Filed with
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Louisiana LLC
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "L.C.". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Louisiana register.
Search the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Louisiana LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Louisiana, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Louisiana operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Louisiana business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Louisiana requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Louisiana sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Louisiana LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Louisiana LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due on or before the anniversary date of the LLC's organization each year.
Worth knowing in Louisiana
- The Articles of Organization must be filed together with an LLC Initial Report (Form 973), which includes the registered agent's affidavit of acceptance.
- The paper Articles of Organization and Initial Report must be notarized.
- Businesses in certain parishes (including East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany) are required to file available business documents online through geauxBIZ.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division and pay the state fee, act as your Louisiana registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Louisiana?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Louisiana, and file a Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
Louisiana charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Louisiana LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Louisiana LLC have to file an annual report?
Louisiana LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due on or before the anniversary date of the LLC's organization each year.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Louisiana, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Louisiana?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Louisiana and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
