To start a Louisiana LLC, file Articles of Organization together with an initial report naming your registered office and registered agent with the Louisiana Secretary of State, either online through geauxBIZ or on paper. The filing fee is $125 as of October 2026, after a fee increase that took effect October 1, 2026. You’ll also need an operating agreement, an EIN, state and parish tax registrations, and a $35 annual report each year.
If you’ve seen a $100 figure in older guides, that was the fee before Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. The new Commercial Division fee schedule applies to everything filed on or after October 1, 2026.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Louisiana (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance
| Item | Louisiana (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division |
| Online portal | geauxBIZ |
| Formation filing | Articles of Organization with initial report |
| Filing fee | $125 |
| Expedite | $35 for 24-hour processing; $60 for priority while-you-wait service |
| Card payments | Additional $5 statutory convenience fee |
| Name reservation | Optional; $25 |
| Annual report | $35 per year |
| Registered office and agent | Required |
| Publication | Not required |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s fee schedule effective October 1, 2026. To see these state fees next to service costs, use Mainstay Filing’s Louisiana LLC cost page.
Step 1: Pick a Louisiana LLC name
Use “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.” in the name, and pick something distinguishable from businesses already on file with the Secretary of State.
The namechk business name generator is a quick way to build a shortlist. Check each option in the Secretary of State’s commercial database search, and use our Louisiana business name search guide for tips on spotting conflicts.
Next:
Step 2: Line up a registered office and registered agent
Louisiana requires every LLC to keep a registered office in the state and at least one registered agent there. Both are listed in the initial report that’s filed with your Articles, and the agent must accept the appointment.
The agent can be you, another member, a trusted Louisiana resident, or a business that provides agent services. Whoever it is needs a physical Louisiana address and must be available during business hours to accept lawsuits and official mail. If you’d rather not handle that yourself, Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service for the first year in its formation package. Our Louisiana registered agent guide explains the requirements in more depth.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization and initial report
geauxBIZ is a joint website from several Louisiana agencies. It lets you reserve a name, form the LLC and register for state taxes in one session, so it’s the most efficient route for most owners. The Secretary of State also publishes paper forms on its forms and fee schedule page.
The Articles of Organization establish the LLC; the initial report supplies:
- The location of the registered office
- The name and address of each registered agent
- The names and addresses of the LLC’s managers, or its members if it has no managers
- The mailing address of the LLC
The fee is $125. Paying by card adds a $5 convenience fee. For faster handling, Louisiana charges $35 for processing within 24 hours and $60 for priority processing while you wait. If information in the initial report changes later, a supplemental initial report costs $30.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Louisiana doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement. That said, Louisiana’s LLC law fills gaps with default rules that may not match how you want to run things, so write your own. Cover ownership, capital contributions, management, voting, distributions, transfers and exits.
Single-member LLCs should sign one too. It’s evidence that the LLC is a separate business, which supports the liability protection you’re forming it for.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Louisiana and parish taxes
Get a free EIN from the IRS once the Secretary of State approves your filing. Banks and payroll systems need it.
Louisiana sales tax is collected at both the state and local level, and many parishes administer their own sales taxes. geauxBIZ handles registration with the Louisiana Department of Revenue and the Louisiana Workforce Commission for employers; check with your parish’s collector for local sales tax registration.
FinCEN’s beneficial ownership page confirms that U.S.-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the final rule effective August 2026, so there’s no federal BOI report to file.
Step 6: File your annual report every year
Every Louisiana LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State, and the fee is $35 under the October 2026 schedule. The report confirms or updates the LLC’s registered office, agents and managers or members.
The report is due on or before the anniversary of the date the LLC was organized, and geauxBIZ only accepts it during the 30 days before that date. Put the anniversary on your calendar after formation: an LLC that stops filing annual reports risks losing its good standing and eventually being revoked.
Step 7: Check occupational licenses and permits
Louisiana doesn’t have one general state business license. Parishes and municipalities commonly require an occupational license, and many professions need a state license. geauxBIZ and your parish government can tell you what applies before you open.
What does a Louisiana LLC cost after October 1, 2026?
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (LLC) | $125 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25 |
| 24-hour expedite (optional) | $35 |
| Priority while-you-wait (optional) | $60 |
| Card convenience fee | $5 |
| Supplemental initial report | $30 |
| Annual report | $35 per year |
The minimum to form is $125, or $130 when paying by card.
Louisiana LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?
Since October 1, 2026, the Louisiana Secretary of State charges $125 to file Articles of Organization for a domestic LLC, under the fee schedule adopted through Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session. Paying by card adds a $5 convenience fee. Each Louisiana LLC then files a $35 annual report every year.
Did Louisiana LLC fees go up in 2026?
Yes. Louisiana’s Commercial Division fees increased effective October 1, 2026, in accordance with Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. LLC Articles of Organization now cost $125, annual reports cost $35, and foreign LLC applications cost $185. Filings made before that date used the older fee schedule.
What is the Louisiana LLC initial report?
The initial report is filed with a Louisiana LLC’s Articles of Organization. It lists the registered office, the registered agent or agents, and the managers or members of the LLC. If any of that information changes later, the LLC files a supplemental initial report, which costs $30 under the October 2026 fee schedule.
How do I file a Louisiana LLC online?
Use geauxBIZ, a website created by several Louisiana government offices. It lets you reserve a business name, file the Articles of Organization and initial report, and register for state taxes in one place. The Secretary of State also accepts paper filings using the forms on its website.
How much is the Louisiana LLC annual report?
The Louisiana LLC annual report costs $35 under the Secretary of State’s fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, plus a $5 convenience fee when paying by card. It’s due on or before the anniversary of the LLC’s organization date, and geauxBIZ accepts it during the 30 days before that date. Filing on time keeps the LLC in good standing.
How do I register an out-of-state LLC in Louisiana?
An LLC formed in another state files an Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company with the Louisiana Secretary of State before doing business in Louisiana. Under the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, the fee is $185. Foreign LLCs also need a Louisiana registered agent and file a $35 annual report each year.
Can I expedite a Louisiana LLC filing?
Yes. The Louisiana Secretary of State charges $35 for expedited processing within 24 hours, with documents available for pickup or mail, and $60 for priority service processed while you wait. These fees are on top of the $125 Articles of Organization filing fee, as of October 2026.
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