Louisiana LLC Cost: $100 to File Articles (2026)

Fact-checked and updated September 14, 2026.

A Louisiana LLC currently costs $100 to file Articles of Organization (Form #365) with the Secretary of State Commercial Division, filed together with the mandatory Initial Report (Form 973). The annual report is $30, due on or before each anniversary of organization. Effective October 1, 2026, SOS fees rise to $125 for Articles and $35 for the annual report (Act 921 / official fee-changes PDF)—use the rate in force on your filing date. You can file through geauxBIZ or use ZenBusiness Starter for a $0 formation service fee plus the same current $100 state fee. Optional services cost extra.

This guide is for creating a new Louisiana LLC. If you already have an LLC formed in another state, check Louisiana’s foreign LLC registration requirements before creating a second company.

Louisiana LLC costs: required fees and optional extras

Start with the Louisiana SOS Forms & Fee Schedule and the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. These are government charges, separate from anything a formation company bills you.

Budget example (filings through September 30, 2026): $100 to form plus $30 for the first anniversary annual report equals $130 in those SOS charges—before expedite, parish licenses, insurance, or professional help. If you form on or after October 1, 2026, use $125 + $35 instead.

No Louisiana SOS franchise or minimum LLC tax was identified for typical pass-through LLCs; the recurring SOS cost is the anniversary annual report. LDR tax accounts may still apply based on your activity.

Should you file on geauxBIZ or use ZenBusiness?

Choose DIY if you are comfortable completing Form #365 and the Initial Report (including notarized agent acceptance), and calendaring the anniversary annual report. Choose a filing service if you prefer a guided questionnaire for the formation package. Either way, you make the decisions about ownership, addresses, and management. Certain parishes require online filing of available documents—check geauxBIZ notes.

ZenBusiness lists Starter at $0 without a base-plan renewal. Its optional first year of Worry-Free Compliance renews at $199/year; registered-agent service is listed at $199/year (intro pricing may show about $99 for the first year—confirm at checkout). EIN and operating-agreement services are separate Starter purchases. Check the current package terms and checkout selections.

A free introductory service can become a recurring expense. Before paying, review the initial total, renewal amounts, and cancellation terms. Keep a copy of your selections. A reminder is not confirmation that a required state filing was submitted, and the state filing fee remains separate.

Can you be your own Louisiana registered agent?

Yes. The agent needs a Louisiana municipal (physical) address—not a P.O. box only—and must sign an Affidavit of Acknowledgement and Acceptance before a notary on the Initial Report. SOS FAQ notes the agent can be an organizer, member, employee, attorney, accountant, or other adult Louisiana resident. The LLC must continuously maintain a registered office and agent. See SOS Business Filings FAQ.

Consider whether you can reliably receive legal documents at that Louisiana address. If your work keeps you on job sites across parishes, a commercial agent may be more practical. Compare delivery procedures and renewal costs before choosing.

Plan your address use before filing. SOS records are public. Registered-office and other required addresses are separate fields. Hiring an agent does not automatically privatize every address. Supply accurate information in every field.

How to file your Louisiana LLC: a practical checklist

1. Check the name. Search the Commercial Database and confirm the name contains “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.,” or “L.C.” Filing acceptance is not a trademark clearance.
2. Gather addresses, notarizations, and agent consent. Prepare the Initial Report: registered-office municipal address, registered agent(s) with notarized acceptance, and first managers or members if selected. Articles also require a notarized organizer acknowledgment.
3. Decide who manages the company. Choose member-managed or manager-managed. If you omit first managers/members now, plan for Supplemental Initial Report #366 later ($25 now / $30 from Oct 1, 2026).
4. File Articles + Initial Report. Prefer geauxBIZ (required online in listed parishes). Pay the current $100 (or $125 on/after Oct 1, 2026) plus any expedite or card fee.
5. Confirm acceptance. Save the certificate/acknowledgment, check the Commercial Database, note your anniversary annual-report due date, and retain receipts.

How long does approval take?

geauxBIZ is the preferred path; optional expedite ($30/$50 now; $35/$60 from Oct 1, 2026) can shorten handling when purchased. A service’s preparation time is separate from Louisiana’s review. ZenBusiness lists standard preparation at 7–10 business days before state processing; faster service preparation does not guarantee immediate state approval.

