If you’re thinking of starting a new business in Louisiana, you might not be sure where to begin. A good place to start is by forming your own Louisiana limited liability company (LLC), and we’re here to help!

For those wanting to establish a business in the Pelican State, this guide will detail how to form an LLC. Louisiana has some unusual rules around business formation, but we’ll do our best to guide you through them. We’ll also show you how our services can help you launch your LLC and keep it in compliance with the state.

Starting an LLC in Louisiana

To start a Louisiana LLC, you’ll need to register your new business with the Louisiana Secretary of State. State law requires new LLCs to file Articles of Organization and a Limited Liability Company Initial Report. After this is complete, there are still other boxes to check, such as creating an operating agreement and registering your company with the IRS.

There’s no need to feel overwhelmed by these requirements. We are going to show you how to create an LLC in Louisiana, right here. We break everything down into five steps, and let you know what tools and services will help you get your new business up and running.

Step 1: Name your Louisiana LLC

Choosing a name is the first step on your Louisiana LLC formation checklist. When selecting your business’s name, you need to follow the state’s naming requirements for it to be accepted by the Louisiana Secretary of State. For example, you’ll have to distinguish your company from other Louisiana businesses. This also includes using the words “limited liability company,” the abbreviation “L.L.C.,” or the abbreviation “L.C.” at the end of your business’s name.

In addition to these limits, your LLC name must be unique and not in use by another Louisiana entity. The state has a business entity search database to check name availability. You can also use our easy-to-follow guide to make sure your name isn’t taken.

Reserve a business name for an LLC in Louisiana

If you select a name but aren’t quite ready to officially form your Louisiana LLC, consider reserving it so that nobody else takes it before you form your business. If you’d rather not deal with this yourself, we have a business name reservation service that handles it for you. As part of the service, we can also check to see if your desired LLC name is available.

Secure a domain name for your business

When you’re coming up with a business name, it’s wise to consider whether you can secure a matching domain name. That way your online presence is already established. We have a tool to help you do a preliminary domain name search. Our domain name registration service can also help you secure the online name that will best serve your company’s needs. 

File a DBA in Louisiana

In addition to choosing an LLC name, you may decide to register a trade name, known as “Doing Business As” (DBA). A DBA is used when the name the business operates under is different from the registered name. Check out our page on Louisiana DBAs for more specific information.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent in Louisiana

Louisiana requires LLCs to designate a registered agent as part of the business formation process. (You’ll list your registered agent on your Initial Report.) Your Louisiana registered agent’s primary purpose is to receive service of process and other important legal documents on behalf of the business.

What is a registered agent?

In Louisiana, a registered agent can be a person or business entity. However, they must have a registered office address in the state of Louisiana — P.O. boxes aren’t acceptable. 

You can serve as your LLC’s registered agent, but it can lead to unintended consequences. For example, you don’t want a process server to show up with court documents in the middle of a crucial customer presentation or an important meeting. You also don’t want to be tied to your desk during all normal business hours, which is what being a registered agent requires. Accordingly, many business owners decide to use a registered agent service that can receive paperwork on the LLC’s behalf, freeing up their time for other important tasks.

Using a Registered Agent Service

We can take care of registered agent services for you. At ZenBusiness, we can connect you with one of our Louisiana registered agent partners and take one more thing off of your plate.

Step 3: File Louisiana Articles of Organization

Next, you need to file Articles of Organization online with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The state accepts most submissions online, via fax, or mail. In addition to your Articles of Organization, Louisiana requires LLCs to submit an Initial Report. This includes information about managers, members, and the business’s registered agent. If filing by mail or fax, you’ll need to have both the Initial Report and the Articles of Organization notarized.

File with the Louisiana Secretary of State

Although all states have their own process for forming LLCs, Louisiana does things very differently. Depending on the filing method, you might have to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or register with the Workforce Commission and Department of Revenue before the state will accept your Articles of Organization. There’s also one more wrinkle: Not everyone gets the option of filing by mail. If you live in Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, or Terrebonne parish, you must file online.

Digitally Storing your Louisiana LLC Documents

Confused? That’s okay. Our team can help you through the whole process with our LLC formation services. If you have us handle filing your Articles of Organization, once the state approves your LLC, your paperwork will be available from your ZenBusiness dashboard, where you can keep your Articles of Organization and other important paperwork digitally organized. 

Once you get the physical paperwork confirmation from the state approving your LLC, you’ll want to keep it in a safe location along with your other important documents. This includes documents such as an operating agreement, member certificates, contracts, compliance checklists, transfer ledger, etc. We offer a customized business kit to help you keep your LLC’s formation documents organized and looking professional.

Step 4: Create an operating agreement

Like most states, Louisiana doesn’t require new LLCs to adopt an operating agreement as a condition of registering with the Louisiana Secretary of State. However, all LLC owners are strongly encouraged to draft one, even if you’re planning on forming a sole-member LLC. An operating agreement gives your business structure credibility and empowers you to interact with third parties with confidence and legitimacy.  

Benefits of an LLC Operating Agreement

With a well-drafted Louisiana operating agreement, you can:

• Prevent and resolve conflicts between stakeholders by clearly indicating the powers and privileges of each member.
• Define your LLC’s management structure and voting requirements for major and minor decisions.
• Detail procedures for sale or dissolution of the LLC should you ever need them.

If you’re unsure as to how to begin creating an operating agreement for your LLC, we offer a customizable template to help get you started.

Step 5: Apply for an EIN and other permits

After your formation documents are accepted by the Louisiana Secretary of State, you’ll need to start thinking about compliance with state and federal regulations. One of the first steps is to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is necessary for certain tax purposes or if you want to hire employees or apply for a business bank account.

Let us secure a Tax ID Number for you through our EIN service, and that’s one less thing you’ll need to worry about.

Apply for business licenses

After obtaining your Employer Identification Number, you’ll want to check whether your business requires other state permits or licenses. The Louisiana Secretary of State has a business license checklist to determine whether you’ll need to apply for any permissions. This site’s focus is on state licensing, but be aware that you’ll also need to research if you need any federal, local, or industry-specific licenses or permits.

Open a business bank account for your Louisiana LLC

Once you’ve secured a Federal Tax Identification Number, you’ll also be able to open a business bank account. Having separate accounts for your business and your personal banking is critical for sorting out your finances at tax time and helps you avoid mixing personal assets with business funds. Combining the two can not only make your taxes more difficult but could also be used against you in a lawsuit should you run into legal troubles.

To avoid these problems, we offer a discounted bank account for new businesses. The service allows unlimited transactions, online banking, a debit card, and more. When you want to authorize others in your business to use the account, we offer a banking resolution template to simplify the process.

For more help managing your business’s finances, try ZenBusiness Money. It can help you create invoices, receive payments, transfer money, and manage clients all in one place. 

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational purposes only, and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.