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How to Start an LLC in Louisiana

Here are the steps you need to take to start a limited liability company (LLC) in Louisiana.

By , J.D. USC Gould School of Law
Updated by Amanda Hayes, Attorney University of North Carolina School of Law
Updated 11/04/2024

Steps to form an LLCSteps to form an LLC

Many small business owners choose to form a limited liability company (LLC). An LLC is a business structure that combines the ease and flexibility of a partnership or sole proprietorship with the limited liability of a corporation. This popular business structure also offers a flexible management structure and tax benefits.

Follow these steps to create an LLC in Louisiana. For more information on how to form an LLC in any state, see our article on how to start an LLC. You can also use our online LLC formation service to register your LLC.

1. Choose a Name for Your Louisiana LLC

You need to first select a business name for your LLC. When picking a name, make sure you follow Louisiana's laws for naming LLCs.

LLC name must be distinguishable. Your LLC's name must be distinguishable (different) from the names of any corporations, partnerships, or LLCs on file with the Louisiana Secretary of State (SOS). You can see whether your proposed business name is available by searching the SOS's Louisiana Business Filings. (La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1306 (2024).)

LLC name must include an entity designator. Under Louisiana law, your LLC name must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviations "L.L.C." or "L.C." (La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1306 (2024).)

Name reservation. You can reserve an available business name for 120 days by filing an application for reservation with the SOS. You can reserve an LLC name online through the SOS's Louisiana geauxBIZ. You can't renew the reservation. As of 2024, the filing fee to reserve a name is $25. (La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1307 (2024).)

Using a trade name. You can do business under a name that's different from your LLC's legal name listed in its articles of organization. This alternative name is sometimes called a "trade name," "DBA" (short for doing business as), or "fictitious business name." If your LLC uses a trade name, you must register it with the SOS. File an Application to Register Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark and have it notarized to register your trade name. As of 2024, the fee to reserve a trade name in Louisiana is $75. The state's laws for trade names are extensive and can be confusing, so you might want to consult with a lawyer before filing any forms. (La. Rev. Stat. § 51:281 (2024).)

Use geauxBIZ for your business filings. You'll need to create an account to use this website. You can also use geauxBIZ to download business forms to file by mail.

2. Appoint a Louisiana Registered Agent

Every Louisiana LLC must have an agent for service of process (called a "registered agent") in the the state. An agent's role is to accept legal papers on a company's behalf and forward the documents to the represented entity.

In Lousiana, a registered agent must either be a:

  • Lousiana citizen who lives in the state
  • partnership or professional law corporation authorized to practice law in the state, or
  • domestic or qualified foreign corporation or LLC authorized to act as a registered agent.

Your registered agent must have a physical street address in Louisiana.

(La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1308 (2024).)

3. File Articles of Organization With the SOS

You create a Louisiana LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the SOS. You must file an Initial Report along with your articles. As of 2024, the filing fee for Louisiana Articles of Organization and the Initial Report is $100.

Louisiana Articles of Organization

Your articles of organization must include:

  • the name of the LLC
  • the LLC's purpose, and
  • whether the LLC is a low-profit LLC.

(La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1305 (2024).)

Louisiana Initial Report

In addition to your articles of organization, you must submit an Initial Report. You must include the following information on your report:

  • the address of the LLC's registered office
  • the name and address of the LLC's registered agent
  • a notarized affidavit with the registered agent's signature acknowledging and accepting the appointment, and
  • the names and addresses of the LLC's managers or members.

(La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1305 (2024).)

Filing Online vs. Filing by Mail

You can (and sometimes must) file your articles and initial report online via geauxBIZ. (You can find the list of parishes that require online filings earlier in this article.)

If you have a choice of whether to file online or by paper, you'll need to weigh your options. If you file by paper, the processing time is slower and you'll need to have the organizers' signatures on the Articles of Organization and the registered agent's signature on the Initial Report notarized.

If you file online, the processing time is quicker and you can register your LLC with multiple agencies at once. However, you'll be asked to provide additional information about your LLC. For instance, you'll be asked to provide your LLC's employer identification number (EIN), which most people don't get for their business until it's been registered with the state.