If a lease, financing, or opening date depends on the LLC, leave room for notarization issues and corrections. Completing an online questionnaire is not the moment the company is approved.

Louisiana LLC annual report: what happens after formation?

The annual report updates or confirms the state’s business record; it is not an income-tax return. Under R.S. 12:1308.1, file on or before the anniversary date of organization each year. The fee is $30 now and $35 effective October 1, 2026. The Commercial Database typically shows Print/File Annual Report about four weeks before the due date.

Continued nonfiling can lead to a Notice of Intent to Revoke, with cure windows on the notice (SOS FAQ cites 30 days domestic / 60 days foreign). Reinstatement after revocation costs significantly more than a timely annual report—do not plan around the final cutoff.

Example: an LLC organized March 15, 2026 should calendar its first annual report for on or before March 15, 2027 (confirm the exact due date on the Commercial Database after filing). Set reminders, verify the contact email, and save the confirmation. If you buy compliance assistance, check that the report was actually submitted.

Starting near year-end? Anniversary timing means a late-year formation can put the first annual report only months later. Choose the formation date around real operations, then calendar the anniversary immediately—and remember the October 1, 2026 fee change if your report is filed on or after that date.

After filing: get the business ready to operate

• Document how the LLC works. An operating agreement can set ownership, contributions, decision-making, distributions, and exit arrangements. Louisiana’s filing office generally does not require you to file the agreement with the formation paperwork—keep it with your company records. For multiple owners, resolve disagreements before money or contracts are committed.
• Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. An EIN service fee pays someone to assist; it is not an IRS charge. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
• Separate business finances. Ask the bank for its document checklist and establish a bookkeeping process. Use the correct legal business name on applications and contracts; keep any trade-name registrations consistent.
• Check taxes and operating permissions. LLC formation does not itself select S-corporation taxation or issue a professional license. The IRS explains LLC tax classifications. Identify the state and local requirements for your actual work before opening.
• Check the current BOI rule. As of this review, FinCEN exempts entities created in the United States from beneficial-ownership reporting. A newly created domestic LLC generally falls within that exemption. Consult FinCEN directly before buying a BOI filing add-on.

For a simple one-owner operation, organize these tasks into a short checklist. Where ownership, investors, or tax elections are complicated, formation paperwork alone will not resolve those decisions.

Match insurance to the work your LLC performs

Entity formation and insurance solve different problems. Ask the insurer to identify the correct business and operations; ask clients or landlords what coverage and certificate of insurance they require. Use the relevant guide to compare coverage:

• Louisiana cleaning business insurance
• Louisiana food truck insurance
• Louisiana HVAC insurance
• Louisiana landscaping insurance
• Louisiana daycare insurance

Continue with the Louisiana business guide for the broader startup process.

Louisiana LLC questions before you file

What is the cheapest way to form a Louisiana LLC?

Articles of Organization (Form #365) currently cost $100 and must be filed with the Initial Report (Form 973); the $100 covers that formation package. Filing directly avoids a third-party preparation charge; ZenBusiness Starter also advertises a $0 formation service fee plus the same $100 state fee. Effective October 1, 2026, the Articles fee rises to $125—confirm which schedule applies on your filing date.

When is the Louisiana annual report due?

On or before the anniversary date of organization each year (R.S. 12:1308.1). The fee is $30 now and rises to $35 effective October 1, 2026. Continued nonfiling can lead to a notice of intent to revoke; check your Commercial Database due date after formation.

Do I need an Initial Report when I form a Louisiana LLC?

Yes. Articles cannot be accepted without the domestic LLC Initial Report (registered office, registered agent with notarized acceptance, and first managers/members if selected). If managers/members were omitted, a Supplemental Initial Report (#366) costs $25 now ($30 from October 1, 2026).

Does forming an LLC give me a Louisiana business license?

No. Formation creates the entity with the Secretary of State. Parish/local licenses, LDR tax accounts, industry permits, and insurance requirements are separate steps before you open.

Can I get an EIN without buying a service?

Yes. The IRS issues EINs free. Form the LLC first, then check eligibility for the IRS online application or use its alternative application instructions.