Forming an LLC in Louisiana is inexpensive and mostly paperwork. Louisiana law requires a name that follows the state's naming statute, a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address, and Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State alongside an initial report. An operating agreement is not filed with the state, and Louisiana does not require a single statewide general business license.
The SOS fee schedule puts the Articles of Organization (Form 365) at $100, plus a $5 statutory credit card convenience fee when you pay online through geauxBIZ, for $105 total. Annual reports are $30 by mail, $35 online with the same card fee. Louisiana lawmakers are considering legislation, tracked in some sources as Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session and in others as House Bill 908, that would raise Commercial Division fees, potentially including a $125 base fee for the Articles of Organization effective as early as October 1, 2026.
Enactment status could not be confirmed at the time of writing this article, so treat this as pending rather than current law. The fees below reflect Louisiana's currently published fee schedule; confirm directly with the SOS before filing if you are close to that date.
Louisiana LLC formation requirements
Title 12 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes governs the name, the registered agent, and the Articles of Organization; the operating agreement stays internal.
Core requirement | Louisiana rule | Mandatory? |
|---|---|---|
LLC name | Must be distinguishable and include "Limited Liability Company," "L.L.C.," or "L.C." | Yes |
Registered agent | Louisiana resident of legal age or an authorized entity with a physical Louisiana address; notarized affidavit of acceptance required | Yes |
Articles of Organization | File articles of organization and the initial report with the Secretary of State; $100 base fee | Yes |
Operating agreement | Internal contract; not filed with the state | No |
Articles of Organization filing fees
File online through the geauxBIZ portal or by mail.
Filing method | Total fee | Submission channel |
|---|---|---|
Online (most common) | $105 | geauxBIZ portal |
Paper (mail) | $100 | Commercial Division general mailing address: P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 |
The SOS filing page reviewed does not state a standard processing timeframe for non-expedited filings. It does list expedite options: 24-hour or priority processing for an extra $30 or $50, respectively, on top of the filing fee, which places your documents ahead of others received the same day rather than guaranteeing a fixed turnaround. For a current estimate on standard turnaround, call the SOS Commercial Division at (225) 925-4704.
Step-by-step LLC formation process
The name, the registered agent, and the Articles are what the state actually reviews; the operating agreement and licenses come after.
Step 1: Choose your LLC name
Under La. R.S. 12:1306(A)(1), your LLC name must contain "Limited Liability Company," "L.L.C.," or "L.C." (the statute does not list "LLC" without periods). R.S. 12:1306(A)(3) also requires the name to be distinguishable from other corporations, partnerships, LLCs, foreign entities, reserved names, and registered trade names on file with the SOS, so run the SOS commercial search first. "Insurance" is barred unless the LLC is an independent agency or brokerage, and banking terms need written approval from the Commissioner of Financial Institutions dated at least 14 days before the certificate issues.
To operate under a name other than your legal LLC name, register a trade name (Form 309) for $75. You can also hold a name for up to 120 days with the name reservation form (Form 398) for $25, an initial 60-day reservation renewable twice for 30 days each.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
La. R.S. 12:1308(A) requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered office and at least one registered agent in Louisiana. An individual agent must be a Louisiana citizen who resides in the state. An entity agent must be a partnership or professional law corporation authorized to practice law in Louisiana, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Louisiana, with a certificate on file naming at least two individuals at its Louisiana address. Many businesses use registered agent services in Louisiana rather than naming a member.
La. R.S. 12:1305(E) requires the initial report to list a municipal address that is not a post office box only, plus a notarized affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance signed by each registered agent. Confirm with the SOS or your filing method whether the online geauxBIZ process handles that notarization electronically or requires a separately notarized document. If you let the registered office lapse, the LLC has no address on file for service of process, and R.S. 12:1308(A) requires you to maintain one at all times.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization (Form 365) create your LLC, and the initial report (Form 973) is filed alongside them. File online through geauxBIZ or by mail. R.S. 12:1305(A) requires the Articles to be acknowledged before a notary or executed by authentic act, and the official Form 365 includes a notary signature block.
Form 365 asks for your LLC's name, main office address, business purpose, and the registered agent's name and physical address; if managers are running your LLC, list their names and municipal addresses (not just P.O. boxes).
