Louisiana LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
Forming an LLC in Louisiana costs $100 in state fees. Learn what forms to file, what the annual report costs, and what else you need to stay in good standing.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Louisiana LLC filing fees at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (Articles of Organization + Initial Report, filed together)
Processing time: 5–7 business days standard; 24-hour expedite available for an additional $30; same-day or 2–4 hour expedite available for an additional $50
State agency: Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division (geauxBIZ)
Annual report due: $30 fee; due on or before the LLC's anniversary date each year
State tax rate: No state-level franchise tax on LLCs; Louisiana corporate income tax applies if the LLC elects corporate taxation
Louisiana LLC filing fees and requirements
Forming an LLC in Louisiana requires filing Articles of Organization and an Initial Report together with the Louisiana Secretary of State and paying a $100 state fee. After formation, you'll need a registered agent, an annual report filed each year for $30, and any business licenses your industry or location requires.
Articles of Organization and Initial Report
To form a domestic LLC in Louisiana, you file Articles of Organization (Form 365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division and pay a $100 state fee. Louisiana is one of the few states that requires an Initial Report — filed on Form 973 — at the same time as the Articles of Organization. Both documents are covered by the single $100 fee.
The Articles of Organization must include your LLC's name — which needs to contain the words "limited liability company" or an abbreviation like "L.L.C." or "L.C." — along with your registered agent's name and a Louisiana street address. The Initial Report must list the registered office's physical street address; a P.O. Box is not accepted. You can file online through the state's geauxBIZ portal or by mailing paper forms to the Secretary of State.
Registered agent requirement
Every Louisiana LLC must maintain a registered agent and a registered office in the state. The registered agent is the person or entity designated to receive service of process and official legal notices on behalf of your LLC. The registered office must be a physical street address in Louisiana — not a P.O. Box.
The registered agent can be an individual or an entity, as long as they can accept service of process during business hours. If you ever need to change your registered agent or registered office, you can do so by filing a statement with the Secretary of State.
Annual report requirement
Louisiana LLCs must file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year and pay a $30 filing fee. The report is due on or before your LLC's anniversary date — the calendar date the state originally approved your LLC. Missing the deadline can put your LLC out of good standing, so it's worth tracking that date from the start.
You can file the annual report online through geauxBIZ or by mailing a paper form to the Secretary of State. Online filing requires a geauxBIZ account — you log in, locate your business, select the annual report option, and pay the $30 fee electronically.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Every LLC should get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You'll use it to open a business bank account, file federal taxes, and hire employees. The IRS issues EINs at no cost — you can apply online at irs.gov/ein and get your number the same day.
A single-member LLC with no employees can technically use the owner's Social Security number for some purposes. But an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents and is required the moment you bring on any employees or open most business bank accounts.
Name reservation
If you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization yet, you can reserve your LLC name with the Louisiana Secretary of State for $25. A reservation holds the name for 120 days. You can submit the application online through geauxBIZ using the "Reserve a new business name" function.
Foreign LLC registration
If your LLC is formed in another state but you want to do business in Louisiana, you need to register as a foreign LLC. That means filing an Application for Authority to Transact Business with the Louisiana Secretary of State and paying a $150 state fee.
Foreign LLCs registered in Louisiana are subject to the same annual report requirement as domestic LLCs — $30 per year, due on the anniversary date.
Expedited processing
Standard processing for a Louisiana LLC filing takes approximately 5–7 business days. If you need it faster, the Secretary of State offers 2 expedited options, both paid on top of the $100 formation fee.
- 24-hour expedited processing: $30 additional fee
- Same-day or 2–4 hour priority expedited processing: $50 additional fee
Certified copies and certificates
You can order copies of your LLC's filed documents or certificates from the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division. Requests can be submitted online through the Louisiana Commercial Database, by mail, or by fax.
- Copy of a single document: $15
- Complete file or more than 1 document from the same entity: $25
Business licenses and permits
Forming your LLC with the state is separate from getting the business licenses and permits you need to operate. Louisiana doesn't issue a single general "business license" — what you need depends on your industry, your location, and whether you're subject to any federal licensing requirements.
Some businesses need state-level professional licenses (things like contractors, healthcare providers, or food service operators). Others need local permits from their parish or city. A tax professional or attorney familiar with your industry can help you figure out exactly what applies to your business.
Operating agreement
Louisiana does not require LLCs to have an operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. That said, having one in place is worth doing — it documents how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, and how profits are divided. Without one, Louisiana's default LLC rules fill in the gaps, which may not reflect what you actually want.
For single-member LLCs, an operating agreement also helps reinforce that your business is a separate legal entity — which matters if your liability protection is ever questioned.
FAQ
The state fee to form a Louisiana LLC is $100, which covers both the Articles of Organization and the required Initial Report filed at the same time. That fee is the same whether you file online through geauxBIZ or by mail. Optional costs include a $25 name reservation fee, a $30 or $50 expedited processing fee, and a $30 annual report fee each year after formation.
$30 per year. The annual report is due on or before your LLC's anniversary date — the date the state originally approved your LLC. You can file online through geauxBIZ or by mailing a paper form to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Missing the deadline can put your LLC out of good standing.
Yes. Louisiana requires an Initial Report (Form 973) to be filed at the same time as the Articles of Organization. Both documents are submitted together and covered by the single $100 state filing fee. The Initial Report must include the LLC's registered office street address in Louisiana — a P.O. Box is not accepted.
Standard processing takes approximately 5–7 business days. If you need it faster, the Louisiana Secretary of State offers 24-hour expedited processing for an additional $30, or same-day and 2–4 hour priority expedited processing for an additional $50. Both expedited options are paid on top of the $100 formation fee.
It depends on your industry and location. Louisiana doesn't issue a single general business license. What you need varies based on the type of business you run, where you're located, and whether any state or federal licensing requirements apply to your industry. Some businesses need state professional licenses; others need local parish or city permits. A tax professional or attorney familiar with your industry can help you figure out what applies.
We charge you the $100 Louisiana state fee at cost and pay it directly to the Secretary of State on your behalf when we file your Articles of Organization and Initial Report. You pay the state fee — we handle the paperwork.
Yes. You can reserve an LLC name with the Louisiana Secretary of State for $25. The reservation holds the name for 120 days. You can submit the application online through the geauxBIZ portal using the "Reserve a new business name" option.
No. Louisiana does not require LLCs to have an operating agreement, and you don't file one with the state. Even so, having one is worth doing — it documents ownership, decision-making, and profit distribution. Without one, Louisiana's default LLC rules apply, which may not match what you actually want for your business.
