Starting an LLC in Louisiana
The great state of Louisiana is located on the southeast coast of the U.S. and borders Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. It’s a combination of unusual geography, a rich and vibrant culture and a growing economy, making it a very business-friendly state. It has the largest bulk cargo port in the world and is a center of tourism, agriculture and energy.
If you want to start your own business in Louisiana, one of the best ways to do so is by forming a Louisiana LLC. Limited liability companies (LLCs) are a business entity designed for startups and small- and medium-sized businesses. Louisiana LLCs give you many of the protections and advantages of larger corporations without all the rules, regulations and compliance issues common to larger business entities.
Briefly, the benefits of starting a Louisiana LLC include:
- Separating and limiting your personal liability from your business liability and debts
- Quick and simple filing, management, compliance, regulation and administration of your Louisiana LLC
- Easy tax filing and potential advantages for your tax treatment
Learn more about the benefits of the LLC business structure here.
Form an Louisiana LLC in Six Quick Steps
We’ve got lots of useful information on starting a business in LA. On this page you’ll find the basic steps for forming an LLC in Louisiana, with more in-depth content throughout the rest of our guide.
First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.
You will need a distinctive and original name for your Louisiana LLC that’s not used by any other business in LA. To find out if another company is using your chosen business name,
carry out a Louisiana business entity name search on the LA Secretary of State website.
There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to searching for and naming your Louisiana LLC.
Learn about Louisiana LLC business naming rules.
Every Louisiana LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address can be outside the state of Louisiana, but it cannot be a P.O. Box.
Every LA LLC must have a “Registered Agent.” This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your LA Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Louisiana and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.
At Incfile, all of our packages include a Louisiana Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.
Learn more about California Agents for Service of Process.
You will need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or Incfile can get one for you as part of the Louisiana LLC business formation process.
Once you've gathered all the information for your LLC, you’re ready for your official State of Louisiana LLC filing. You’ll need to file a formal document with the LA Secretary of State. This document is known as your “Articles of Organization,” and filing the document creates your Louisiana LLC. Here’s what is typically included:
- Your business name and address
- Details of your Registered Agent
- Purpose of your business
- Name of the incorporator
You can file your Louisiana LLC Articles of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in Louisiana. You only need to file your Articles of Organization once.
Form your LLC now.
Review Information from the Louisiana Secretary of State
The LA Secretary of State has plenty of information on forming and running a business in Louisiana. These are all the basic steps for forming an LLC in Louisiana. You’ll find other useful information below.
Special Types of Louisiana LLCs
A regular Louisiana LLC is suitable for most business needs, but you also have a few other options to incorporate a special type of LLC.
Some states, including Louisiana, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of businesses typically have special requirements and licensing.
Here are the occupations that the LA Secretary of State allows to form professional LLCs:
- Architects
- Accountants
- Chiropractors
- Corporate social workers
- Dentists
- Lawyers
- Medicine workers
- Nursers
- Occupational therapists
- Optometrists
- Psychologists
- Veterinarians
If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Louisiana, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.
More information on Louisiana filing and licensing requirements here.
What to Do After Filing Your Louisiana LLC
Want to know your next steps after creating a new LLC in Louisiana? We’ve got you covered. Here’s our guide to understanding your ongoing requirements, setting up new bank accounts, protecting your business name, getting accounting in place and more.
Detailed Information for Your Louisiana LLC
You’ll find plenty more insight and guidance on the other pages of this guide, including:
Naming Your Louisiana LLC
How to search the Louisiana business registry of the LA Secretary of State and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, fictitious names, reserving a Louisiana LLC name and more.
Louisiana Registered Agents for LLCs
How to appoint a Louisiana Registered Agent to your new LLC or change to a different Registered Agent. Includes information on Registered Agent rules and searching for Louisiana Registered Agents.
Fees and Requirements for Louisiana LLCs
How to understand the various fees you’ll need to pay and the requirements you’ll need to meet for both federal and Louisiana rules. Includes details of Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), Louisiana and federal business licenses, Louisiana annual reports and more.
Federal, State, Sales and Other Taxes for Your Louisiana LLC
How to understand the various taxes you will need to pay to the federal and Louisiana government. Includes details of federal taxes like income and self-employment, and Louisiana taxes like sales tax and income tax.
