To form a Louisiana LLC, submit both the Articles of Organization and the initial report. Include the signatures and agent acceptance required for your filing method.
This guide covers forming a new Louisiana LLC. If your LLC already exists in another state or country, use the foreign-registration process instead.
Louisiana LLC at a glance
- Official filing website
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Business name check
- Search business namesA name search does not reserve or approve the name.
- Formation document
- Articles of Organization (Form 365)
- State filing fee
- $125Formation filing only; other required costs and optional services are separate.
- Processing time
- Online3-5 business daysPaper3-5 business days; add mail transitPublished guide estimate. Published guide estimate for a complete filing; not a state guarantee. Check the filing office before setting a deadline.
- Ongoing report or tax
- Annual Report
- Report / renewal charge
- $35Fee for this filing only.
- Frequency / due date
- Annually; confirm the due date on the company record
- Sales tax base rate
- 5%Local rates may apply. July 1, 2026 snapshot; not an address-specific rate. The general state rate is 5%, effective from January 2025. The older 4.45% figure is not used.Official tax agency ↗
- Names in formation records
- Management names requiredThe required initial-report package identifies the first managers or members. If they are not yet selected, the supplemental-report instructions still need to be followed. Other filings and private bank/tax records may identify owners.
Before you file in Louisiana
Choose geauxBIZ or the permitted paper route. Prepare the principal office, agent, first managers/members and required signatures.
File the Articles of Organization (Form 365)
Louisiana LLC forms and filing instructions ↗
- For online filing, start the domestic LLC application in geauxBIZ. For paper, use the current Form 365 packet with its initial-report and agent-acceptance pages.
- Complete both the articles and initial report. Follow the paper packet’s notary and agent-affidavit requirements if mailing it.
- Sign, pay and save the accepted documents and certificate of organization.
What to enter in the form
- Initial report
- The official packet requires it with the articles. It records the initial office, agent and managers or members.
- Managers/members
- List the first managers or members with their street addresses. If they have not yet been selected, use the supplemental-report instructions in the filing packet.
- Agent acceptance
- Complete the acceptance/affidavit for your filing route. Paper and online signature procedures differ.
- geauxBIZ prerequisites
- The online workflow can ask for reservation and tax-identification information. Do not invent an EIN or use one issued to a different entity.
After approval in Louisiana
- Save separate confirmations for any Revenue or workforce registrations completed through geauxBIZ. Opening an account does not submit them.
Annual Report
Official report and fee instructions ↗
- Open or link the LLC’s geauxBIZ record and select the annual report due for that company.
- Update or confirm the principal office, agent and required managers/members. Complete any agent confirmation requested.
- Submit the report fee and save the accepted report.
Compare the filing cycles in our annual report and recurring-fee table.
Next steps: operating agreement · get an EIN · starting checklist.
Sources and filing links
Sources checked . Confirm the state’s current fees and instructions before filing.
Research and walkthrough references
These references provide background and filing walkthroughs. Follow current state instructions if an older walkthrough differs.
See our editorial policy for the research process and contact page for correction information.