Louisiana LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Louisiana amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $125 (from 1 October 2026; $100 before) |
| Annual report | $35 (from 1 October 2026; $30 before) |
| When it is due | Anniversary of formation, every year |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax for LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $125 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $35 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Louisiana Secretary of State and other official Louisiana sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
The Louisiana Secretary of State charges $125 to file Articles of Organization and the Initial Report for an LLC. Act 921 of 2026 raised the fee from $100, effective 1 October 2026, along with most other business filing fees.
Expedited processing costs $35 for handling within 24 hours or $60 for priority handling. A name reservation costs $25, and a foreign LLC now pays $185 to register, up from $150.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Louisiana covers the form field by field.
How much does a Louisiana LLC cost every year?
Every Louisiana LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State by the anniversary of its formation, and the fee is now $35. The first report is due on the first anniversary.
At $35 a year, Louisiana remains cheaper to keep than most states, even after the increase. Arkansas charges $150 a year and Texas charges nothing for most small LLCs.
What does a Louisiana LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Louisiana LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Louisiana charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $125 | $125 |
| Year 2 | $35 | $182 |
| Year 3 | $35 | $182 |
| Three-year total | $195 | $489 |
Does Louisiana charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Louisiana follows the federal classification of an LLC for franchise tax. An LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity pays no Louisiana franchise tax, and neither does an LLC eligible to elect S corporation status.
Members pay Louisiana individual income tax on their share of profit at a flat 3% for tax years beginning on or after 1 January 2025.
How much does a registered agent cost in Louisiana?
Every Louisiana LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Louisiana. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in Louisiana for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Louisiana LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Louisiana LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Louisiana LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Louisiana state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $25 | Name reservation (transfer or cancellation also $25) |
| Expedited filing | $35 or $60 | $35 for processing within 24 hours; $60 for priority or while you wait processing |
| Certified copy | $20 | Certified copy $20, or $30 with amendments; additional certificates $25 |
| Amending the articles | $125 | Amended articles of organization |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $95 | Trade name registration (name reservation $25) |
| Changing registered agent | $30 | Change of registered office or agent |
| Foreign LLC registration | $185 | Application for certificate of authority ($150 before October 1, 2026) |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $125 plus current annual report | Domestic LLC reinstatement fee raised from $100 to $125 by Act 921 (2026); application must be filed within 3 years of revocation along with the current annual report (La. R.S. 12:1308.2) |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Louisiana, and Louisiana does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Louisiana LLC deadline?
Louisiana sets no late fee for the annual report, but an LLC that fails to file for three consecutive years has its articles revoked. The Secretary of State gives at least 30 days’ written notice before revocation.
A revoked LLC can reinstate within three years of revocation. Reinstatement costs $125, up from $100, plus the current annual report.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Louisiana sets out the steps.
How does Louisiana compare with other states?
Louisiana is mid-priced to form and cheap to keep. Its $125 formation fee, raised on 1 October 2026, sits $25 above the national median, while its $35 annual report costs less each year than Arkansas’ $150 franchise tax.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $125 | $35 | $125 to form, $35 annual report |
| Texas LLC cost | $300 | $0 | $300 to form, $0 yearly under $2.65M revenue |
| Mississippi | $50 | $0 | $50 to form, free annual report |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 | $45 online to form, $150 annual franchise tax |
| Alabama LLC cost | $200 | $0 | $200 to form plus required name reservation, $0 yearly for most |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Louisiana LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Louisiana LLC for $0 plus the $125 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Louisiana filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Louisiana deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Louisiana first.
Louisiana LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Louisiana?
A Louisiana LLC costs $125 to form and $35 a year for the annual report, following the fee increase on 1 October 2026.
Did Louisiana raise its LLC fees in 2026?
Yes. Act 921 of 2026 raised the formation fee from $100 to $125, the annual report from $30 to $35 and the foreign registration from $150 to $185, effective 1 October 2026.
When is the Louisiana LLC annual report due?
By the anniversary of the LLC’s formation every year. The first report is due on the first anniversary.
What happens if I miss the Louisiana annual report?
Louisiana has no late fee, but an LLC that misses three consecutive annual reports has its articles revoked. Reinstatement within three years costs $125 plus the current report.
Does Louisiana charge franchise tax on LLCs?
Not on LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities, or LLCs eligible for S corporation status. Members pay a flat 3% state income tax.
How much does a Louisiana LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $195 in state fees: $125 to form and two $35 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $489.
Sources
- Louisiana Secretary of State, 2026 fee changes
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 12:1308.1 (annual report)
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 12:1308.2 (revocation and reinstatement)
- Louisiana Department of Revenue, how LLCs are taxed
- Louisiana Department of Revenue, individual income tax
- Official Louisiana source: Reinstatement after dissolution fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Louisiana Secretary of State before you file.
