Are you looking to form a limited liability company (LLC) in Louisiana, but you’re not sure how the process works? There are several important steps to create a compliant Louisiana LLC that can do business in the state.
To get started, please reference our five-step guide below or hire an affordable online LLC formation service.
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What Is a Louisiana LLC?
The Louisiana LLC is one of the most popular business structures in the state. It’s a more casual and flexible type of business than a corporation but includes the personal asset protection that’s lacking in sole proprietorships and general partnerships.
LLCs in Louisiana have simple formation and maintenance requirements, several options for how they can be taxed, and flexible management. From one-person businesses to multi-member LLCs with several owners, the LLC is a popular choice for a reason.
Setting Up a Brand-New Louisiana LLC in 5 Steps
For the first part of this guide, we’ll cover the five essential steps to setting up a Louisiana business that doesn’t have employees yet. These steps also apply to businesses with employees, but we’re keeping things streamlined to start. If you do have employees, make sure you complete these steps and the steps for employers (which we’ll cover later in the guide).
Step One: Choose a Business Name
Your LLC’s name is often the first impression you get to make on potential customers, and therefore it goes without saying that this is an important step. There are a few different aspects to consider when naming your business.
Legalities
In the state of Louisiana, you’re required by law to meet several requirements for your business name. Here’s a quick glimpse at the rules for LLCs:
- Your name must include the abbreviations “L.L.C.” or “L.C.” or the phrase “Limited Liability Company”
- Your name must not imply your business conducts any activities prohibited by law or that run contrary to your stated business purpose
- Your name must be “distinguishable on the record” or distinct from the names of other business entities in the state
For more information on naming rules in Louisiana, please consult the Name Section of the Louisiana Liability Company Act.
Explanatory Naming
Another aspect to consider is including language that explains what your business does ― for example, if you’re starting a coffee shop, put the word “coffee” or “brew” in your LLC name. Additionally, if your business has strong values like being environmentally friendly, you can indicate that by including the word “green.” This helps potential customers know exactly what to expect from your business.
Once you’ve picked the perfect name for your business, you don’t want to lose it to another aspiring entrepreneur. Thankfully, Louisiana allows you to reserve your business name if you’re not quite ready to register your business. To do that, you’ll need to file the Reservation of Corporate/Limited Liability Company/L3C/Partnership Name form along with a $25 fee.
Filing this reservation protects your chosen name for your exclusive use for 120 days. You can learn more about name reservations here.
Step Two: Appoint a Registered Agent
Every LLC in Louisiana is required to designate a registered agent, which is the individual or registered agent service that receives government correspondence on behalf of your business, then forwards those documents to you.
When you appoint a Louisiana registered agent, here are the state requirements to be mindful of:
- Every entity that files with the Secretary of State (both domestic and foreign) must appoint a registered agent
- The agent may be an individual resident of Louisiana OR a business that has the authority to operate in the state
- An agent must be continuously maintained
You can find a full rundown of the state laws here.
Without a registered agent, you could lose your good standing with the state of Louisiana, and the state also has the right to dissolve your LLC if they decide to. In a worst-case scenario, you could miss the alert regarding a lawsuit against your company, which could even lead to a judgment against your business because you didn’t defend yourself.
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Step Three: File Formation Documents
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Once you are ready to form your Louisiana limited liability company, you will fill out the Articles of Organization. You can either do this on your own or hire a Louisiana LLC service. Some services, like ZenBusiness, even offer free LLC services (just pay your state’s fee).
This is the document that will register your LLC with the state. You’ll want to ensure all of the following information is correct on the form:
- Your state and parish/county
- The name of your business
- Duration of the company (often perpetual)
- Other provisions you wish to include
- Signatures of organizers
- Signature of notary
- A completed Initial Report, including your registered agent’s name and contact information
The process of filing the Articles of Organization is generally pretty simple; but in Louisiana, you do need to file the Initial Report in conjunction with this document. But since it’s included in the packet, it’s easy to remember.
The more important step to remember is to have the Articles notarized. This step isn’t difficult, but it does require you to locate a nearby notary. Once you’ve selected one, you can either take the Articles to them in person, or some notaries can even offer remote notarization online. Either will fulfill this requirement, so you can pick whichever works best for you.
- Total cost: $100
- Processing speed: 1-2 business days for online filing, 3-5 for paper filing
- Expedited processing: $30 for 24-hour turnaround, $50 for immediate processing
Step Four: Draft an Operating Agreement
After you register an LLC in Louisiana, create a detailed outline that explains how you will run and manage your new business. Even though it doesn’t need to be filed with the state, put one together and keep it for your records.
When you open a bank account, you may be asked for this document in order to open an account. You’ll also want to keep in mind that any future business partners or managing members may also be interested in seeing your operating agreement before joining your company. After all, this document essentially serves as your overall plan for success.
An attorney can help you outline your operating agreement or create one from a free template online. You can read more about operating agreements, but some of the basic information you’ll want to have includes:
- Individual members’ ownership percentages
- Rights and responsibilities
- Voting powers and meeting guidelines
- Allocation of profits and losses
- Management rules for the LLC
- Provisions for buying out a member-owner or transferring their shares in the case of illness or death
Step Five: Get Licenses & Permits
Louisiana law requires an LLC to obtain all necessary licenses and permits before starting operations. The type and cost of the permits that your business may require vary depending on the nature of the services your LLC offers. Some businesses won’t even need licenses. That’s especially true since Louisiana does not have a statewide general business license.
