Session 1 · Louisiana
How to Start an LLC in Louisiana (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
The short version
Lesson goals
- How much Louisiana charges to form an LLC, and who receives the filing
- What the agent rule says
- What comes after formation
- How the graded picks compare
The Louisiana services we recommend
1. LA Registered Agent.org: best for a small first bill
LA Registered Agent.org comes first, and here is why: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Cost decides this one: across three years it totals less than Mainstay Filing.
The annual report is not covered by its price.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- $199 plus the state fee
- Then $99 a year
Where it loses points
- It does not file the annual report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
2. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for a low agent renewal
Louisiana Registered Agent.co lands in second place, and the reason is clear: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
The annual report is not covered by its price.
It posts the same prices as LA Registered Agent.org.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
Where it loses points
- It does not file the annual report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
Mainstay Filing is a sound third choice because $199 a year hands off the formation, the registered agent role and the annual report to someone else.
Three years run $200 higher than LA Registered Agent.org.
It also files the annual report for you, and Louisiana's $35 fee is billed at cost.
What the price covers
- The filing is done for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- Official fee, at cost
Marks in its favor
- $199 yearly, everything in one
- Renews at $199
- The EIN step is in the price
Where it loses points
- Renews $100 higher than LA Registered Agent.org
Our Louisiana picks side by side
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Louisiana Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to form your Louisiana LLC
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Step
1Settle on a name
Look up the name on the Louisiana business register at the Louisiana Secretary of State first.
Keep a second choice in your pocket.
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Step
2Find your registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Louisiana citizen who lives in the state, a law partnership or professional law corporation, or a corporation or LLC formed in Louisiana or authorized there. A new agent signs a notarized acceptance.
The address has to be a registered office in Louisiana, which the law treats as the company's domicile. P.O. boxes and virtual offices are not accepted.
Every pick on our list includes a registered agent.
Where this comes from: Look it up at legis.la.gov; last checked October 2026
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Step
3Pick how you will file
Filing directly costs only the $125 state fee. A service adds $199 but handles the forms. See the graded list.
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Step
4Prepare and file the Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company
The Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company (Form 365) is what you prepare for the Louisiana Secretary of State, and the filing fee that goes with it is $125.
Where this comes from: Look it up at static.sos.la.gov; last checked October 2026
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Step
5Ask the IRS for an EIN
Wait for the state to approve the LLC, then request the EIN from the IRS. Mainstay Filing includes the EIN application in its yearly price.
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Step
6Write an operating agreement
Think of the operating agreement as the LLC's rulebook: who owns what, kept by you and not sent to the state.
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Step
7Keep up with Louisiana's recurring filing
What recurs is the annual report ($35, every year, by on or before the anniversary date of organization).
Where this comes from: Look it up at legis.la.gov; last checked October 2026
What you will pay
| What | Goes to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Forming the LLC | The state | $125 |
| Annual report | The state | $35 every year |
| Filing service (optional) | The service | $199 up front |
| Three-year state total | The state | $195 |
Why LA Registered Agent.org comes first
edged ahead of on tuition over three years, which counts for 32%.
Paying LA Registered Agent.org for three years adds up to $397, which is $200 below the Mainstay Filing total.
Common questions
Which fees come with forming an LLC in Louisiana?
The state's fee is $125. If you hire a service, add $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is the Articles of Organization-Louisiana Limited Liability Company (Form 365), and you hand it to the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Louisiana require each year?
Louisiana asks for the annual report every year. The fee is $35, and the due date is on or before the anniversary date of organization.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
A service is optional. Owners can send the paperwork themselves with the $125 fee, provided they appoint a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
By grade: LA Registered Agent.org, Louisiana Registered Agent.co and Mainstay Filing. LA Registered Agent.org is first because it forms the Louisiana LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
Class references
- Homework check for Louisiana Secretary of State: the facts come from geauxbiz.sos.la.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Louisiana Secretary of State: the facts come from sos.la.gov, a page we last confirmed in August 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, official source: the facts come from legis.la.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Louisiana Secretary of State fee changes effective October: the facts come from static.sos.la.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Homework check for Louisiana registered agent statute: the facts come from legis.la.gov, a page we last confirmed in October 2026, so you can compare our notes to the original.
- Prices taken from the pricing page of LA Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of Louisiana Registered Agent.co on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the Louisiana service page of Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026