Step 1: Choose a name Louisiana will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “L.C.”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Louisiana Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Louisiana against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization (with Initial Report) names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Louisiana who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Louisiana companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization (with Initial Report)
File it with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The fee is $125. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: $35 within 24 hours, $60 while you wait. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Louisiana doesn't require one (La. R.S. 12:1301(A)(16)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Louisiana LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Louisiana has accepted the Articles of Organization (with Initial Report).
Step 6: File the Louisiana LLC annual report
Fee: $35 (effective October 1, 2026; previously $30). Due: Each year by the anniversary of formation (unconfirmed). (Source: Fee changes 2026 (PDF), static.sos.la.gov.)
| After formation | Louisiana |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $35 each year |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Louisiana certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Louisiana
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $125 |
| First year, state fees | $125 |
| Each year after | $35 |
Over five years, Louisiana's state fees come to $265. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Fee schedule effective October 1, 2026 (PDF), static.sos.la.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Forms fee schedule, sos.la.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Frequently asked questions, sos.la.gov, checked 2026-10-09
legis.la.gov, checked 2026-10-07
How to order, sos.la.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Louisiana
- Choose a name Louisiana will accept and check it against the Louisiana Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Louisiana.
- File the Articles of Organization (with Initial Report) with the Louisiana Secretary of State ($125).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?
$125 to file the Articles of Organization (with Initial Report). The state's fees come to $125 in the first year and $35 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Secretary of State doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: $35 within 24 hours, $60 while you wait.
Do I need an operating agreement in Louisiana?
Louisiana doesn't require one (La. R.S. 12:1301(A)(16)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Louisiana online?
Yes. The Louisiana Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization (with Initial Report) online, for $125.
When is the Louisiana LLC annual report due?
Each year by the anniversary of formation (unconfirmed).
Does Louisiana require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Louisiana's recurring filing: $35 each year.