On top of that, Louisiana's business creation process is a bit more confusing than other states. If you need help filing your formation documents, consider working with a Louisiana business attorney. They can help you choose the best filing method and answer the required questions.

4. Prepare an Operating Agreement

Louisiana, like most states, doesn't require an LLC to have an operating agreement. Though an agreement isn't legally required, it's still important to create one. You should put this important organizational document in writing. But you don't have to file it with the state.

An operating agreement should generally cover:

  • the relations among the members as members and between the members and the LLC
  • the powers, rights, and duties of members and managers
  • the activities and affairs of the company and the conduct of those activities and affairs, and
  • the means and conditions to amend the operating agreement.

An operating agreement is important for several reasons. It allows you to create your own rules for your LLC. Without an operating agreement, state LLC law will govern how your LLC operates.

In addition, an operating agreement can help preserve your limited liability by showing that your LLC is truly a separate business entity from its owners. In addition, investors and banks typically like to see an LLC's operating agreement when determining whether to invest or loan money to the company. Moreover, the operating agreement ensures that all current and future members and managers are on the same page about the LLC's operations.

For help creating an LLC operating agreement, you can use our online LLC formation service.

5. Get an EIN and Comply With Tax and Regulatory Requirements

Other tax and regulatory requirements might apply to your LLC. For instance, your LLC might need to obtain an EIN, apply for business licenses and permits, and register for business taxes.

EIN. If your LLC has more than one member, it must obtain a federal employer identification number (EIN), even if it has no employees. If you form a single-member LLC, you must obtain an EIN for your LLC only if you'll have employees or you elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation instead of a sole proprietorship (disregarded entity). You can obtain an EIN by completing an online EIN application on the IRS website. There's no filing fee. If you form your LLC online, then you might need to obtain your EIN earlier in the LLC formation process.

Business licenses. Depending on your LLC's business activities and location, your LLC could need to obtain other local and state business licenses. For local licenses, check with the clerk for the city where the LLC's primary place of business is located (or county or parish if it's in an unincorporated area). You can also create a business license checklist on geauxBIZ. For further guidance on regulatory requirements for your business, read how to get a small business license in Louisiana.

Louisiana Department of Revenue. In some cases, for example, if you have employees or will be selling goods and collecting sales tax, you'll need to register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (DOR). You can register for various types of taxes with the DOR (and other agencies) through geauxBIZ. You can file and pay taxes online via the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP). For more information on Louisiana LLC tax registration, check out our article on Louisiana LLC annual report and tax filing requirements.

FAQ About Louisiana LLCs

Here are some other questions you might have about your Louisiana LLC.

Should I form an LLC in Louisiana?

If you're just starting your business or have already been operating as a sole proprietor, you should consider forming an LLC. LLCs limit an owner's personal liability for business debts and lawsuits and offer a lot of flexibility when it comes to ownership, management, and taxation of the business.

To learn more about LLCs and decide if it's the right business structure for you, see our article on LLC basics.

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?

Below are the fees (as of 2024) you might need to pay to form your LLC in Louisiana:

  • The SOS charges $100 to file the Articles of Organization and Initial Report.
  • You can reserve your LLC name with the SOS for $25.

Filing on your own is often the cheapest option, but completing all of the forms and filing them yourself can be complicated. Hiring a lawyer is another option, but it will often cost you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in the process. If you'd like help completing all the filings, try our online LLC formation service.

To learn more about the costs associated with forming and running an LLC, see our article on how much it costs to form an LLC.

Do I need to submit an annual report for my LLC in Louisiana?

Your LLC must file an annual report to stay in good standing with the SOS. The report is due each year by the anniversary date of your LLC's formation. You'll use the annual report to keep or update the information you already have on file with the SOS about your LLC. (La. Rev. Stat. § 12:1308.1 (2024).)

You can file the annual report online via Louisiana geauxBIZ. As of 2024, the fee to file your annual report is $30.

Are there any other maintenance requirements for LLCs?

Apart from annual reports, your LLC will need to file and pay applicable taxes to the local, state, and federal governments. In addition, your LLC might need to obtain and periodically renew any required general or special business licenses or permits. You'll be responsible for keeping track of these maintenance requirements to keep your LLC in good standing and legally compliant.

