Louisiana · Start a business

How to start a business in Louisiana

Louisiana files DBAs with parish Clerks of Court, while the Secretary of State registers trade names.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$125FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINANNIVOPENLOUISIANA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Louisiana, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $125 for an LLC, $95 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Louisiana?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Louisiana LLC guide, Louisiana corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Louisiana. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. Louisiana DBAs are filed at the parish level with the local Clerk of Court, not with the Secretary of State's office. 1 See Louisiana name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Louisiana charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $125 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $95 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A Louisiana corporation must continuously maintain a registered office in the state and a registered agent, who is either a Louisiana resident or an entity with an office in Louisiana. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Louisiana registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Louisiana?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    New businesses register their Louisiana Department of Revenue tax accounts through the LaTAP website, using its Register My Business link. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    Louisiana Works requires every employing unit operating in Louisiana to submit an employer application, and a liable employer receives an unemployment tax Employer Account Number. 7 Louisiana employers report each new hire and rehire to the Department of Children and Family Services' New Hire Registry within 20 days of the hire date. 8 Louisiana's Office of Workers' Compensation Administration says employers must carry workers' compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure, with exemptions for domestic employees, most real estate salespersons and public officials. 9

What keeps your Louisiana business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    The Louisiana Secretary of State's geauxBIZ portal can produce a list of possible federal, state and local licenses and permits required for a new business. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Louisiana annual report: $35, due by your formation anniversary date. 11 See Louisiana annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Louisiana runs through the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network. 12 Louisiana's geauxBIZ portal brings business filings and tax account registrations with the Secretary of State, the Department of Revenue and the Louisiana Workforce Commission into one location. 13

What it costs to start a business in Louisiana

$125to file an LLC 2
$95to file a corporation's articles 3
$95for a DBA 2
$35each year, annual report 11
75,876business applications filed in Louisiana in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Louisiana?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 16 Louisiana's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: geauxBIZ.

  • Parish and municipal occupational license. Louisiana corporations pay an annual state occupational license tax, and parishes and municipalities may also levy occupational license taxes up to the prescribed amounts. 15

How to register a business name in Louisiana

QuestionLouisiana
Where it is filedWith the parish 1
OfficeParish Clerk of Court
What it is calledDBA

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Louisiana

  • LLC initial report. The Louisiana Secretary of State will not accept an LLC's articles of organization for filing unless an Initial Report is filed with them. 17
  • State trade name registration. The Louisiana Secretary of State's fee schedule, effective October 1, 2026, lists $95 for registering a trade name, trademark or service mark. 18

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Louisiana?

Pick a structure, file with the Secretary of State, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Louisiana Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Louisiana?

In Louisiana, an LLC filing is $125 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $95. The annual report is $35 each year.

Can I start a business in Louisiana with no money?

Louisiana charges $125 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $35 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. Louisiana Economic Development lists the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network as a statewide source of low- or no-cost guidance and training, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration and host universities.

Are there small business grants in Louisiana?

Louisiana Economic Development's small business FAQ says there are typically no grants at the state or federal level to start or operate a small business.

What is the Louisiana SBDC?

Louisiana Economic Development lists the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Network as a statewide source of low- or no-cost guidance and training, supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration and host universities.

Sources 19 links, checked Nov 12, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration sos.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings static.sos.la.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing sos.la.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule legis.la.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration revenue.louisiana.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration laworks.net, checked Nov 12, 2026
  8. New hire reporting dcfs.louisiana.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage laworks.net, checked Nov 12, 2026
  10. General business license sos.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  11. Louisiana annual report legis.la.gov, checked Oct 4, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center opportunitylouisiana.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  13. State business portal sos.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Parish and municipal occupational license legis.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. LLC initial report sos.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  18. State trade name registration sos.la.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  19. State small business funding opportunitylouisiana.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026

Last verified Nov 12, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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