authority's formation service is free. Verify current fees at sos.la.gov.

What Are Common LLC Mistakes to Avoid?

Filing Form #365 without the required Form #973; using a name without searching coraweb.sos.la.gov first; listing a P.O. box as your registered agent address; missing annual reports, which can lead to administrative dissolution after three consecutive missed filings; and failing to separately register for Louisiana state taxes after formation.

What happens if you miss Louisiana LLC annual reports?

Missing your annual report can mark your LLC "not in good standing." After three consecutive years of non-filing, your LLC may face administrative dissolution under RS 12:1308.2. Reinstatement generally requires Form SS1444, the most current annual report, back annual report fees, and a reinstatement fee. Verify current requirements at sos.la.gov.

Does a Louisiana LLC Need to Publish a Notice in a Newspaper?

No. Louisiana has no publication requirement. Verify at sos.la.gov.

What Taxes Does a Louisiana LLC Pay?

By default, a Louisiana LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity. Profits flow to members and get reported on personal Louisiana income tax returns (Form IT-540) and federal returns. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, register for Louisiana sales and use tax (state rate: 4.45%, plus local parish rates). Louisiana doesn't impose a franchise tax on LLCs. Verify your obligations at revenue.louisiana.gov.

What is the Difference Between Filing Online Versus by Mail?

Online filing through geauxBIZ costs $105 and registers your LLC with the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, and Workforce Commission all at once. Mail filing costs $100 but adds postal handling time and doesn't include integrated tax registration. Founders in 14 designated parishes must file online.