Louisiana LLC Cost

In Louisiana, the cost to start a business in Louisiana may include the following fees.

Louisiana LLC Filing Fee – $105

Louisiana charges a $100 filing fee for the Articles of Organization and $25 for a Name Reservation. Also, you need to obtain your FIEN to register your business in Louisiana (see below).

Annual Corporation Franchise Taxes – $0 to $110

Every year, any legal entity taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes must pay a Corporation Franchise Tax. The franchise tax only applies to LLCs that elect corporate taxation with the IRS. If you’re subject to the tax, the initial corporation franchise tax is $110. You’ll multiply any capital employed in Louisiana above $300,000 against the current rate for each additional year.

Registered Agent Fee – Free

You can act as your own Registered Agent in Louisiana and avoid paying a fee. But if you name yourself, you must be available during all regular business hours to accept legal notifications. Many business owners choose to hire a commercial Registered Agent for a small recurring fee. We can help you identify a reliable Registered Agent for your LLC with our Louisiana Registered Agent Service.

When forming a Louisiana LLC, paying the filing fee for your Articles of Organization, Name Reservation, and Corporate Franchise Taxes aren’t the only fees you’ll owe. Your Louisiana LLC cost might also include these annual and one-time fees.

Certificate of Organization

When the Secretary of State files your Articles of Organization, they’ll issue a Certificate of Organization reflecting your company’s existence. You may need to provide your Certificate of Organization when you apply for loans or negotiate contracts. Certified copies are $15 each. If you need duplicate certificates, the cost is $20 each.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing tells third parties that your LLC has paid its state taxes and filed its annual returns. You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State or the Department of Revenue. The fee is $15 for an individual certified document. For more than one document filed by the same entity or the complete file for the entity, the fee is $25.

DBA Name in Louisiana

If you conduct business using a name other than its official name, consider filing a “doing business as” or DBA name. In Louisiana, a business will file its DBA name at the parish level with the Clerk of Court. Local registration allows consumers to identify your business.

If you need legal protections for your business name, you can register a Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark for $75.

Foreign LLC

Suppose you formed your LLC in another state but want to do business in Louisiana. In that case, you’ll register your business as a foreign LLC. To legally operate as an out-of-state LLC, you need to file an Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company with the Secretary of State. The filing fee for this document is $150.

Business Licensing

The average cost to start a business in Louisiana will depend on the nature and location of your business. You might need to pay fees for:

• Business licenses
• Permits
• Registrations

You might need to pay these fees at the local, state, and federal levels. The Louisiana Secretary of State provides a checklist for new businesses. But determining which licenses you need can be tricky. So we’ve worked with Avalara to provide you with a custom Business License Report that breaks down the licenses, permits, and registrations your business needs.

For just $0 plus state fees, we can form your Louisiana LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in Louisiana. 

Yes. If you’re behind on paying your fees, the state can revoke your Articles of Organization. To get back into good standing, you’ll then have to file a reinstatement form with higher filing fees than regular annual reports.

If you can’t pay the filing fee, the Secretary of State can decline to file your documents. Without active Articles of Organization, your LLC won’t be legally formed. As the business owner, you might face increased liability like owners of sole proprietorships or general partnerships. 

You pay a filing fee for your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State.

What does it cost to start a business in Louisiana? To answer that question, you’ll need to explore all the possible fees for your situation. However, the fee for filing your Articles of Organization is usually the most expensive. It is $100, plus $25 for your Name Reservation. Your largest fee will vary with the industry your business operates in, the location of your business, and your business needs.

When you file online, you can pay by credit card but expect an electronic payment fee. You can use a check or money order to file by mail. The Secretary of State’s office also accepts cash payments if you file in person.