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Louisiana does not require you to file an operating agreement with the state. Even so, you should write one. It sets out who owns what, how decisions get made, and how profits are distributed, and it matters most once the LLC has more than one member. It also strengthens your liability protection and makes ownership clear to banks, investors, and members. You can write it yourself for free or pay a professional to draft it.
Step 5: Obtain required licenses and permits
Louisiana has no single statewide general business license; the geauxBIZ portal directs new businesses to a license checklist because requirements depend on federal, state, and local rules. Check with your parish and municipality about local permits before you open. Get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS; the online application typically issues the EIN immediately for eligible applicants.
If you sell taxable goods or services in Louisiana, you will likely need to register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue; exact requirements depend on the transaction type, applicable exemptions, and nexus. The state sales tax rate is 5.00% as of January 1, 2025, under Act 11 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session, per the LDR rate FAQ. New businesses can register with LDR, the SOS, and the Workforce Commission in one pass through geauxBIZ.
Louisiana LLC ongoing compliance requirements
After formation you owe an annual report, a registered agent maintained without gaps, and employer registrations once you hire.
Your Louisiana LLC annual report is due on or before the anniversary of your organization date under La. R.S. 12:1308.1, with a 30-day filing window before that date. The fee is $30 by mail, $35 online. Under La. R.S. 12:1308.2(A), the Secretary of State revokes the Articles of Organization of a domestic LLC that misses three consecutive years; reinstatement is possible within three years of revocation. Confirm the statute's notice and cure provisions directly before publishing this as a firm deadline; that detail could not be verified in this pass.
Louisiana LLCs keep pass-through treatment by default: the LDR LLC tax FAQ treats an LLC taxed as a partnership federally as a partnership for state income tax. The Louisiana franchise tax filing rules once applied to LLCs electing corporate taxation, but the LDR confirms the franchise tax is repealed for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, under Act 6 of the 2024 Third Extraordinary Session. Those LLCs still owe Louisiana corporate income tax at a flat 5.5% rate.
Once you hire, the Louisiana Workforce Commission requires unemployment insurance registration within 30 days of your first wage payment, and Louisiana workers' compensation law requires most employers to carry coverage or qualify to self-insure, with limited statutory exemptions. To change agents, file Form 983 with a $20 fee (the $25 figure often quoted is the corporation fee) and a notarized acceptance affidavit from the new agent.
Automate your Louisiana LLC formation filings with Discern
Discern's guided questionnaire, or your own uploaded documents, populates pre-filled Louisiana Articles of Organization that catch formatting errors before the state can reject them. Once the entity exists, Discern serves as its registered agent, creates the annual report ahead of the anniversary date with the correct fee, and shows real-time processing estimates and filing status in one dashboard.
Companies operating beyond Louisiana must manage registered agent coverage, annual reports, and foreign registrations in each applicable jurisdiction. Discern manages registered agent coverage, annual reports, and foreign registrations across all 51 jurisdictions from a single platform, so multi-state compliance stops being a jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction chore.
FAQs about forming an LLC in Louisiana
These are the questions founders ask most often about Louisiana LLC formation costs, timing, and requirements.
What is the cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?
The Articles of Organization currently cost $100 by mail or $105 online. A proposed fee increase, tracked in some sources as Act 921, could raise the online base fee to $125 later in 2026; confirm the current figure with the SOS before filing. Add $25 for a name reservation and $75 for a trade name. If you are a Louisiana citizen residing in the state, you can name yourself as the registered agent; a commercial agent adds its annual fee.
How long does formation take?
The SOS filing page reviewed does not state a standard processing timeline. To have your documents worked ahead of others received the same day, pay the expedite fee: $30 for 24-hour processing or $50 for priority service.
Is an operating agreement required?
No, but you'd be smart to have one. It is an internal contract that sets ownership and profit distribution, and nothing gets filed with the state. Banks, investors, and even solo owners rely on it to show who owns what.
Can I form an LLC in another state if I operate in Louisiana?
Yes, but under La. R.S. 12:1342 a foreign LLC cannot transact business in Louisiana until it obtains a certificate of authority, so you will need to register as a foreign LLC and pay both home-state and Louisiana fees. The Form 972 filing fee is $150, and you must attach a certificate of existence or good standing from your home state dated within 90 days.
Updated on
2026-09-14
