New Orleans. Jazz. Cajun food and the Blues. Louisiana is known for many things including Baton Rouge and also as a place where businesses of all sorts set up shop.
Many aspiring business owners have chosen Louisiana as the location for their new limited liability company so they may take advantage of the state’s favorable economic climate and extensive infrastructure.
Summary
In addition to its many other advantages, a limited liability corporation (LLC) provides small enterprises with protection from legal responsibility and favorable tax treatment.
Follow these easy steps to start your limited liability company (LLC) operating in the state of Louisiana after you’ve decided that an LLC is the most suitable form of business for your requirements.
Note that you have the option of forming the limited liability company (LLC) yourself, or you may hire a company incorporation service to do all of the legwork on your behalf.
1. Establish Your Louisiana LLC name
Choosing a name for your new Louisiana limited liability corporation is the initial and most significant stage in the process. Be careful to select a name that satisfies the standards for naming businesses in the state of Louisiana and can be readily located by prospective customers.
Be sure to abide by the naming guidelines:
- You are required to have the word “limited liability corporation” or one of its acronyms included in the name of your business (LLC or L.L.C.)
- You are not allowed to use any terms in your company’s name that might lead to confusion with a public entity (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
- Words that are restricted, such as “bank,” “attorney,” and “university,” may need extra documentation and the participation of a licensed professional, such as a physician or lawyer, in your limited liability company.
Name Availability for LLCs
You may get an exhaustive rundown of the regulations that govern names in Louisiana by reading the naming guidelines established by the State Legislature.
To register the name in the state of Louisiana, conduct a name search on the official website of the State of Louisiana to see whether or not the name you desire is already in use.
If you plan on submitting the paperwork for the formation of your LLC on paper and if you wish to make absolutely sure that the title you choose your company is available, you can file an application to register your brand names for a duration of four months. This request can be made by submitting a form online.
The standard filing fee is $25, but you may pay an extra $30 to have the process done in just one day, or you can spend an additional $50 to have your papers finished in just four hours.
Make sure that “Secretary of State” is written on the memo line of any checks or money orders that you use. Documentation that has been completed should be delivered to the Commercial Division at the following address:
PO Box 94125, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70804-9125.
You are required to first obtain a name reservation and get a federal employer taxation ID before submitting LLC articles of incorporation if you wish to utilize the state’s online GeauxBIZ portal to complete the documentation necessary for the establishment of your limited liability company (LLC).
2. Choose a Louisiana registered agent
A registered agent in Louisiana is required of every limited liability company operating in the state. If the limited liability company (LLC) is taken to court, this refers to a person or company that has agreed to accept service of process on its behalf.
It is possible for the Registered Agent to be either a resident of Louisiana or a corporate body that is permitted to conduct operations in the state. It is required that the Registered Agent have a real, physical address in the state of Louisiana.
What does a Louisiana Registered Agent do?
A Registered Agent is an individual or corporate organization that is tasked with the responsibility of receiving essential tax forms, legal papers, notice of litigation, and official communication from the government on your company’s behalf. You may look at your registered agent as the point of contact for your company with the state in which it is located.
Who is qualified to act as a Registered Agent?
A Registered Agent in the state of Louisiana must either be an individual who resides in Louisiana on a permanent basis or a company that is permitted to carry out business in the state of Louisiana, such as a Registered Agent service.
You have the option of selecting anybody who works for the organization, including yourself.
3. Publish your company’s articles of incorporation.
Your limited liability company (LLC) will be formally recognized after you have a document called the Articles of Organization that lays forth fundamental information about your business. Because this form serves as the legal registration for your company with the state, it is essential that all of the details be accurate.
What should be included in a company’s Articles of Organization?
When completing the Articles of Organization for your Louisiana limited liability company, you are required to include the following information:
- LLC’s name
- LLC’s duration–perpetual or limited
- Address of the main office of the limited liability company Name and address of the registered agent for the limited liability company
- Location where the Secretary of State should send notifications to the limited liability company (LLC) through mail.
- How the Limited Liability Company (LLC) will be run: by its members or by its managers
- Whether or whether the limited liability company can provide professional services
- Name and address of each LLC organizer and at least one member or manager with operational competence.
Articles of Organization filings
These must Be Submitted All domestic or in-state LLCs are required to file their Articles of Organization. The cost of submitting paperwork is one hundred dollars.
During this interim period, organizations that are situated in other nations or outside the state are needed to file a Request for Authority and deposit the $150 fee associated with doing so. When a foreign firm files its application for a limited liability company (LLC), it is needed to additionally submit certifications of formation and good order that are not older than three months. These documents must be presented with the LLC application.
If you wish to submit your return via the post, you have the option of spending $30 to get your paperwork handled within 1 day or $50 to have your documentation reviewed within a few hours. If you choose the former option, your paperwork will be processed within 24 hours.
If you do not want to rush your case, you should plan on the review of your documents taking anywhere from 7 to 21 days. If you do not want to rush your case, you can anticipate it to take longer.
If you use geauxBIZ, the name of your business will automatically be transformed to an LLC file after the registration is completed. You also need to be aware that the first item you need to do is acquire an Employer tax ID (EIN).
