How to Form an LLC in Louisiana (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Louisiana · Last updated 2026-08-06
A limited liability company (LLC) is a business structure that legally separates the company from the people who own it, so the owners are generally not personally responsible for the company's debts. Forming one in Louisiana means filing a formation document with a state agency and paying its fee to bring the company into legal existence. In Louisiana you create an LLC by filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division, and paying a $100 filing fee, most often through the state's geauxBIZ online portal. Two features make Louisiana straightforward compared with the higher-cost states. First, Louisiana charges no franchise or annual tax on an LLC that is taxed as a pass-through entity, so there is no yearly minimum tax simply for existing. Second, the only recurring state filing is an annual report, due each year around the anniversary of formation, for a low $30 fee. Louisiana LLCs are governed by the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law in Title 12 of the Revised Statutes, sections 1301 and following. This guide explains what an LLC is, the exact Louisiana steps and fees, and the deadlines that keep the company in good standing.
Find out where you stand in Louisiana
Where are you in forming your LLC?
DocDraft provides document preparation, not legal advice.
How do you form an LLC in Louisiana?
File the Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, and pay the $100 filing fee, usually through the geauxBIZ online portal. You must name a Louisiana registered agent with a state street address to accept legal papers. Online filings are typically processed in one to two business days.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
The core cost is the $100 fee to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, paid once. After that, a Louisiana LLC files an annual report each year for a $30 fee. Louisiana charges no franchise or annual tax on an LLC taxed as a pass-through entity, so there is no yearly minimum tax.
Does a Louisiana LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Every Louisiana LLC must file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, generally on or before the anniversary of the date the LLC was formed. The fee is $30. The report confirms the LLC's registered agent, registered office, and management information, and it keeps the company in good standing.
Does Louisiana require newspaper publication to form an LLC?
No. Louisiana does not require an LLC to publish notice of its formation in a newspaper. This is unlike New York, Arizona, and Nebraska, where publication is a condition of forming or operating. In Louisiana the Articles of Organization filing and the yearly annual report are handled entirely through the Secretary of State.
Louisiana LLC formation at a glance
You form a Louisiana LLC by filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division, for a $100 filing fee, most often submitted online through the state's geauxBIZ portal. What sets Louisiana apart is how light the ongoing state cost is. Louisiana charges no franchise or annual tax on an LLC that is taxed as a pass-through entity, so there is no yearly minimum tax simply for keeping the company alive. The only recurring state filing is an annual report, due each year around the anniversary of formation, for a low $30 fee. Every Louisiana LLC must name and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address to receive lawsuits and official notices. Louisiana does not require newspaper publication, so the LLC is complete once the Secretary of State files the Articles of Organization. Louisiana is also the country's only civil-law state, but its LLC rules are set by statute, the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law in Title 12 of the Revised Statutes, sections 1301 and following, the same way other states handle LLCs. Optional costs include a $25 name reservation while you prepare paperwork and a commercial registered agent service if you do not serve yourself.
Forming a two-owner Louisiana LLC, step by step
Suppose two friends in New Orleans want to open a small catering business as an LLC. First they search the Louisiana Secretary of State's business database to confirm their name is available and includes a designator such as LLC or Limited Liability Company, and they can reserve the name for a $25 fee while they prepare paperwork. Next they appoint a registered agent: one owner lives in Louisiana and agrees to serve, using a Louisiana street address, not a P.O. box, where legal papers can be delivered during business hours. They then file the Articles of Organization through the geauxBIZ portal and pay the $100 filing fee. The LLC legally exists once the Secretary of State files it, usually within one to two business days for an online filing. Because they have two members, they also write an operating agreement setting each owner's percentage and how profits split, even though Louisiana does not require them to file it with the state. They apply to the IRS for a free EIN so the partnership can file taxes and open a bank account. Finally they calendar the $30 annual report, due each year around the anniversary of formation, so the LLC stays in good standing. Because the LLC is taxed as a pass-through partnership, it owes no Louisiana franchise or annual tax, so there is no yearly minimum tax to budget for.
Relevant Laws
Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law (La. R.S. 12:1301 et seq.)
This is the statute that governs the formation, management, and dissolution of every Louisiana LLC. It defines who may form an LLC, the required contents of the Articles of Organization, the registered agent requirement, and the default rules for member-managed and manager-managed companies. It is found in Title 12 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, Chapter 22.
La. R.S. 12:1304 (Articles of Organization)
Requires an LLC to be formed by delivering Articles of Organization to the Louisiana Secretary of State for filing. The articles state the LLC's name, its purpose, and, if the LLC will be manager-managed, that fact. The Secretary of State files the document and the LLC then legally exists. The filing fee is $100.
