How Much Does a Louisiana LLC Cost? Fees (2026)
A Louisiana LLC costs $100 to form - the fee for the Articles of Organization (#365) filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State - plus a $30 annual report each year. Effective October 1, 2026, the formation fee rises to $125 and the annual report to $35. There is no state franchise tax in 2026.
Quick Answer
- Formation fee
- $100 (Articles of Organization #365) - $125 from Oct 1, 2026
- Annual report
- $30 per year - $35 from Oct 1, 2026
- Name reservation
- $25 (optional, form #398)
- Registered agent
- $0 to name; $25 to change later (form #983)
- Franchise tax
- None - repealed for periods on/after Jan 1, 2026
- Agency
- Louisiana Secretary of State (geauxBIZ)
The One-Time Formation Cost: $100
The single required cost to create a Louisiana LLC is the $100 fee for filing the Articles of Organization (form #365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State. This fee is set by the state fee schedule, not by any filing service, and it is paid once when the LLC is formed. You file the articles together with an initial report through the geauxBIZ online portal, which is the standard method.
Two changes are worth noting. First, effective October 1, 2026, the Articles of Organization fee increases to $125 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session. Second, a low-profit LLC (L3C) uses a different form but the same $100 fee. For the full formation walkthrough, see how to form an LLC in Louisiana and the national how to form an LLC guide.
The Recurring Cost: $30 Annual Report
After formation, the main recurring state cost is the annual report. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 12:1308.1, a manager or member must file an annual report with the Secretary of State on or before the anniversary date of the LLC's organization each year. The fee is $30, rising to $35 on October 1, 2026. You file it online through geauxBIZ.
Unlike some states, Louisiana does not charge a large recurring "franchise" or "privilege" fee to the Secretary of State on top of the annual report. Missing the report has a cost of its own, though: under RS 12:1308.2, the Secretary of State must revoke the articles of an LLC that fails to file for three consecutive years. See the Louisiana annual report guide for deadlines and reinstatement.
Louisiana LLC Fee Table (2026)
The table below lists the state fees a Louisiana LLC most commonly encounters, each verified against the Louisiana Secretary of State fee schedule and the 2026 fee-change notice. The middle column is the current fee; the right column is the fee effective October 1, 2026.
| Item | Form | Fee (now) | From Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (form the LLC) | #365 | $100 | $125 |
| Annual report | geauxBIZ filing | $30 | $35 |
| Name reservation (120 days) | #398 | $25 | $25 |
| Change of registered office or agent | #983 | $25 | $30 |
| Certified copy of a filing | - | $15 | $20 |
| Affidavit to dissolve the LLC | #368 | $100 | $125 |
| Foreign LLC registration | #972 | $150 | $185 |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | $0 (free) |
Registered Agent Cost
Naming your first registered agent costs nothing extra - you list the agent in the initial report filed with your Articles of Organization. If you later change the registered office or agent, you file form #983 for $25 (rising to $30 on October 1, 2026), as provided by RS 12:1309.
You may serve as your own registered agent at no cost if you are a Louisiana resident, or you can hire a commercial registered agent service. Commercial services set their own annual price, which is not a state fee and is not required by law. The national registered agent overview explains the trade-offs.
Tax Costs: Income, Sales, and the Repealed Franchise Tax
Beyond filing fees, an LLC's real ongoing cost is tax. Louisiana taxes an LLC by its federal classification. A pass-through LLC's profits flow to its members and are taxed at Louisiana's flat 3% individual income tax rate (for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025). An LLC taxed as a corporation pays the flat 5.5% corporation income tax.
The good news for 2026: Louisiana repealed its corporation franchise tax for franchise tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026, removing a recurring cost that many corporate-taxed LLCs previously paid. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, budget for the 5% state sales tax you must collect and remit to the Louisiana Department of Revenue (plus local sales taxes). See the national business tax guide and weigh an S-corp election if payroll tax savings matter.
