Ready to Form Your LLC?
One of the first steps to starting a business in Louisiana is choosing a business structure in accordance with Louisiana law. This choice affects taxation, liability exposure, and operational management requirements under state law. Many Louisiana business owners form a limited liability company (LLC) for its liability protection features, management flexibility, and tax treatment options.
When weighing your options, consider your industry, growth goals, and preferred way of running day-to-day operations. Filing requirements and costs can vary depending on the structure you choose, and some industries may have additional licensing or permitting rules at the local or state level. Taking time to match your structure to your business model can help create a strong foundation for future growth.
Navigating Louisiana's business landscape is easier with the right support. LLC Attorney provides step-by-step guides, legal resources, expert tools, and Business Success Advisors to help both new and established businesses succeed.
Starting an LLC in Louisiana typically involves filing Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State and appointing a registered agent with a physical address in the state. To remain in good standing, you’ll need to submit your annual report and follow any additional rules that apply to your industry, which may include special permits or licenses for sectors such as seafood processing, oil and gas, or tourism.
Louisiana’s mix of established industries and growing entrepreneurial activity creates opportunities for new businesses across the state. By staying on top of filings and compliance, your LLC can operate smoothly and position itself for long-term success in this dynamic market.
We move your Louisiana LLC from intake to state submission quickly. Upon receiving complete information, we prepare and submit your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State promptly, though actual processing times may vary. Our process is built to keep your filing moving. Our packages start at $49 plus Louisiana’s state filing fee.
Most Louisiana packages include operating agreements, registered agent service, a business address, a name availability review, payment of the state filing fee, and secure scanning for up to five non-junk, non-agent mail items per year.
We also help you set up the essentials after approval. That includes obtaining an EIN from the IRS and guidance on opening a business bank account. U.S. and international owners are both supported, and an EIN can be obtained without a Social Security Number.
Clients choose us for transparent pricing, responsive support, and experienced guidance. From New Orleans and Baton Rouge to Lafayette and Shreveport, we help Louisiana founders launch with confidence and stay on top of what comes next.
A limited liability company (LLC) is a flexible business structure recognized in all 50 states, including Louisiana. It creates a legal separation between the owners and the company, which can protect personal assets, such as your home and savings, if the business faces debts or lawsuits. This protection is subject to limitations under Louisiana law, including but not limited to: personal guarantees, failure to maintain separate business accounts, unlawful activity, or other circumstances where courts may "pierce the corporate veil."
LLCs allow one or many owners, offer simple upkeep compared to corporations, and default to pass-through taxation, so profits are reported on the owners’ personal tax returns. You can also elect corporate tax treatment if that better fits your plans. An operating agreement sets internal rules for ownership, management, voting, and profit sharing.
In Louisiana, LLCs are a popular fit for restaurants, construction and trades, logistics and maritime services, film and digital media, and professional practices. If you want liability protection with flexible management and straightforward compliance, an LLC provides a strong foundation to start and grow in Louisiana, no matter your industry.
An LLC is a strong fit for many Louisiana ventures, from restaurants in New Orleans and contractors in Baton Rouge to logistics and maritime services along the river corridor. It also works well for coastal seafood businesses, film and digital media projects, professional practices, and online sellers. The structure offers personal liability protection, flexible management, and simpler upkeep than a corporation.
Single-member owners use an LLC to separate business and personal finances, while multi-member teams gain a clear framework for ownership, voting, and profit sharing. Out-of-state companies expanding into Louisiana often choose an LLC to establish a local presence with straightforward compliance.
If you want a structure that protects personal assets, supports different management styles, and scales with your plans, starting an LLC in Louisiana is a practical choice.
Starting an LLC in Louisiana gives many owners the mix they want: personal asset protection, flexible internal rules, and a professional footing.
A key advantage is the liability shield that comes from separating the company from its owners. When the LLC is formed and maintained in accordance with Louisiana law, personal property may be protected from business debts or lawsuits. However, that protection has limits. Personal guarantees, mixing business and personal funds, or unlawful conduct can still create personal exposure.
Louisiana makes it practical to organize and operate. LLCs default to pass-through taxation, owners can define voting and profit allocations in an operating agreement, and using a registered agent can help keep a home address out of the public record. Many founders appreciate the ability to tailor management without the formalities of a corporation.
There are tradeoffs to consider. An annual report must be filed to keep the company in good standing, and a registered agent with a Louisiana street address is required. Members who work in the business owe self-employment taxes. Sales and use tax can involve state, parish, and city layers, and many parishes require an occupational license. Certain fields, including food service, contracting, and coastal or industrial operations, may need additional permits.
For Louisiana entrepreneurs who want protection, control over internal rules, and manageable upkeep, the LLC offers a practical foundation to launch and grow.
Every Louisiana LLC must designate a registered agent (also called an agent for service of process) with a physical street address in Louisiana. The agent accepts lawsuits, subpoenas, tax notices, and other official mail for your company and forwards them to you.
