How to Form a Corporation or LLC in Louisiana
Bizee helps entrepreneurs form a corporation or LLC in Louisiana. Learn the steps, state fees, required forms, and what to expect from the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Louisiana at a glance
Filing fee: $100 for LLCs (Articles of Organization); $75 for corporations (Articles of Incorporation)
Processing time: 3–5 business days online via geauxbiz.com; longer for paper filings
State agency: Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Annual report due: LLCs: no annual report required. Corporations: annual report due by the anniversary date of formation.
State tax rate: Louisiana corporate income tax: 3.5% flat rate (as of 2025 tax reform). No state-level LLC franchise tax on most LLCs.
How to form a corporation or LLC in Louisiana
To form a corporation or LLC in Louisiana, you file formation documents with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division, appoint a registered agent with a Louisiana address, and get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. The state filing fee is $100 for an LLC and $75 for a corporation.
Louisiana uses an online portal called geauxbiz.com for most business filings. It's one of the more straightforward state systems, and most formations process in 3–5 business days when filed online.
Step 1: Choose and reserve your business name
Your business name must be distinguishable from other registered names in Louisiana. LLCs need to include 'Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' in the name. Corporations need 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Corp.,' or 'Inc.'
You can check name availability and reserve a name through geauxbiz.com. Louisiana allows name reservations for 60 days for a $25 fee — worth doing if you're not ready to file immediately.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every Louisiana LLC and corporation needs a registered agent — a person or business with a physical Louisiana street address who can receive legal documents and official state notices on your behalf. A P.O. box doesn't qualify.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Louisiana address, but many business owners use a registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records and make sure nothing gets missed.
Step 3: File your formation documents
LLCs file Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Corporations file Articles of Incorporation. Both can be filed online through geauxbiz.com or by mail to the Commercial Division in Baton Rouge.
LLC filing fee: $100
Corporation filing fee: $75
Online processing time: 3–5 business days
Corporations must also file an Initial Report within 30 days of formation — this is a Louisiana-specific requirement that catches many new business owners off guard
Step 4: Create your operating agreement or bylaws
Louisiana doesn't require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the state, but you should have one. It defines how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, and how profits are split. Without one, Louisiana's default LLC rules govern your business — and those defaults may not match what you actually want.
Corporations need bylaws, which serve the same purpose: they set the rules for how the corporation runs, who the officers are, and how the board operates. Keep your bylaws with your corporate records.
Step 5: Get your EIN and register for state taxes
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a 9-digit number the IRS uses to identify your business for tax purposes. Most LLCs and corporations need one — even with no employees. You apply for an EIN directly through the IRS at no cost.
You can apply online at irs.gov/ein and get your EIN the same day. You can also apply by mail or fax using Form SS-4, though that takes longer.
After you have your EIN, register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue if your business will collect sales tax, have employees, or owe Louisiana income tax. You can register through the Louisiana Taxpayer Access Point (LaTAP).
Step 6: Stay compliant after formation
Louisiana LLCs don't file annual reports, which is one of the state's more business-friendly features. Corporations do file an annual report, due on the anniversary of their formation date, with a fee based on authorized shares.
Both LLCs and corporations need to keep their registered agent information current with the Secretary of State. If your registered agent changes and you don't update the state, official notices can go undelivered — and that can put your good standing at risk.
Frequently asked questions
File Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division, appoint a registered agent with a Louisiana address, and pay the $75 state filing fee. You can file online through geauxbiz.com. After filing, you'll also need to submit an Initial Report within 30 days and get an EIN from the IRS.
First, form a corporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State by filing Articles of Incorporation and paying the $75 fee. Then elect S Corp tax status with the IRS by filing Form 2553. Louisiana recognizes the federal S Corp election, so there's no separate state-level S Corp filing. Talk to a tax professional to confirm S Corp status fits your situation before electing it.
File Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State and pay the $75 filing fee. A C Corp is the default corporation type — you don't need to make any additional tax election. After formation, file your Initial Report within 30 days, get an EIN from the IRS, and register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue for any applicable state taxes.
It depends on your goals. An LLC gives you flexible management, pass-through taxation by default, and no annual report requirement in Louisiana. A corporation is better if you plan to raise outside investment, issue stock, or elect S Corp tax treatment. Both protect your personal assets from business debts. A tax professional can help you figure out which structure fits your situation.
No. Louisiana LLCs are not required to file annual reports with the Secretary of State. This is one of the more business-friendly aspects of forming an LLC in Louisiana. Corporations do have an annual report requirement, due on the anniversary of their formation date.
Yes. Every Louisiana LLC and corporation must have a registered agent with a physical street address in Louisiana. The registered agent receives legal documents and official state notices on behalf of your business. You can serve as your own registered agent, or use a registered agent service to keep your personal address off public records.
Yes, in most cases. Most LLCs and corporations need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, even with no employees. You'll need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. You can apply online at irs.gov/ein at no cost and get your EIN the same day.
Louisiana requires newly formed corporations to file an Initial Report with the Secretary of State within 30 days of formation. The Initial Report confirms your registered agent, principal office address, and officer information. Missing this deadline can put your corporation's good standing at risk. LLCs are not required to file an Initial Report.
