By StartBusinessByStatePublisher: Robert SmithResearch process
Make your Louisiana business official. Have your LLC paperwork prepared and filed so you can focus on getting your business off the ground.
- Your business name checked before filing.
- Your formation paperwork prepared and submitted.
- Your formation documents together in an online account.
$0 service fee + $125 state filing fee
Filing service by ZenBusiness. Choose Starter for the $0 service fee. State follow-up charges and optional services and renewals are separate.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Get the paperwork handled and your company underway
With ZenBusiness, you provide the details and its team handles the Louisiana formation filing. You get electronic documents and customer support by phone, chat and email.
Use your approved LLC records to open a company bank account, organize your ownership agreement and do business under the company name. The state-specific costs and next steps below help you plan what comes after approval.
What it costs to start a Louisiana LLC
A Louisiana LLC costs $125 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 $35, due on or before each anniversary of organization. These fees rose on October 1, 2026, from $100 for Articles and $30 for the annual report (Act 921 of 2026).
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.
| Expense | Before October 1, 2026 | From Oct 1, 2026 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (#365) + Initial Report (973) | $100 | $125 | Required formation package |
| Minimum formation total | $100 | $125 | Excludes expedite, supplemental Initial Report, optional purchases |
| Supplemental Initial Report (#366) | $25 | $30 | Only if first managers/members omitted at formation |
| Annual report | $30 | $35 | On/before anniversary of organization each year |
| Expedite (24-hour) | $30 | $35 | Optional |
| Priority expedite (2–4 hour) | $50 | $60 | Optional |
| Credit card convenience fee | $5 | $5 | Statutory; confirm at checkout |
Budget example: $125 to form plus $35 for the first anniversary annual report equals $160 in state charges, before expedite, parish licenses, insurance, or professional help. (Before October 1, 2026, the same two filings cost $100 + $30.)
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.
Choose the services you want with your filing
Starter’s base formation service does not renew. Registered-agent service, an EIN service, an operating agreement and faster preparation are optional purchases.
The preselected website-builder trial renews at $15/month after 30 days; you can remove it at checkout. Optional Worry-Free Compliance is free for the first year and renews at $199/year. Registered-agent service is listed separately at $199/year; first-year promotions may differ.
Review the services and renewal terms in your order. Provider details checked October 14, 2026 against ZenBusiness’s formation plans.
How to start your Louisiana LLC
Use your company details to get the formation paperwork prepared and submitted. Here is how the filing service works:
- Enter your business details. Choose Louisiana, your company name and the information requested for the filing.
- Review your services and order. Select Starter for the $0 base service fee. ZenBusiness prepares and submits the formation document from your answers.
- Save your approved company records. Once the filing office accepts the paperwork, use the documents to finish your banking and business setup.
Your Louisiana filing checklist and required next steps
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 ($30).
- File Articles + Initial Report. Prefer geauxBIZ (required online in listed parishes). Pay the $125 state fee plus any expedite or card fee.
- Confirm acceptance. Save the certificate/acknowledgment, check the Commercial Database, note your anniversary annual-report due date, and retain receipts.
Check your proposed name in the Louisiana business search.
How long does approval take?
geauxBIZ is the preferred path; optional expedite ($35 for 24-hour or $60 for priority handling) 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; state review follows the service’s preparation.
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.
Can I file directly with Louisiana?
Yes. You can prepare and submit the filing yourself through the Louisiana official LLC filing service. A formation service handles preparation and submission from the information you provide. The government charges and required follow-up steps above still apply.
Choose your Louisiana registered agent
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. Ask which address fields the agent service covers. Supply accurate information in every field.
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 $35 (it was $30 before 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? Louisiana’s first annual report is due on the first anniversary of formation, approximately one year later. Forming late in the calendar year does not by itself shorten that period. Choose the formation date around your operations and calendar the anniversary immediately.
Get your Louisiana LLC filing underway
Put the formation paperwork in ZenBusiness’s hands. Starter has a $0 service fee plus the applicable Louisiana charges detailed above.
Continue to ZenBusiness to enter your details and review your order. Optional services and renewal details.
We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no additional cost to you.
Put your approved LLC to work
- 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.Use the basic LLC operating agreement tool as a starting point.
- Get an EIN when needed. Form the entity first, then use the free IRS application if eligible. A paid EIN service handles the application for you. Save the confirmation for banking and tax records.
- Open your business bank account. 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.
- Complete taxes and operating approvals. 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 for the current rule.
Insurance guidance for your Louisiana business
Match coverage to your services, employees, equipment and client contracts. Start with the relevant guide:
Continue with the Louisiana business guide for the broader startup process.
Louisiana LLC questions before you start
What is the cheapest way to form a Louisiana LLC?
Articles of Organization (Form #365) cost $125 and must be filed with the Initial Report (Form 973); the $125 covers that formation package. You can file directly or use ZenBusiness Starter, which offers a $0 formation service fee plus the same $125 state fee. The Articles fee rose from $100 to $125 on October 1, 2026.
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 $35 (it was $30 before 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 $30 (it was $25 before October 1, 2026).
Does forming an LLC give me a Louisiana business license?
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.
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.
Page updated October 14, 2026. State-source review: October 12, 2026. ZenBusiness package terms checked October 14, 2026.