Your agent must meet Louisiana's statutory requirements for registered agents, which include: (1) a Louisiana resident of legal age, (2) a business entity authorized to act as a registered agent in Louisiana, or (3) a member or manager of your LLC with a physical Louisiana street address. The registered office must be a real street address in Louisiana, not a P.O. Box, and the agent should be available during regular business hours.
Rather than serving as your own registered agent, many Louisiana LLCs choose a professional registered agent to keep personal addresses off public records, maintain reliable availability for time-sensitive documents, and help you stay on top of compliance deadlines. LLC Attorney provides Louisiana registered agent service with document scanning, compliance reminders, and mail forwarding options.
A Louisiana LLC operating agreement sets the ground rules for how your LLC is owned and run. It is an internal contract that is not filed with the state, but it carries real weight with banks, partners, and investors.
Core terms include ownership percentages and capital contributions, how profits and losses are allocated, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, voting rights and thresholds, any officer roles, and everyday decision-making. It should also address adding or removing members, transfer and buyout provisions, distributions, bookkeeping and tax treatment, dispute resolution, indemnification, and what happens if a member dies or becomes disabled, or if the company dissolves.
Single-member LLCs use an operating agreement to document separation between the owner and the business, while multi-member LLCs rely on it to set expectations and reduce conflict.
Without an operating agreement, default Louisiana rules apply, which may not match your goals. As part of our LLC formation service, we prepare Louisiana operating agreements that reflect your ownership, management preferences, and growth plans, and we deliver them alongside your formation documents.
Starting and maintaining an LLC in Louisiana involves a few key state fees. Here are the primary costs to consider:
Louisiana keeps costs business-friendly with a $100 formation fee and a flat $30 annual report, giving most LLCs low, predictable expenses year after year.
Louisiana LLCs are treated as pass-through entities by default, which means the business does not pay state income tax. Rather, profits and losses pass through to the owners, who report them on their personal returns. For tax years beginning January 1, 2025, Louisiana uses a flat individual income tax rate as established by current state tax law.
If your LLC elects corporate taxation, Louisiana imposes corporate income tax at rates established by current state law. The state’s corporate franchise tax still applies to franchise tax periods beginning in 2025, and it is repealed for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you must register to collect and remit sales tax. The statewide rate is 5% as of January 1, 2025, and parishes may add local sales taxes. If you hire employees, you must register for Louisiana withholding, file Form L-1 each quarter, and set up unemployment insurance with the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
Because tax obligations vary by industry, location, and federal tax classification, many Louisiana LLC owners work with a tax professional to create a filing plan and stay compliant year-round.
According to data from the Louisiana Secretary of State's office, entrepreneurs filed approximately 80,457 new business applications in 2023. This surge in new business filings highlights the resilience of Louisiana’s entrepreneurial community and its role in driving local job creation and economic growth.
At the local level, East Baton Rouge Parish led the way with 9,792 applications, highlighting the Capital Region and nearby metros as active hubs for startups and small businesses. According to state economic data, small businesses constitute approximately 99.5% of Louisiana firms and are reported to employ around 899,000 people.
Growth is fueled by key industries such as energy and process industries, logistics and port trade, aerospace, and entertainment/film. Louisiana’s port network supports 100,000+ jobs, and the state’s film program offers credits up to 40% on qualified production spending, alongside major advanced manufacturing investments that continue to expand the state’s opportunity set.
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is akin to a Social Security Number for your company, issued by the IRS. It's essential for opening a bank account, hiring employees, filing certain IRS forms, and more. Clients who have a Social Security Number (SSN) can easily apply for an EIN online. Those without an SSN need to fax their application, while a mail-in option also exists, albeit it's significantly slower. For domestic clients who opt for our EIN services, we can provide the EIN on the same day. International clients will have their applications faxed on the same day as well.
Yes, it is crucial for an LLC to have a separate bank account to distinguish personal assets from business assets. This separation is not only important for legal protection, such as in the event of a lawsuit, but also in the event of an IRS audit. Maintaining distinct accounts helps demonstrate that personal and business finances are not mixed, supporting the integrity of the corporate veil and the legitimacy of standard business expense deductions.
To open a business bank account, you'll need your LLC’s Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement, EIN, and details about the business's owners and managers. We typically gather most of this information during our intake process, enabling us to efficiently manage the bank account application on your behalf.
Transferring funds between personal and business accounts is permissible and straightforward, provided proper documentation is maintained. Incoming transfers should be recorded as either contributions to equity or loans, each requiring specific documentation which we provide. Outgoing transfers might be for payroll, expense reimbursements, loan repayments, or distributions, and we also supply the necessary documents to support these transactions, ensuring everything is clear and compliant.
Effective planning is crucial in business, where the risks and rewards are significant. Our approach to business formation services extends well beyond simple LLC establishment. LLC Attorney ensures our clients receive more than just a certificate of formation. Our services encompass comprehensive asset protection, registered agent services, and estate planning, providing significant value beyond the fundamental legal structure. We take pride in building lasting relationships with our clients, supporting them well beyond the initial setup to help maintain ongoing compliance and success.
