How to Start an LLC in Louisiana

The state offers numerous business incentives, provided your LLC meets certain criteria. For example, 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. These kinds of programs make Louisiana a great place to form your LLC.

For most Louisiana entrepreneurs, the fastest and easiest way to start a business is to create a Louisiana limited liability company (LLC), an entity ideal for startups and small- to medium-sized businesses. It gives you the advantages and protections that larger Louisiana corporations benefit from, but with simplified rules and regulations.

If an LLC isn't the right entity for the type of business you're starting, you may want to consider forming a Louisiana Corporation instead.

Learn more about the advantages of an LLC business structure.

In this guide, you’ll find information on naming your LLC, getting a Registered Agent, the fees you’ll need to pay, Louisiana business taxes, and much more. We also cover what you'll need to register and file your LLC, and how you'll interact with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Step 1: Choose a Unique Business Name and Complete a Louisiana Business Search

You’ll need a distinctive and original name for your LLC that’s not used by any other business in the state. If you’re having trouble coming up with a name, try using Bizee’s Business Name Generator to brainstorm ideas. You'll need to follow a few naming rules, which you can read about in detail on the Louisiana Business Names page.

Once you’ve chosen a name, you’ll need to make sure it’s available in Louisiana. To find out whether another company in the state is using your chosen business name, use our tool to do a business name search. You can also carry out a name search on the Louisiana Secretary of State website.

Step 2: Provide an Official Business Address for your LLC

Whether it’s an office building, a home (if the company is run from a residence), or any other physical location, every LLC in Louisiana must have a designated street address. It can be outside the state, but it cannot be a P.O. box.

Step 3: Assign a Registered Agent

Someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Louisiana Secretary of State is called a Registered Agent. Every LLC in Louisiana is required to have a Registered Agent.

This official position can be filled by you, another manager in the business, or a dedicated Registered Agent service. If your Louisiana Registered Agent is a person, they must reside and have a physical street address in Louisiana, and they must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours. In Louisiana, you designate your Registered Agent when you file your Articles of Organization and officially create your business.

Bizee's business formation packages include Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.

Step 4: File Articles of Organization With the Louisiana Secretary of State

Once you've gathered all the information for your Louisiana LLC, you’ll need to file a form with the Louisiana Secretary of State, which creates your Articles of Organization, and officially forms your LLC.

You can file your Louisiana Articles of Organization online with the Secretary of State geauxBIZ online business portal, mail a form to the Office of the Secretary of State, or have Bizee do it on your behalf. The Louisiana LLC filing fee is $100.

You only need to file your Articles of Organization once, but every year after, you'll need to file an annual report. This is also something Bizee can remind you to do, or we can do it for you.

What Are the Fees and Requirements to Form a Business in Louisiana?

Annual Report

Step 5: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service

You’ll need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. An EIN is also required to open a business bank account. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or Bizee can get one for you as part of the Louisiana LLC formation process.

Step 6: Create an Operating Agreement

A kind of "instruction manual" that explains how you'll run your business, an LLC Operating Agreement details how decisions will be made, how the business is divided among members, and what will happen if a member leaves the company.

Some states require that a company have an Operating Agreement in place. It isn’t legally required in Louisiana, but it’s a good idea to have one nonetheless.

Other Louisiana LLC Types

Foreign LLC

If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Louisiana — or vice versa — you’ll need to form a Foreign LLC. Learn more about Louisiana Foreign LLC registration.

Professional LLC

Some states allow certain types of businesses to form Professional Limited Liability Companies (PLLCs). This type of LLC will typically require members to be licensed, and impose other specialized requirements as well.

Unlike what is available in other states, there is no Louisiana PLLC option. Instead, groups of licensed professionals, such as attorneys, architects, engineers, and physicians can choose to form a Professional Corporation.

Learn more about PLLC vs. LLC and which one is right for your business.

Helpful Resources from the State of Louisiana

More Information in This Guide

You’ll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including: