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How to form an LLC in Louisiana

File an Articles of Organization and Initial Report with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. State filing fee $125.

Start my Louisiana LLC → Search names on the state site ↗

Due to form

$125

State filing fee

How to file

Online or by mail

Standard: several business days; expedited within 24 hours; priority processed while you wait.

Keeping it active

Annual Report

Each year by the anniversary date of formation. · $35

The steps in Louisiana

  1. 1

    Choose a name

    It must be distinguishable from other businesses on file and end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.”, “L.C.”, “LLC”, “LC”. Low-profit LLCs allowed. Name reservation $25. You can reserve a name first for $25 (optional).

  2. 2

    Appoint a registered agent

    Louisiana registered office with municipal (street) address, not just a PO box; agent's full name and municipal address (La. R.S. 12:1305(E)). The agent must agree to serve — LLCPros prepares a consent for them to sign.

  3. 3

    File the Articles of Organization and Initial Report

    File with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division (form 365). You can file online or by mail. Fee: $125.

  4. 4

    File the Initial Report

    Filed together with the Articles of Organization

  5. 5

    Sign an operating agreement

    Not filed with the state, and not required by Louisiana law, but banks and partners often ask for one. LLCPros prepares one from your answers.

  6. 6

    Get an EIN and keep up with reports

    Get a free Employer Identification Number from the IRS, open a business bank account, then file the Annual Report (each year by the anniversary date of formation.).

Fees

Filing fee — Articles of Organization and Initial Report$125
Optional: 24-hour expedite+$35
Optional: Priority while-you-wait expedite+$60
Optional: name reservation$25
Later: Annual Report$35

Fees effective 10/1/2026 (Act 921 of 2026); previously $100. $5 credit card convenience fee; $25 returned check fee.

State taxes to know about

LLCs taxed as partnerships/disregarded pay no entity franchise tax; LLCs electing corporate status are subject to corporate income tax (corporate franchise tax repeal effective 2026 per 2024 legislation).

Questions about Louisiana LLCs

›How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?

The Louisiana filing fee for the Articles of Organization and Initial Report is $125. Optional expedited processing costs more.

›What document forms an LLC in Louisiana?

You file an Articles of Organization and Initial Report (form 365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division.

›Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes. Louisiana registered office with municipal (street) address, not just a PO box; agent's full name and municipal address (La. R.S. 12:1305(E)).

›Does a Louisiana LLC file an annual report?

Yes: the Annual Report, each year by the anniversary date of formation., fee $35.

Double-check with the state

We could not confirm these on an official Louisiana page when we last checked (November 12, 2026). Your filing plan lists them too.

  • Whether an initial report is due after forming, and when
  • When the annual (or biennial) report is due, and its fee
  • How long the state currently takes to process filings
  • Which name endings and words the state allows
  • The link to the state’s business name search
  • The mailing address for paper filings
  • The state tax rules that apply to LLCs
  • Exactly what the state’s form or online filing asks for
Self-help, not legal or tax advice. LLCPros is not a law firm, does not give legal or tax advice, and is not affiliated with any state or federal agency. We prepare documents from your answers and your state’s published rules; you file them and pay the state’s fees directly. Rules and fees change — check the official state links before filing, and talk to a lawyer or accountant about your situation.