Starting in 2024, all LLCs were previously required to submit a beneficial ownership information (BOI) report to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the U.S. Department of Treasury. However, in March 2025, after some constitutional challenges, FinCEN revised the BOI reporting rule so that the requirement only applies to companies created outside the U.S. So, if you form your LLC within the U.S., then you no longer need to worry about the BOI reporting requirement.

Do I need an operating agreement for my Louisiana LLC?

You're not required to have an operating agreement in Louisiana. Though, it's highly advisable to have one. An operating agreement can help protect your limited liability status, prevent financial and managerial misunderstandings among members, and ensure that you choose the rules that govern your business instead of your state's default rules.

Do I need a business license in Louisiana?

Louisiana, like most states, doesn't require businesses to have a statewide general business license. However, some cities and parishes, like New Orleans, require businesses to have an occupational license (or similar operating license) to do business within city or parish limits. In addition, depending on your occupation, you and your LLC might need to apply for a professional or occupational license.

If you plan to sell taxable goods and services and collect sales tax, you'll need to obtain a sales tax certificate from the DOR. Your business could also need to obtain other tax licenses and apply for local zoning and building permits.

See our article on Louisiana business licenses for additional information.

Are there Louisiana business taxes I need to pay?

Your business might need to pay various business taxes across multiple agencies. If you sell taxable goods or services, you'll need to pay sales tax to the DOR. If you have employees, you'll likely need to pay withholding taxes to the DOR and unemployment insurance tax to the Louisiana Workforce Commission.

If your LLC is taxed as a pass-through entity—that is, a partnership for a multi-member LLC and a disregarded entity for a single-member LLC—then the LLC members (owners) will pay taxes on their share of the LLC's income. However, in Louisiana, you have the choice of having your LLC taxed at the entity level. Alternatively, you can elect to have your LLC taxed as a corporation.

You can register your business online for taxes via geauxBIZ. Alternatively, you can register your LLC with the DOR through LaTAP.

See our article on Louisiana tax filing requirements for more details.

Can a foreign LLC do business in Louisiana?

Yes. To do business in Louisiana, all LLCs organized outside of the state (called "foreign LLCs") must register with the SOS. Your foreign LLC must appoint a registered agent for service of process that's physically located in Louisiana.

To register, file an Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company with the SOS. As of 2024, the filing fee for a certificate of registration is $70. The completed application must be accompanied by a certificate of good standing or existence or a similar document from the foreign LLC's home state dated not more than 90 days before the application is filed. (In Texas and Alabama, obtain a certificate of existence from the SOS, not a good standing certificate from the Comptroller or Department of Revenue.)

You can file the application online through geauxBIZ or submit a paper filing. As of 2024, the fee to apply to register your foreign LLC in Louisiana is $150.

(La. Rev. Stat. §§ 12:1342 and following (2024).)

See our guide to qualifying to do business outside your state for more information.

Can I form a single-member LLC in Louisiana?

Yes. For most formation purposes, a Louisiana single-member LLC is considered the same as a multi-member LLC. The steps to form a single-member LLC in Louisiana are generally the same as those listed above.

Single-member LLCs do have additional flexibility when it comes to filing a tax return. To learn more, see our article on how single-member LLCs pay federal income tax.

Can I form a professional LLC in Louisiana?

Maybe. Louisiana law explicitly allows only dentists to form a professional LLC (PLLC). If you provide a professional service, then you can still form a regular LLC. An LLC can be formed for any lawful purpose in Louisiana unless prohibited by any state law. You should check with your regulatory board to make sure you can form an LLC.

Louisiana law allows some professions to form professional corporations (PCs). For instance, you can form a PC to practice law, medicine, dentistry, accounting, architectural services, and more. Each professional service is governed by a different chapter of Louisiana law.

See Title 12 of Lousiana's Revised Statutes for more information on these professions. You should also speak with a Louisiana attorney if you have questions about your business formation options.

How do I dissolve my LLC when I'm done?

When you're ready to close your business, you should legally dissolve your LLC to limit your liability for lawsuits and government fees. To dissolve an LLC in Louisiana, you should:

(La. Rev. Stat. §§ 12:1334 and following (2024).)

You also need to close your tax accounts and take any other steps necessary to close out your business. See our article on what you need to do when closing your business for more in-depth information and guidance.

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