Please send all completed applications and money to the following address:
The Corporation Division of the Secretary of State’s Office may be reached at (225) 255 Capitol Street NE, Suite 151, Salem, Louisiana 97310-1327. If you have any questions, contact 503-986-2200.
4. Obtain a State Certificate
After the formation paperwork of the LLC has been submitted and authorized, the state will issue you a certificate that proves the LLC officially exists. If you request a copy and pay appropriate postage, the state will mail you the certificate.
With this certificate, the limited liability company will be able to get an Employer Identification Number (EIN), as well as business permits and a bank account for the firm.
5. Draft an Operating Agreement for Your Company
Even while establishing a complete operating agreement for an LLC is not a legally required stage in the process of incorporating a limited liability company in Louisiana, it is highly suggested for all new limited liability firms.
The following items should be included in the operating agreement:
- Describe the business structure of the limited liability company.
- Establish the unique roles and obligations of each member of the limited liability company (LLC) Provide specifics on the functioning of your limited liability business.
With the lack of an operating agreement that outlines the specific obligations of its members, a limited liability corporation (LLC) can face significant legal and practical obstacles.
6. Obtain an EIN
A number of limited liability companies (LLCs) will be required to get a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), often known as a tax ID number. An EIN identifies your firm to the IRS and is essential to pay employer taxes, open a bank account, and recruit workers.
On the website of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which is accessible without charge, you may check to see whether you have to have an EIN and submit an application for one online.
The vast majority of companies are required to obtain an EIN, although a significant exception is provided for single-member limited liability companies, which are permitted to use the owner’s Social Security number instead.
Business Licenses
Depending on the nature of their operations and where they are located, some limited liability companies (LLCs) doing business in Louisiana may be needed to get one or more special permits or permits from the state or from their respective municipal governments.
You may get information on the state licensing requirements by visiting the Geauxbiz website of the Secretary of State, and you can find information on how to meet the local licensing requirements by contacting a clerk or a local government official in the city or parish where your LLC is headquartered.
Contact the municipal or county clerk where your LLC is situated for local licensing requirements.
7. Filing of your Annual Renewals
Every single limited liability company that operates inside the state of Louisiana is obliged by law to submit an Annual Report to the state’s Secretary of State.
The annual report is submitted on the day that corresponds with the anniversary of the formal establishment of the Louisiana limited liability company. Online submission of annual reports is required. The filing cost is thirty dollars.
Fees and what’s next?
Costs
The establishment of a local Limited Liability Company costs $100, whereas the formation of an international Limited Liability Company costs $150. You may pay an additional $30 to have your paper filings processed within one day, or you can spend an additional $50 to have your paper filings processed within two or three hours.
Consider the following additional fees that may be incurred by an LLC:
- Annual report – $30
- LLC name reservation – $25
- DBA (Doing Business As) name
- Certified document copies
- Certificate of Existence
What’s next?
When you register a limited liability company (LLC), you establish a legal basis upon which to operate your firm. Companies should make it a priority to maintain their limited liability company in compliance with state regulations and in an active position on the state’s website.
In addition, having a registered limited liability company enables you to perform the following:
- Obtain any relevant permits or licenses, such as those from the health department, zoning department, department of home occupations, dept of professional licensing, etc. Some state jurisdictions need a seller’s license.
- Make sure that your company is registered with the relevant tax authorities in your state.
- Create a business checking account with a financial institution such as Bluevine or Novo.
- Create a credit card account for your company.
- Invest in insurance coverage for your company.
- Create a trademark to protect both your company’s name and its logo.
DIY or professional LLC formation?
To establish a limited liability company (LLC), you are not required by law to consult a lawyer. The majority of states enable the establishment of LLCs via the process of registering the business entity on the website of the secretary of state and with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
If you are not acquainted with the process of forming an LLC, your best bet may be to hire a professional LLC provider so that you can be certain that the creation will go smoothly and quickly.
When entrepreneurs start a new firm, they may save startup costs and save valuable time by using a professional agency that specializes in company forms. They can take care of the things that you may not have time to think about for a price ranging from $50 to over $500, and some examples of such things are as follows:
- Developing an operating agreement for an LLC that details your company’s details and putting it into writing (required in some states).
- putting together articles of incorporation that identify the management of the LLC, the registration agent, and the date the company was formed.
- Taking up the role of registered agent for your firm.
- Keeping careful records in the event that there are investigations or litigation.
- Payment of filing fees and registration with the appropriate parties.
- Registering the name of your company and ensuring that the name you choose for your limited liability company is accessible.
- Finishing up and turning in all of the necessary legal and formation documentation.
FAQs
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
The cost to form a limited liability company (LLC) in Louisiana is $100, with an additional $30 for accelerated filings, $25 for LLC name registrations, and $30 for the filing of annual reports. The cost to form a foreign LLC is $150.
Can I create a Louisiana limited liability company (LLC) online?
Yes, it is possible to form a limited liability company (LLC) in Louisiana by submitting the Articles of Organization LLC (Form #365) through the geauxBIZ online portal. Prior to submitting the form, a name reservation and a federal tax ID number are required.
What is needed to form an LLC in Louisiana?
You will need the registration cost, a name for your limited liability company (LLC), a Registered Agent, Articles of Organization, an Operating Agreement, and an EIN number from the Internal Revenue Service in order to start an LLC in the state of Louisiana.
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