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 an LLC.
Louisiana Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are a business entity designed for startups and small- and medium-sized businesses. Forming an LLC is fast, easy and inexpensive. LLCs offer many of the protections and advantages of large corporations without all the rules, regulations and compliance issues common to larger business entities.
Let’s start by looking at the advantages of forming a Louisiana LLC.
Advantages of Forming an LLC in Louisiana
Louisiana LLCs have several benefits for business owners.
Start Your Louisiana LLC in Six Steps
STEP 1: Name Your Louisiana LLC
STEP 2: Provide the Address for Your New Louisiana LLC
A Louisiana LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), where your office is located or any physical address of your preference — although it must be located in Louisiana. It cannot be a P.O. Box.
STEP 3: Assign a Registered Agent for Your Louisiana LLC
Every Louisiana LLC must have a “Registered Agent.” That could be you, the managing director, owner or a dedicated Registered Agent service. The Registered Agent in Louisiana is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Louisiana Secretary of State.
At Incfile, all of our packages include a Registered Agent service, which is free for the first year and just $119 per year thereafter. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf. Here are a few reasons you might want to appoint Incfile as your Registered Agent service:
STEP 4: You Should Provide Names and Addresses of all Louisiana LLC Members
Your Louisiana LLC members are the people who own and run the business. They will be the individuals who withdraw profits from the business to pay themselves. Louisiana requires you to list the names and addresses of all managers or members when you register the Louisiana LLC. You can register these addresses as street addresses or P.O. Boxes.
STEP 5: You Need to File Articles of Organization With the Louisiana Secretary of State
Once you've gathered all the information together for your LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the Louisiana Secretary of State to create your LLC. This document is known as your Articles of Organization, and filing it starts the process of creating your Louisiana LLC. You can do this online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf.
STEP 6: You Can Create a Louisiana LLC Operating Agreement
Louisiana LLCs aren’t required to have an Operating Agreement, but they are extremely useful for several reasons. Your Operating Agreement covers how the business will be run, how managers and members are chosen, the rights and duties of members and several other key areas. Learn how to create your Operating Agreement here.
If you’re interested in having your Operating Agreement created for you, Incfile will draft a general Operating Agreement within most of our online business formation packages. It can also be selected as an add-on option in our Silver package. This Operating Agreement will be a basic template that you can make changes to anytime you see fit.
You can find lots more useful information on how to form an LLC here. It answers questions like:
Incfile provides a cost-effective service to help you create your LLC. We guide you through the process and handle most of the administrative steps on your behalf, such as filing the Articles of Organization. Our basic package also provides free Registered Agent service for the first year. If you're looking for help starting an LLC, our comprehensive services provide outstanding value.
Clear Pricing. No Contracts. No Surprise.
The state charges this amount to file a new business entity. This fee goes directly to the Secretary of State.
State Fee | State Filing Time | Expedited Filing Time |
$105 | 10 Business Days | 4 Business Days |
This report is mandatory and must be filed within the specified time frame in order for the entity to remain in good standing with the state. Failure to file this report can lead to the company being revoked or administratively dissolved.
Frequency: Annually
Due Date: By the anniversary date of organization or qualification.
Filing Fee: $25
Silver
49
+ $105 (state fee)
Prepare & File Articles Of Organization
FREE Registered Agent for !st Year
Lifetime Customer Support
GOLD
149
+ $105 (state fee)
EIN / Tax ID Number
Personalized Operating Agreement
Customized LLC Kit
Platinum
299
+ $105 (state fee)
Expedited Filing
UPS Delivery
Contracts Library
Launch Your Business Only $49 + State Fee.
Subscribe now to learn more about LLCs and starting a business