How to form an LLC in Louisiana

Who should form an LLC in Louisiana?

Anyone who lives in Louisiana or runs their business from there. If you form in another state but operate in Louisiana, you will usually have to register there as a foreign LLC anyway, paying both states' fees. See home state or another state.

How do you form an LLC in Louisiana, step by step?

1. Choose and check the name

   Search the state's business records and include "LLC", "L.L.C." or "Limited Liability Company" in the name.

2. Appoint a registered agent

   A person or company with a physical street address in Louisiana. See what a registered agent is.

3. File the Articles of Organization and Initial Report

   Online through geauxBIZ, which may ask for the LLC's EIN, or by mail. The Articles of Organization and the Initial Report are filed together for one fee, $125 from October 1, 2026. The Initial Report lists the registered agent, who must accept the appointment, and the members or managers.

4. Get an EIN and sign an operating agreement

   The EIN is free from the IRS. See LLC operating agreement.

5. Register for state taxes

   Sales tax and payroll as needed. Then note the first yearly filing date.

What does Louisiana require every year?

An annual report each year, due on or before the anniversary of the LLC's formation, starting on the first anniversary. The fee is $35 from October 1, 2026, up from $30, with a small charge for card payments online. Louisiana can revoke the articles of an LLC that misses three consecutive annual reports, and reinstatement involves its own fee.

For deadlines, fees and late penalties in detail, see Louisiana LLC yearly filings.

What changed on October 1, 2026?

Louisiana's Act 921 of 2026 raised a range of Secretary of State fees from October 1, 2026, including the LLC formation package, from $100 to $125, the annual report, from $30 to $35, and the supplemental Initial Report used to add members or managers later. Filings submitted from that date pay the new amounts.

What do the first two years cost?

Should you file it yourself or use a formation service?

Filing yourself costs only the state fee, and the Louisiana filing is short enough for most owners to complete. A formation service saves time, can act as your registered agent and may send reminders for yearly filings, but compare total yearly costs: low headline prices are often paired with paid add-ons such as expedited filing, operating agreements or EIN applications, which you can do yourself free. Whichever you choose, keep the approved filing, the EIN letter and your operating agreement together. See how much an LLC costs.

Can a non-resident form an LLC in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana has no residency or citizenship requirement for an LLC's members or managers. You need a registered agent with a Louisiana street address and an EIN; a foreign owner without a Social Security number applies for the EIN on Form SS-4. A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with no US income. See can a non-resident own a US LLC and annual filings for foreign-owned LLCs.

What happens if you miss a required report?

The state usually charges a late fee and marks the LLC as not in good standing, which can block a certificate of good standing, a bank account or a loan. If the filing stays overdue, the state can administratively dissolve the LLC, ending its liability protection and its claim to the name. Reinstatement means filing every missing report and paying the fees owed, so put the dates in your calendar. See reinstating a dissolved LLC.

Which Louisiana taxes apply to an LLC?

Louisiana moved to a flat individual income tax in 2025, paid by owners on their share of profit. Sales tax is collected at the state rate plus parish rates, with some parishes administering their own; register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods. Louisiana's corporate franchise tax was repealed from 2026, though it never applied to most LLCs.

If you sell online, see Louisiana sales tax for online sellers.

Federally, a Louisiana LLC is taxed like any other LLC. See how LLCs are taxed. For a side-by-side view of state costs, see how much an LLC costs.

This guide is general information. It is not tax or legal advice for your situation.