La. R.S. 12:1308 (Registered agent and registered office)
Requires every Louisiana LLC to designate and continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Louisiana. The agent, an individual resident of the state or an authorized business, receives lawsuits and official notices for the company. The agent's Louisiana street address appears on the Articles of Organization and the annual report.
La. R.S. 12:1308.1 (Annual report)
Requires a Louisiana LLC to file an annual report with the Secretary of State each year to keep its registered agent, registered office, and management information current. The report is generally due on or before the anniversary of the LLC's formation, and the filing fee is $30. Failing to file can lead the Secretary of State to revoke the LLC's authority to do business.
IRS federal tax classification (default pass-through)
The IRS does not tax the LLC as a separate category. By default a single-member Louisiana LLC is disregarded and taxed like a sole proprietorship, and a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership, with income passing through to the owners. An LLC may instead elect S corporation or C corporation treatment. An LLC that elects corporate treatment can pick up Louisiana taxes that a pass-through LLC does not owe.
Regional Variances
How forming an LLC in Louisiana differs from other states
No franchise or annual tax on a pass-through LLC
This is the headline difference. A Louisiana LLC that is taxed as a pass-through entity owes no franchise or annual state tax simply for existing. States like California charge an $800 minimum franchise tax every year regardless of income, and Delaware charges a $400 annual LLC tax. In Louisiana the ongoing state cost is essentially just the $30 annual report.
A low $30 annual report, filed every year
Louisiana requires an annual report each year, generally by the anniversary of formation, for a $30 fee. That is far lower than states such as Maryland, which charges $300 a year, or Massachusetts at $500. The main way to fall out of good standing in Louisiana is forgetting the yearly filing, not a large tax bill.
No newspaper publication requirement
Louisiana does not require you to publish notice of formation in a newspaper. New York, Arizona, and Nebraska do, which adds cost and a deadline. A Louisiana LLC is complete once the Secretary of State files the Articles of Organization, with no separate publication step.
Filing office and the geauxBIZ portal
Louisiana uses the Articles of Organization, filed with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division, most often through the state's geauxBIZ online portal. Some states call the document a Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Organization, and some route filings through a Division of Corporations or a separate business agency rather than the Secretary of State.
A civil-law state with statutory LLC rules
Louisiana is the only U.S. state built on civil law rather than common law, which shapes areas like property and contracts. Its LLC rules, though, are set by the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law in Title 12, so forming and running an LLC follows the same statute-driven pattern as other states rather than case law.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Confirm your LLC name is available and compliant
Before filing days after startingSearch the Louisiana Secretary of State's business database to confirm your desired name is not already in use and that it includes a required designator such as LLC or Limited Liability Company. Avoid restricted words that need special approval. You can reserve an available name with the Secretary of State for a $25 fee while you prepare your Articles of Organization.
Appoint a Louisiana registered agent
Before filing days after startingLouisiana requires a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address who is available during business hours to accept legal documents. Decide whether you, a co-owner who lives in Louisiana, or a commercial registered agent service will serve. You will name the agent on the Articles of Organization, so settle this first.
File the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State
To create the LLC days after startingFile the Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, most often through the geauxBIZ online portal, and pay the $100 filing fee. The LLC legally exists only once the Secretary of State files it. Keep the filed confirmation as proof of formation.
Adopt an operating agreement
At or soon after formation days after startingPut the ownership percentages, profit split, management structure, and exit rules in writing. Louisiana's LLC law lets members set their own rules through an operating agreement, but you do not file it with the state. It governs how the LLC runs and overrides the statute's default rules. Attorney review of the agreement is available as an option through DocDraft.
Get a federal EIN from the IRS
Before opening a bank account or hiring days after startingApply for an Employer Identification Number free on the IRS website. Multi-member LLCs, LLCs with employees, and LLCs electing corporate tax treatment need one. Single-member LLCs with no employees usually get one anyway to open a business bank account and keep business and personal finances separate.
File the annual report each year
By the anniversary of formation, every year days after startingFile the annual report with the Secretary of State each year, generally on or before the anniversary of the date your LLC was formed. The fee is $30. It confirms the LLC's registered agent, registered office, and management information. Missing it can lead the Secretary of State to revoke the LLC's authority to do business, so calendar the deadline.