Optional and Third-Party Costs
Several costs are optional or set by third parties, not the state. Reserving a name before filing is $25 (form #398). A certified copy of your filing is $15 (rising to $20). Expedited processing carries an added Secretary of State fee. Beyond the state, budget for any occupational or regulatory business licenses your activity requires, a local occupational license tax where applicable, and optional professional help.
A federal EIN is always free directly from the IRS - you never need to pay for one. If you form in more than one state, compare Louisiana's costs with, for example, forming an LLC in Texas, where the formation fee and ongoing obligations differ.
Total First-Year Cost Estimate
For a typical single-member Louisiana LLC formed in 2026, the required state cost in year one is the $100 Articles of Organization fee plus the $30 annual report if the anniversary falls within the year - a state total near $130. If you also reserve a name ($25) and pull a certified copy ($15), the state total is about $170. A free EIN adds nothing. These figures are state fees only; they exclude any licenses, local taxes, or optional services.
Because Louisiana's Commercial Division fees rise on October 1, 2026, an LLC formed after that date pays $125 to form and $35 for the annual report. Always confirm the current amount on the fee schedule before filing. For the broader national picture, see how much an LLC costs and what an LLC is.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Louisiana?
$100 to file the Articles of Organization (#365) with the Louisiana Secretary of State, rising to $125 on October 1, 2026. Filing online through geauxBIZ is standard. See how to form an LLC in Louisiana.
What is the annual cost of a Louisiana LLC?
The recurring state cost is the annual report, $30 per year (rising to $35 on October 1, 2026). Louisiana repealed its franchise tax for 2026, so there is no separate franchise fee.
Is there an annual report fee for a Louisiana LLC?
Yes. RS 12:1308.1 requires an annual report on or before the anniversary date of organization. The fee is $30, rising to $35 on October 1, 2026, filed through geauxBIZ.
Does Louisiana charge a franchise tax on LLCs?
No. The corporation franchise tax was repealed for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026. An LLC taxed as a corporation pays only the flat 5.5% corporation income tax.
How much does a registered agent cost in Louisiana?
The state charges no fee to name your first agent. Changing the agent later costs $25 (form #983), rising to $30 on October 1, 2026. Commercial services set their own price.
Is the $100 Louisiana LLC fee a one-time cost?
Yes. The $100 Articles of Organization fee is paid once to create the LLC. After that, the only required recurring state cost is the $30 annual report.
Related
- How much does an LLC cost? (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Louisiana
- Louisiana LLC annual report
- Louisiana registered agent
- Business licenses in Louisiana
- How to dissolve an LLC in Louisiana
- How to form an LLC in Texas (sibling)
Sources
- Louisiana Secretary of State - Forms & Fee Schedule ($100 Articles of Organization #365; $30 annual report; $25 name reservation #398; $25 change of agent #983; $15 certified copy; $100 affidavit to dissolve #368; $150 foreign LLC #972).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - 2026 Fee Changes (Act 921), effective Oct 1, 2026 (Articles $125; annual report $35; change of agent $30; certified copy $20; affidavit to dissolve $125; foreign LLC $185).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - Start a Business (geauxBIZ).
- Louisiana Secretary of State - File Business Documents (online annual report filing).
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308.1, Annual report (anniversary date).
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308.2, Failure to file annual report; revocation and reinstatement.
- Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1309, Change of registered office or agent ($25 fee).
- Louisiana Department of Revenue - Corporation Income Tax (flat 5.5%; franchise tax repealed for periods on/after Jan 1, 2026).
- Louisiana Department of Revenue - Individual Income Tax (flat 3% for tax years on/after Jan 1, 2025).
- Louisiana Department of Revenue - General Sales & Use Tax (5% state rate).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- Legal Information Institute - 26 CFR 301.7701-3, Classification of certain business entities.
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Louisiana Secretary of State and Louisiana Department of Revenue before acting.