That said, we recommend that every LLC owner log into geauxBIZ to see if any industry-specific licenses apply to your business. Not every industry will require licenses, but those that will must get the licenses required in order to run a compliant business.
Last but not least, you should check with your city or county to see if they maintain any licensure requirements.
Next Steps for Newly Formed LLCs
1. Obtain a Business Bank Account
One of the most important aspects of running an LLC is ensuring that your business funds remain separate from your personal finances. And to do that, you’ll need a separate bank account for your business.
Obtaining a business bank account is pretty simple, and you can choose the financial institution you like best. Some banks will ask to review your LLC’s operating agreement, and it’s a near-certainty that they’ll ask to see your EIN (Employer Identification Number). This is a free registration with the IRS, and the number acts a lot like a Social Security number for a business.
Once you have your account, you’ll be able to get checks, make payments using your business card, and so on.
If you failed to get a business bank account, you would technically be blurring the line between your personal accounts and your business accounts. That compromises your personal asset protection.
2. Prepare for Tax Time
Regardless of how far away April 15th is, it’s never too soon to prepare for tax time and setting up accounting software. As an LLC owner, the exact tax rates you’ll pay depend on the taxation structure you choose for your business. If you choose to be taxed as a corporation, the LLC itself will pay taxes from its own funds. Meanwhile, LLCs taxed as pass-through entities don’t technically pay taxes; its members do. The profits are distributed to the LLCs members, and each member reports that income on Schedule C of their personal taxes.
If you choose to be taxed as a corporation, you’ll pay the following rates:
- Federal: 21%
- State: 4-8% (plus the franchise tax)
Meanwhile, LLCs taxed as pass-through entities pay these rates:
- Federal: 10-37%, rising on a fixed-bracket scale
- State: 2-6%
In order to compliantly file and pay your taxes, you’ll fill out a complete copy of federal Form 1065 including all federal K-1s, statements, and attachments. If you’re taxed as a corporation, you’ll be expected to file Form 620 most years (typically on a quarterly basis) along with Form 6906 (the initial franchise tax return), both of which can be found here. Meanwhile, businesses taxed as pass-through entities will file Form IT-540.
Beyond that, if you’re in retail, you’ll need to collect and pay the state sales tax (4.5%). There are other important miscellaneous taxes that may or may not apply to your business depending on your industry, too. For example, Louisiana has miscellaneous fees for motor fuel, school readiness, and other aspects. To learn more about these taxes and learn which might apply to your LLC, check out the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Because taxes can be incredibly complicated, we highly recommend consulting with a business attorney or accountant to ensure that you cover all requirements on the state and federal level.
3. Be Ready to File Your Annual Report
All business owners operating in Louisiana must complete an Annual Report each year. Not only does this document alert the state that you’re still in business, but it also updates the state on some important information about your business that may have changed over the course of the year.
Filing this form online is easy thanks to geauxBIZ; just fill out the required information, pay the $30 filing fee, and you’re set to go. Louisiana requires you to file this before your LLC’s anniversary date.
4. Consider Business Insurance
The big advantage of the LLC is that it offers you personal asset protection. But that doesn’t mean that mishaps won’t happen along the way. We highly recommend obtaining a general liability policy with the right coverage for your business.
In the event of a mishap or natural disaster, an insurance policy can help you navigate unexpected expenses. Be sure to compare your different options to get the best coverage for your particular type of business.
Extra Steps for Businesses with Employees
When you’re operating as a one- or two-person show, operating a business is relatively streamlined. Things get more complicated when you bring employees into the picture, but employees also help raise your business to new heights. But to reach those heights, you need to comply with employee-related legal requirements.
Step One: Address Employee-Related Taxes
Obtaining an EIN does more than allow you to get a business bank account. It also lays the groundwork for other taxes, such as Social Security and withholding taxes. For example, you’re required to withhold income taxes from employee paychecks, make Social Security and Medicare tax payments, and pay unemployment fund taxes. For more information on employer taxes at the federal level, look here.
There are similar taxes on the state level. For example, Louisiana requires withholding taxes, contributions to the unemployment insurance tax fund, and more. We recommend consulting the Department of Revenue and the Louisiana Workforce Commission to learn what taxes apply to you and your business.
Step Two: Obtain Additional Insurance
Nearly every Louisiana business with employees is strictly required to get workers’ compensation insurance (or in a few rare cases, to self-insure). For more information on this policy requirement, check out the Louisiana Workforce Commission.
If you haven’t already obtained a general liability policy, we highly recommend that you do so when you bring employees into the business. The more people you have involved in a business, the higher your risk of needing general liability insurance.
Of course, proper care and discretion will eliminate most problems, but incidents happen — from faulty products to an employee slipping and falling. And in some cases, insurance can be the difference between a minor hiccup and a budget-breaker.
Step Three: Enlist Help
For some entrepreneurs, part of the fun of running a business is the opportunity to wear lots of different hats: accountant, manager, marketer, quality control expert — it’s a near-endless list. And if your business is still pretty small, you might be able to handle many of these tasks yourself, especially if you’re prepared with a business administration degree.
But if you aren’t (and it certainly isn’t a prerequisite), some of these tasks may leave you feeling overburdened or out of your depth. For instance, navigating employer-related taxes might steal valuable time that you’d rather spend promoting your business or developing a new product. An accountant or tax attorney, however, knows those tasks like the back of their hand. You may decide it’s worth the added expense to enlist their help.
Ultimately, it’s your decision whether to bring in professionals or DIY. But in our opinion, it’s often worth it to get help from specialized pros.