How to Form an LLC in Louisiana
Bizee helps entrepreneurs form an LLC in Louisiana for $0 plus the $105 state fee. Learn the steps: name your business, file your Articles of Organization, get a registered agent, and obtain an EIN.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Louisiana LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $105 (Articles of Organization, online or by mail)
Processing time: 3–5 business days online; longer by mail
State agency: Louisiana Secretary of State — geauxbiz.com
Annual report due: No annual report required; annual registered agent fee applies
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; Louisiana corporate income tax applies if LLC elects corporate taxation
State overview
To form an LLC in Louisiana, you file Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, pay the $105 state fee, appoint a registered agent with a Louisiana address, and obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. Most online filings are processed in 3–5 business days.
- State filing fee: $105
- Filing agency: Louisiana Secretary of State (geauxbiz.com)
- Registered agent: required — must have a physical Louisiana address
- Annual report: not required in Louisiana
- EIN: required for most LLCs; free from the IRS at irs.gov/ein
Why form an LLC in Louisiana
A Louisiana LLC gives you personal liability protection and pass-through taxation without the complexity of a corporation. Your personal finances stay separate from business debts and lawsuits — so if the business runs into trouble, your personal assets aren't fair game.
Louisiana also offers real business incentives that make the state worth a closer look. Qualifying businesses can receive a $1,000 or $3,500 tax credit for every certified net new job created, or a rebate of up to 6% on annual payroll expenses for up to 10 years. Not every LLC will qualify, but if you're planning to hire, it's worth checking eligibility with a tax professional.
Plus, Louisiana doesn't require an annual report for LLCs — one less recurring filing to track compared to most other states.
How to form a Louisiana LLC in 6 steps
Forming a Louisiana LLC takes 6 steps: choose a business name, appoint a registered agent, file your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, create an operating agreement, get your Employer Identification Number (EIN), and apply for any required business licenses or permits.
Step 1: Choose a name for your Louisiana LLC
Your LLC name must be distinguishable from other registered businesses in Louisiana and include a designator like "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." You can check name availability through the Louisiana Secretary of State's business search at geauxbiz.com before you file. Names that are too similar to existing businesses will be rejected, so it's worth checking early.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Every Louisiana LLC 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. You can serve as your own registered agent, 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 Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is the document that officially creates your LLC with the state. File it online through geauxbiz.com or by mail with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $105. Online filings are generally processed in 3–5 business days. Mail filings take longer — plan for several weeks if you go that route.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Louisiana doesn't legally require an operating agreement, but having one is worth the effort. It documents how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, and how profits are divided. Without one, your LLC defaults to Louisiana's standard LLC rules — which may not reflect what you and your co-owners actually agreed to. For single-member LLCs, an operating agreement also reinforces that your business is a separate entity.
Step 5: Get your Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An EIN is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Apply for an EIN free at irs.gov/ein — the online application is available Monday through Friday, 7 AM – 10 PM ET, and you get your EIN immediately after completing it. Single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner's Social Security Number instead, but an EIN keeps your personal number off business documents.
Step 6: Apply for business licenses and permits
Louisiana doesn't issue a single general business license, but depending on your industry and location, you may need state-level professional licenses, local parish or city permits, or both. Check with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and your local parish government to figure out what applies to your business. Getting this right before you open saves headaches later.
Other Louisiana LLC types
Most entrepreneurs form a standard domestic LLC in Louisiana, but two other LLC types come up often: foreign LLCs and professional LLCs.
Foreign LLC
If your LLC was formed in another state but you're doing business in Louisiana, you need to register as a foreign LLC with the Louisiana Secretary of State. This is called "qualifying to do business" in the state. You'll file an Application for Authority and pay a state fee. Your LLC remains governed by the laws of the state where it was originally formed.
Professional LLC
Licensed professionals in Louisiana — things like doctors, attorneys, accountants, and engineers — may need to form a Professional LLC (PLLC) rather than a standard LLC. A PLLC follows the same basic formation process but requires proof of professional licensure. Check with your state licensing board to figure out whether your profession requires a PLLC.
Frequently asked questions
The Louisiana state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $105. That's the required cost you pay directly to the state regardless of how you file. If you use a formation platform to handle the paperwork, you may pay an additional service fee on top of the state fee — or $0 if you use Bizee's free formation option.
Online filings through geauxbiz.com are generally processed in 3–5 business days. Mail filings take longer — several weeks is typical. If your timeline is tight, file online. Louisiana doesn't currently offer a formal expedited processing option for standard LLC filings, so online is your fastest path.
Not entirely. Louisiana requires a $105 state filing fee that you can't avoid. What you can do is handle the formation paperwork at no extra cost — either by filing directly with the Secretary of State yourself, or by using Bizee's $0 formation option where you pay only the $105 state fee and we handle the filing.
No. Louisiana doesn't require LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State. That's one of the things that makes Louisiana relatively low-maintenance for LLC owners compared to most states. You still need to maintain a registered agent and stay current on any applicable state and local tax filings.
Yes, in most cases. You need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. Single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner's Social Security Number instead, but getting an EIN is still recommended — it keeps your personal number off business documents and makes banking easier. Apply free at irs.gov/ein.
Yes. Every Louisiana LLC is required to 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 if you have a Louisiana address, or use a registered agent service to keep your personal address off public records.
To form an LLC in Louisiana, choose a business name, appoint a registered agent, file Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State at geauxbiz.com, pay the $105 state fee, create an operating agreement, and get an EIN from the IRS. Most online filings are processed in 3–5 business days.
