geauxBIZ is Louisiana's official online business portal, run by the Secretary of State. You use it to check name availability, file the Articles of Organization and Initial Report, file annual reports, and get a checklist of the state and local licences your business may need.

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How to Start an LLC in Louisiana (2026)

Q: How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?

It is $100 to file the Articles of Organization through geauxBIZ right now, plus a $5 charge if you pay by card. From October 1, 2026 that rises to $125 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. Your EIN is free from the IRS, and the annual report is $30, rising to $35 on the same date.

Q: Are Louisiana LLC fees going up in 2026?

Yes. The Secretary of State has published a fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, following Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. Articles of Organization go from $100 to $125, annual reports from $30 to $35, and amendments, mergers and dissolutions to $125. If you plan to form this autumn, filing before October 1 saves you $25.

Q: What is the Louisiana Initial Report?

It is a second document filed at the same time as your Articles of Organization, naming your registered agent and the registered office address. Most states fold this information into the articles themselves, so people forming in Louisiana for the first time often miss it. geauxBIZ walks you through both together.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

To start a Louisiana LLC, file the Articles of Organization and the Initial Report with the Louisiana Secretary of State for $100 through geauxBIZ, plus a $5 card charge, and get a free EIN. Time matters this year: under Act 921 of the 2026 session, fees rise on October 1, 2026, taking the Articles to $125 and the annual report from $30 to $35.

Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. Louisiana also wants an Initial Report filed alongside the Articles, which is a step most states do not have.

Louisiana is one of the few states with a firm, dated fee increase on the calendar right now, so the timing of your filing is worth a few minutes of thought. Here is the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.

File before October 1, 2026 and pay $25 less The Secretary of State has published a new fee schedule effective 10/1/2026 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. Articles of Organization go from $100 to $125, the annual report from $30 to $35, and amendments and dissolutions to $125. If you were forming this autumn anyway, filing before October 1 saves you $25.

How to start a Louisiana LLC in 6 steps

Name it, appoint a Louisiana registered agent, file the Articles plus Initial Report through geauxBIZ ($100 before Oct 1), write an operating agreement, get a free EIN, then file the annual report each year.

Name your Louisiana LLC

The name must be distinguishable from other Louisiana entities and include an LLC designator. Check it in the Louisiana business filings search first. If you want to lock a name in before filing, a name reservation is $25.

Appoint a Louisiana registered agent

You need a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address who can accept legal papers. You can act as your own, or use a service to keep your home address off the public record. Changing the registered office or agent later costs $30. Northwest includes agent service free the first year with their $39 filing.

File the Articles of Organization and the Initial Report

Louisiana wants two documents together: the Articles of Organization and the Initial Report, which names your registered agent and registered office. File both through geauxBIZ, the state portal. The fee is $100 (rising to $125 on October 1, 2026) plus a $5 credit card charge. Expedited service is $30 for 24 hours or $50 while you wait. The state’s start-a-business guide is here.

Write an operating agreement

Louisiana does not require one, but write it anyway. It sets out ownership, management, and signing authority, it backs up your liability protection, and banks generally ask for it. Louisiana is a civil law state, so having your internal rules written down matters even more than usual.

Get a free EIN from the IRS

Your EIN is free at irs.gov and takes about ten minutes. You need it for the business bank account, contracts, and hiring. Never pay a third-party site for one.

File the annual report every year

Louisiana requires an annual report on your anniversary date, filed through geauxBIZ. It is $30 now and $35 from October 1, 2026. Keeping it current is what keeps your LLC in good standing when a client or bank looks you up.

Louisiana LLC cost breakdown

$100 now, $125 from October 1, 2026, and an annual report of $30 rising to $35.

Item	Cost	Required?
Articles of Organization (before Oct 1, 2026)	$100	Yes
Articles of Organization (from Oct 1, 2026)	$125	Yes
Credit card service charge	$5	If paying by card
Expedite (24 hours / while you wait)	$30 / $50	Optional
EIN	Free from the IRS	Yes (free)
Registered agent service	$0 (yourself) to $300/yr	No
Annual report	$30, rising to $35 on Oct 1, 2026	Yes
Change of registered office or agent	$30	Only if changing

Louisiana figures as of August 2026, from the Secretary of State forms and fee schedule and the published fee schedule effective 10/1/26 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Legislative Session. Confirm before filing.

Rather have it filed for you? Northwest will form your Louisiana LLC for $39 + the $100 state fee and act as your registered agent the first year, keeping your home address off the public record. See the $39 formation service → Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Setting up to run courier routes in Louisiana?

The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with Louisiana clinics, labs, and hospitals.

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Louisiana LLC FAQs

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?

It is $100 now plus a $5 card charge, rising to $125 on October 1, 2026. Your EIN is free. The annual report is $30 now and $35 from that date.

Are Louisiana LLC fees going up in 2026?

Yes. From October 1, 2026 the Articles go from $100 to $125 and the annual report from $30 to $35, under Act 921 of the 2026 session.

What is the Louisiana Initial Report?

A second document filed with your Articles that names the registered agent and registered office. Most states fold this into the articles, so it is easy to miss.

What is geauxBIZ?

It is Louisiana's official business portal from the Secretary of State, used for name checks, the Articles and Initial Report, annual reports, and licence checklists.

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