- Louisiana LLC fees on the October 2026 schedule
- The Louisiana agent rule
- Choosing and reserving a Louisiana LLC name
- Where your Louisiana DBA goes
- geauxBIZ: the one place for Louisiana filings and tax registrations
- Registering an out-of-state LLC in Louisiana
- Keeping a Louisiana LLC's record up to date
- How to start an LLC in Louisiana, step by step
- Closing a Louisiana LLC the simple way
- My verdict on a Louisiana LLC
- Frequently asked questions
To form a Louisiana LLC, you file articles of organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State and pay $125, the fee that took effect on October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. After that, you file an annual report every year for $35.
If you priced up a Louisiana LLC before October, check the numbers again: Act 921 raised the Commercial Division's fees from October 1, 2026. Here's what the new schedule and the Secretary of State's guidance say about forming and running an LLC.
Louisiana LLC fees on the October 2026 schedule
These are the domestic and foreign LLC fees on the schedule effective October 1, 2026:
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Articles of organization (Louisiana LLC) | $125 |
| Articles of organization (low-profit LLC) | $125 |
| Supplemental initial report | $30 |
| Change of registered office or agent | $30 |
| Change of members or managers | $30 |
| Name reservation | $25 |
| Annual report | $35 |
| Affidavit to dissolve | $125 |
| Application of foreign LLC | $185 |
| Certified copies | $20 |
The Louisiana agent rule
Every business registration with the Secretary of State needs, by law, an agent with a physical address in Louisiana. The agent can be almost anyone of legal age who's a legal resident of Louisiana. The FAQ lists an organizer, a member of the LLC, an employee, an attorney or an accountant as examples.
Two things to know. The agent has to forward legal documents to the business, so pick someone dependable. And the agent's name and address are public and shown on the Secretary of State's website, which matters if you're thinking of using your own home.
Choosing and reserving a Louisiana LLC name
- Search the Commercial Database first, typing the name without its ending, such as L.L.C. That's only a preliminary check: a fuller review happens when you file.
- You can reserve a name by fax or mail for $25, as of October 2026. It holds the name for 120 days.
- You only need a reservation if you're waiting a while to file, or worried someone else might file the same name first. Filing the articles itself makes the name unavailable to others.
- Trade names do conflict with LLC and corporation names, so a registered trade name can block your choice.
Where your Louisiana DBA goes
This is the detail people miss. A DBA isn't filed with the Secretary of State at all. The FAQ says DBAs are filed at parish level with the local Clerk of Court. A trade name is different: it's a registered word, symbol or device that identifies a business, and it's filed with the Secretary of State for $95, as of October 2026.
geauxBIZ: the one place for Louisiana filings and tax registrations
Several Louisiana government offices built a website called geauxBIZ. The Secretary of State says it lets you manage business filings and tax account registrations in one place, complete the legal steps to start a business, and generate a list of possible federal, state and local licenses and permits. Cities and parishes produce the licence checklist, so what's on yours depends on where you're based.
Registering an out-of-state LLC in Louisiana
If your LLC is already registered elsewhere, you file an Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company for Certificate of Authority, which costs $185, as of October 2026. You also need a certificate of good standing or existence from your home state's Secretary of State, less than 90 days old. My guide to a foreign LLC explains when you need to register.
Keeping a Louisiana LLC's record up to date
After formation, changes go on their own forms. You add or remove a registered agent with the Change of Registered Office or Agent form, and add or remove members or managers with the Notice of Change of Member/Manager form. Each costs $30 on the new schedule, as of October 2026, and both can be filed online.
There's a cheaper route if your timing fits. When your annual report is due or past due, the FAQ says you can make these changes on the annual report filing itself, which costs $35 and has to be filed anyway. Certificates and certified copies can also be ordered online, and the code printed on them lets you print more with the same date for 120 days.
How to start an LLC in Louisiana, step by step
- Search your name in the Commercial Database.
- Choose an agent who's a Louisiana resident with a physical address in the state.
- File the articles of organization through geauxBIZ or the Secretary of State and pay $125, as of October 2026.
- Sign an operating agreement.
- Register a DBA with your parish Clerk of Court if you'll trade under another name.
- Diary the yearly $35 annual report, and check the Louisiana minimum wage before you hire.
Closing a Louisiana LLC the simple way
If the LLC is no longer doing business, owes no debts, has no assets and has no immovable property, it can be dissolved by affidavit. The affidavit costs $125 on the new schedule, as of October 2026, and can be filed online.
A different state or filing type is covered in our Oklahoma business license walkthrough.
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My verdict on a Louisiana LLC
Louisiana got more expensive on October 1, 2026, but it's still clear: $125 to form and $35 a year, as of October 2026. Use geauxBIZ to keep filings and tax registrations together, remember that your DBA goes to the parish Clerk of Court, and pick an agent who'll pass papers on the day they arrive.
Paperwork piles up fast, so our Connecticut LLC walkthrough is worth bookmarking.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
Articles of organization cost $125 on the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session.
How much is the Louisiana LLC annual report?
The annual report costs $35, as of October 2026.
Who can be a registered agent in Louisiana?
Almost anyone of legal age who's a legal resident of Louisiana with a physical address in the state, including an organizer, member, employee, attorney or accountant.
Where do I file a DBA in Louisiana?
With the local Clerk of Court at parish level, not with the Secretary of State.
How long does a Louisiana name reservation last?
A reservation holds the name for 120 days and costs $25, as of October 2026.
How much does it cost to change a Louisiana LLC's registered agent?
The Change of Registered Office or Agent form costs $30 on the schedule effective October 1, 2026, or you can make the change on an annual report that's due.
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Louisiana?
The Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company costs $185, plus a home-state certificate of good standing less than 90 days old.
