ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
Starts at $0 + state fee and only takes 5-10 minutes
If you’re looking for an excellent Louisiana LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
If you want a socially conscious Louisiana LLC service with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Louisiana and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
Creating a Louisiana LLC is exciting, but it’s also a legal process. Thankfully, though, there’s not a whole lot of “legalese” involved. Follow these steps, and creating your Louisiana LLC will be a cinch:
Your Louisiana business name is a big deal — it goes on all of your official documents and advertising, and it’s how your customers will get to know your business.
Name recognition goes a long way, right? And when it comes to what name you pick, the sky’s the limit…mostly. There are a couple of general best practices to follow, and of course, there are a couple of Louisiana-specific restrictions, too.
For example, a business name should be…
Every name must also include the words “Limited Liability Company,” the abbreviation “LLC,” or some variation of the business type designation.
One last note: if your name includes specific words like “education,” “academy,” “bank,” or something similar, you may need to get additional approval from the relevant state agency.
Beyond that, there are a few Louisiana-specific rules you’ll want to follow. Most importantly, you cannot use a name that’s already been claimed by another business in Louisiana. Thankfully, you can check if your desired name is still available by running an Entity Name Search.
If your desired name is available, you shouldn’t hesitate to claim it! Ultimately, you’ll officially claim the name when you file your Articles of Organization (see Step 3). But if you’re not quite ready to file the Articles, you can reserve your name with the state. Simply fill out the Reservation of Corporate/Limited Liability Company/L3C/Partnership Name form and pay the applicable $25 fee. This will protect your chosen name for 120 days, giving you time to prepare anything else you need.
In your Articles of Organization, you’ll be required to list the name and address of your registered agent. “Registered agent” sounds fancy, but don’t let the name overwhelm you: an agent acts as your primary contact for all official communications.
A Louisiana registered agent accepts what the state calls “service of process” on your behalf. Basically, if your business ever falls out of good standing (or something similar), the state will send an official alert to your registered agent. Because of that, the registered agent needs to be available during all regular business hours.
In Louisiana, you can serve as your own registered agent, but we don’t recommend it. You’d be tied down to your listed address, or worse, you might run the risk of missing an important letter. Plus, appointing someone else keeps your personal address private and cuts down on junk mail.
Once you’ve chosen your name and appointed a registered agent, you’re ready to file your Articles of Organization. This all-important filing is what will legally create your business in the state of Louisiana, so it’s important to fill it out carefully.
Louisiana needs a lot of important information from you, including:
You can file your Articles online or by mail. Either way, you’ll need to pay the $100 filing fee. You can pay by check, money order, or by credit card. All checks should be made payable to the Louisiana Secretary of State.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnerships, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Louisiana business. You cannot form an LLC in Louisiana without filing the Articles of Organization, as this document is what officially registers your business within the state. It costs $100 to submit this filing.
Your LLC will be responsible for submitting annual reports each year. This filing is pretty simple, but it keeps the state up-to-date about some basic but vital business information like your address and registered agent. LLCs will pay $30 to submit the report. Read more about Louisiana costs – Louisiana LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Louisiana?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Louisiana. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Louisiana’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Louisiana LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the Secretary of State’s commercial search to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Louisiana, check out our full article on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Louisiana Articles of Organization?
You can fill out the Louisiana Articles of Organization on the Secretary of State’s website.
What Are Louisiana’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
All LLCs operating in the state of Louisiana are required to submit an annual report to the Secretary of State. It’s due by your LLC’s anniversary date, and there is a $30 filing fee.
Where Can I Learn More About the Louisiana LLC Licensing and Permitting Requirements?
Chances are, you’ll require at least one license or permit to operate your LLC in compliance with Louisiana state law. For more information about business licenses in this state, check out Louisiana’s convenient business licensing portal.
How Quickly Does Louisiana Process LLC Formations?
The Secretary of State will process your hard copy filing in 3-5 business days or your electronic filing in 24-48 hours. If you’re filing a paper application, but don’t want to wait 3-5 days, you have two expedited processing options: 24-hour service for a $30 fee or immediate service for a $50 fee.
Which Company Provides the Best Louisiana Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Louisiana registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Louisiana LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Louisiana LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Louisiana?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Louisiana. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Louisiana for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information 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.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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