The Louisiana Secretary of State’s free Search for Louisiana Business Filings lets you look up corporations, LLCs, partnerships, trade names and name reservations in one place. To check availability, search the name without its ending (no “L.L.C.” or “Inc.”) and review what comes back.
Fees changed on October 1, 2026 under Act 921: a name reservation is $25 and lasts 120 days, Articles of Organization for an LLC are now $125, and a state trade name registration is $95. A DBA in the everyday sense, though, is filed with your parish Clerk of Court, not the Secretary of State.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Louisiana (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Louisiana are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | LA Registered Agent.org | Louisiana registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Louisiana Registered Agent.co | Louisiana registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Louisiana. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. LA Registered Agent.org
LA Registered Agent.org is a Louisiana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Louisiana Registered Agent.co
Louisiana Registered Agent.co is a Louisiana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Louisiana name search at a glance
| Topic | Louisiana (fees effective October 1, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division |
| Search tool | Search for Louisiana Business Filings (free) |
| Name reservation | $25; 120 days; transfer or cancellation $25 |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $125 |
| Articles of Incorporation | $95 |
| State trade name / trademark registration | $95 |
| Annual report (LLC or corporation) | $35 |
| Card payments | Additional $5 statutory convenience fee |
| DBA filings | Parish Clerk of Court |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. Mainstay Filing’s Louisiana LLC cost guide shows the full startup budget.
How to search Louisiana business filings
The search covers the Commercial Division’s database. It’s protected by reCAPTCHA, so expect a quick check before results load.
Choose the right search type
- Entity Name: the one to use for an availability check.
- Charter Number, Trade Registration Number or Name Reservation Number: for looking up a specific filing.
- Officer Name or Agent Name: for researching who is behind a business.
Search the name without the ending
The Secretary of State’s FAQ recommends typing the name without the corporate ending, such as L.L.C. or Inc. For “Bayou Lantern Supply, L.L.C.,” search “Bayou Lantern” and review every similar result.
Remember trade names and reservations count
Results include registered trade names and name reservations as well as entities. The FAQ notes that trade names can conflict with LLC and corporate names, so treat a registered trade name match as a likely problem.
Check revoked companies
A name tied to a revoked domestic or foreign corporation or company stays unavailable for three years after the revocation date, according to the FAQ.
These are preliminary searches. The Commercial Division runs a more thorough check when you submit documents, and you can also call the office for a preliminary name search.
Louisiana name rules
- LLC ending: a Louisiana LLC name should include “limited liability company” or an abbreviation such as “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Corporate ending: a corporation needs “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable from entities, reservations and trade names on the Secretary of State’s records.
- Three-year rule: names of revoked corporations and companies are blocked for three years after revocation.
- Regulated words: names suggesting banking, insurance or a licensed profession may need regulatory approval.
Short on options? Namechk’s business name generator can suggest names to run through the Louisiana search.
How to reserve a business name in Louisiana
According to the Secretary of State’s business filings page and FAQ, a reservation holds a corporation, LLC, L3C or partnership name for 120 days.
- Fee: $25 per name (form #398). Trade names, trademarks and service marks have their own reservation (form #396), also $25, filed under a class number.
- How to file: by fax or mail with a check or money order, or online through geauxBIZ.
- Transfer or cancel: $25 each under the October 2026 fee schedule.
The FAQ is candid that you only need a reservation if you expect a long delay before filing or worry that someone will file the same name first. Filing your Articles, or a trade name registration, makes the name unavailable to others.
Check federal trademarks, domains and social handles
Louisiana’s database includes state trademarks, but federal registrations are separate. Search the USPTO trademark database to make sure your name won’t collide with a national brand.
Then check online availability. Namechk searches domains and social media handles at once, and the domain name generator helps when the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
DBAs and trade names in Louisiana
Louisiana has two different filings that people call a “DBA,” and they go to different offices.
DBA (assumed name): parish Clerk of Court
The Secretary of State’s FAQ states plainly that DBAs are not filed with the Secretary of State. They’re filed at the parish level with the local Clerk of Court’s office, and questions should go to your parish Clerk of Court. Fees, forms and any publication rules vary by parish, so call ahead.
Trade name registration: Secretary of State
- What it is: a registration under the Louisiana Trade and Commerce Law for a word, name, symbol or device used to identify a business.
- Who can apply: individuals, corporations, LLCs and partnerships.
- Fee: $95 (form #309) as of October 1, 2026; assignment and cancellation also $95.
- Logos: if a logo is attached, include a description of it.
Which one matters for you? If you’re a sole proprietor trading under a brand, the parish DBA filing is the local record your bank will usually ask about. If you’re an LLC or corporation with a brand you want on the state’s public record, the Secretary of State trade name registration adds that, and it also shows up in the statewide business filings search other founders use.
Many owners file both: the parish DBA to satisfy local requirements and banks, and the state trade name registration for broader public notice of their claim to the name.
After the search: forming a Louisiana business
With a clear name, the Secretary of State’s Start a Business page and our Louisiana LLC guide cover the next steps:
- File Articles of Organization ($125) through geauxBIZ, along with the initial report.
- Appoint a registered agent and include the agent’s affidavit. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Louisiana registered agent guide covers the rules.
- Get an EIN and register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue as needed.
- File the annual report ($35) each year. Our Louisiana start-a-business guide covers parish and city licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Louisiana?
Use the Louisiana Secretary of State’s free Search for Louisiana Business Filings. Choose Entity Name and type the name without the corporate ending, such as L.L.C. or Inc. Results include entities, registered trade names and name reservations. The Secretary of State calls these preliminary searches and checks again when you file.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Louisiana?
A Louisiana name reservation costs $25 and holds a corporation, LLC, L3C or partnership name for 120 days. Transfers and cancellations are also $25 under the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. Card payments carry an extra $5 statutory convenience fee. Filing your Articles makes the name unavailable to others.
Where do I file a DBA in Louisiana?
DBAs are filed with the Clerk of Court in your parish, not with the Secretary of State, according to the Secretary of State’s FAQ. Separately, the Secretary of State registers trade names, trademarks and service marks under the Louisiana Trade and Commerce Law, for $95 as of October 1, 2026.
What did Louisiana’s October 2026 fee change do?
Under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session, Louisiana raised Commercial Division fees on October 1, 2026. LLC Articles of Organization now cost $125, Articles of Incorporation $95, trade name and trademark registration $95, and annual reports $35. Name reservations remain $25. Check the posted fee schedule before filing.
Can I use the name of a revoked Louisiana company?
Not for three years. According to the Louisiana Secretary of State, a name tied to a revoked domestic or foreign corporation or company is unavailable for three years after the revocation date. After that, the name may be available, subject to the usual review when you file.
Do I need to reserve my name before forming a Louisiana LLC?
No. The Secretary of State says a reservation is only needed if you expect a long delay before filing or are worried someone will file the same name first. Filing your Articles of Organization ($125) or a trade name registration makes the name unavailable to others once accepted.
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