Start a Business by State › Louisiana
How to start an LLC in Louisiana: checklist (2026)
To start an LLC in Louisiana, file the Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company (365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State for $125, name a registered agent, get a free EIN and check your local licenses. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, does the filing, the agent, the EIN application and the report for $199 a year.
- Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
Louisiana checklist
- File the formation document. Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company (365), Louisiana Secretary of State, $125.
- Name a registered agent. Required. A Louisiana citizen who lives in the state, a law partnership or professional law corporation, or a corporation or LLC formed in Louisiana or authorized there. A new agent signs a notarized acceptance.
- Get an EIN. Free from the IRS online.
- Check licenses. We could not confirm a general-license statement from Louisiana’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.
- Keep it current. Annual Report, yearly: $35, due on or before the anniversary date of organization.
Mainstay Filing
$199 / year, same at renewal
- LLC formation, prepared and filed
- Registered agent, all year
- EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
- Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
- Compliance reminders and stored documents
Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?
The state filing fee is $125 for the Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company (365). The first Annual Report later costs $35.
Do I need a registered agent in Louisiana?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Do I need a business license in Louisiana?
We could not confirm a general-license statement from Louisiana’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.
Sources
- Louisiana Secretary of State fee changes effective October 1, 2026 (Act 921 of 2026): static.sos.la.gov/shared/fee_changes_2026.pdf, checked October 1, 2026
- Louisiana Secretary of State (multira state research spine): geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/, checked August 12, 2026
- Louisiana Secretary of State (multira state research spine): www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/FileBusinessDocuments/FileAnnualReport/Pages/default.aspx, checked August 12, 2026
- Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, official source read 2026-10-01: legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=76256, checked October 1, 2026
- Louisiana registered agent statute (La. R.S. 12:1308): www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=76255, checked October 20, 2026
- Louisiana Secretary of State: www.sos.la.gov/, checked October 20, 2026
- IRS: Get an employer identification number: www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/get-an-employer-identification-number, checked October 21, 2026