Confirm your Louisiana tax obligations
Before you start operating days after startingA Louisiana LLC taxed as a pass-through entity owes no state franchise or annual tax, but you may still need to register for state sales tax, withholding, or industry-specific taxes with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. If your LLC elects corporate tax treatment, confirm which Louisiana corporate taxes apply so nothing is missed.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm your LLC name is available and compliant | Search the Louisiana Secretary of State's business database to confirm your desired name is not already in use and that it includes a required designator such as LLC or Limited Liability Company. Avoid restricted words that need special approval. You can reserve an available name with the Secretary of State for a $25 fee while you prepare your Articles of Organization. | - | Before filing |
| Appoint a Louisiana registered agent | Louisiana requires a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address who is available during business hours to accept legal documents. Decide whether you, a co-owner who lives in Louisiana, or a commercial registered agent service will serve. You will name the agent on the Articles of Organization, so settle this first. | - | Before filing |
| File the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State | File the Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, most often through the geauxBIZ online portal, and pay the $100 filing fee. The LLC legally exists only once the Secretary of State files it. Keep the filed confirmation as proof of formation. | - | To create the LLC |
| Adopt an operating agreement | Put the ownership percentages, profit split, management structure, and exit rules in writing. Louisiana's LLC law lets members set their own rules through an operating agreement, but you do not file it with the state. It governs how the LLC runs and overrides the statute's default rules. Attorney review of the agreement is available as an option through DocDraft. | llc-operating-agreement | At or soon after formation |
| Get a federal EIN from the IRS | Apply for an Employer Identification Number free on the IRS website. Multi-member LLCs, LLCs with employees, and LLCs electing corporate tax treatment need one. Single-member LLCs with no employees usually get one anyway to open a business bank account and keep business and personal finances separate. | - | Before opening a bank account or hiring |
| File the annual report each year | File the annual report with the Secretary of State each year, generally on or before the anniversary of the date your LLC was formed. The fee is $30. It confirms the LLC's registered agent, registered office, and management information. Missing it can lead the Secretary of State to revoke the LLC's authority to do business, so calendar the deadline. | - | By the anniversary of formation, every year |
| Confirm your Louisiana tax obligations | A Louisiana LLC taxed as a pass-through entity owes no state franchise or annual tax, but you may still need to register for state sales tax, withholding, or industry-specific taxes with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. If your LLC elects corporate tax treatment, confirm which Louisiana corporate taxes apply so nothing is missed. | - | Before you start operating |
Frequently Asked Questions
An LLC, or limited liability company, is a business structure that separates the company from its owners as a matter of law. The owners, called members, are generally not personally liable for the company's debts or lawsuits, so a creditor usually cannot reach a member's home or personal savings for a business obligation. In Louisiana, LLCs are created under the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law in Title 12 of the Revised Statutes, sections 1301 and following. It combines that liability protection with pass-through taxation and lighter paperwork than a corporation.
You start a Louisiana LLC by filing the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division, and paying a $100 filing fee. Most filers submit it online through the state's geauxBIZ portal, though mail filing is allowed. The document lists the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office, and whether it is member-managed or manager-managed. The company legally exists once the Secretary of State files it, not when you hit submit.
No. A Louisiana LLC taxed as a pass-through entity owes no state franchise or annual tax simply for existing, so there is no yearly minimum tax like California's $800 charge or Delaware's $400 LLC tax. The main recurring state cost is the $30 annual report. If your LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation, it can pick up Louisiana corporate taxes, so confirm your treatment with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Every Louisiana LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State each year, generally on or before the anniversary of the date the LLC was formed. The fee is $30. The report confirms your registered agent, registered office, and management information. Missing it can lead the Secretary of State to revoke the LLC's authority to do business, so calendar the anniversary date when you form the company.
Yes. If you are not ready to file the Articles of Organization, you can reserve an available name with the Louisiana Secretary of State for a $25 fee while you prepare your paperwork. First search the Secretary of State's geauxBIZ business database to confirm the name is not already taken and that it includes a required designator such as LLC or Limited Liability Company. Avoid restricted words that need special approval.
Louisiana law requires every LLC to name and continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address, not a P.O. box, available during business hours to accept lawsuits and official state mail. You can serve as your own agent, name a co-owner who lives in Louisiana, or hire a commercial registered agent service. You list the agent on both the Articles of Organization and the yearly annual report.
No. Louisiana is the only U.S. state built on civil law rather than common law, which shapes areas like property and contracts. Its LLC rules, though, are set by statute in the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, Title 12, so forming and running an LLC follows the same statute-driven pattern as other states. You can form one yourself, and attorney review is available as an option through DocDraft if you want a licensed attorney to check your paperwork.
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