Vendor setup
Register a business in Louisiana
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Louisiana. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Louisiana entities are filed with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division (forms and fee schedule page). Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
Forming an LLC
- A Louisiana LLC is formed by Articles of Organization (Form 365), followed by a Supplemental Initial Report (Form 366). Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- The fees on this page come from the Secretary of State schedule that took effect October 1, 2026 (Act 921 of 2026). Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Articles of Organization filing fee: $125 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Supplemental Initial Report: $30 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Credit card convenience fee: $5 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
Forming a corporation
- A Louisiana business corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation (Form 399). Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee: $95 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Louisiana LLCs and corporations file annual reports. Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Annual report filing fee: $35 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Louisiana registers trade names at the state level with the Secretary of State, through the Trade Name, Trademark and Service Mark registration (Form 309). Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
- Trade name registration: $95 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, as of
State tax registration
- New businesses register their Department of Revenue tax accounts on LaTAP (“Register My Business”). Register for sales tax only if the business must collect it. Louisiana Department of Revenue, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- A residential swimming pool project costing more than the amount below in labour and materials needs a contractor holding the Residential Swimming Pools classification. A Residential Construction licensee without that classification must subcontract the pool work to someone who holds it. The source covers residential pools only. Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, as of
- Residential pool project cost above which the classification is needed: $7,500 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Forms & Fee Schedule Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. As of .
- Louisiana Secretary of State Fee Schedule, Effective 10/1/26 Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. As of .
- Starting or Buying a Business Louisiana Department of Revenue. As of .
- Types of Licenses Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked