Form an LLC in Louisiana with Tailor Brands for Free
Forming an LLC in Louisiana is a walk in the park if you choose Tailor Brands as your business formation services provider.With over 500,000 new businesses registered worldwide, Tailor Brands is a reliable starting point for the formation of your LLC in Louisiana.
LLC Formation At No Cost. Totally Free.
LLC formation packages begin at $0 (plus state fees), covering essential services like LLC formation documents preparation, review, and filing.
Offers robust branding solutions, including logo design, social media tools, and domain registration services tailored for new business owners.
Assists with the Employee Identification Number application, which is necessary to open a business account for your LLC in Louisiana.
Things to Know Before Starting an LLC in Louisiana
Starting a new business involves certain filing and processing costs, over and above your other business expenses. You should know of the key costs of starting an LLC in Louisiana before you move any further.
Here are some of the main costs involved in forming a Louisiana LLC:
- The filing fee for submitting the articles of organization to form an LLC in Louisiana is $100.
- You can expedite the process by paying $50 for 2-4 hour processing and $30 for 24-hour processing to form an LLC in Louisiana.
- An LLC in Louisiana needs to file an annual report; the state filing fee for submitting that report is $30.
- If you wish to reserve your business name for 120 days, you can submit an application with a $25 fee.
It’s better to be prepared than be surprised at the last moment and make mistakes. Learn about all the requirements for starting an LLC in Louisiana, before you go ahead and register one.
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How to Form an LLC in Louisiana
There are many steps involved in starting an LLC in Louisiana and we can’t possibly cover everything. However, we can cover all the essential steps, especially the legal requirements and processes.
Here are the steps you need to take to form an LLC in Louisiana.
Make a Business Plan
The first step in the business checklist of starting an LLC in Louisiana is to develop a feasible and profitable business idea. This step is critical, whether you’re launching a freelance business or a new LLC in Louisiana. and make a business plan.
Your LLC Louisiana plan should answer key questions about your business, such as who its target audience is and what products or services it will offer. You should also plan how you will market your new business and win your first few clients.
Select a Business Name
Choose a business name for your Louisiana LLC that well represents your business and is not misleading. Your chosen LLC name should be unique and must not be used by any other business in Louisiana. It should also be short and easy to remember.
Follow the state’s naming guidelines. Ensure that the name doesn’t suggest a non-profit organization if you have a for-profit business. Additionally, include terms like “Limited Liability Company” to comply with state regulations.
Reserve a Business Name and Domain
Ensure that you reserve your chosen business name or LLC name if you anticipate a delay in the LLC registration process. This will ensure that no other business can use your chosen name for the period for which it is reserved.
In Louisiana, you are allowed to reserve your Louisiana LLC’s name for 120 days. To reserve a business name, you must apply with the Louisiana Secretary of State, along with the state filing fee of $25 and expedited filing fees, if applicable.
Appoint a Louisiana-Registered Agent
Select a Louisiana-registered agent to receive all legal correspondence on behalf of your LLC in Louisiana. If your business gets sued or gets a legal notice, your registered agent service will receive it and inform you of the same on time.
You can choose to be your own registered agent, but that would require you to always be present at the registered address during the business days and hours. As a busy entrepreneur, that may not always be possible for you.
Choose a Type of LLC
Determine whether you need to start a foreign LLC or a domestic LLC in Louisiana. This choice will depend on whether you have an existing business and want to expand it or if you want to start a new business idea from scratch.
If you already have an established business in another state and want to expand it to Louisiana, you’ll need a foreign LLC. If you’re establishing a new business in Louisiana, then you’ll need to form a domestic LLC in Louisiana.
Draft a Detailed LLC Operating Agreement
The next step in the process is to create an operating agreement that guides how your Limited Liability Company in Louisiana will operate. It covers detailed guidelines on the roles and responsibilities of members and managers.
It also defines the clear rules on who makes the decisions and how and how conflicts will be resolved. As such, you should make detailed LLC operating agreements to ensure all important governance guidelines are covered.
Register Your LLC
Legally register your LLC in Louisiana by submitting your LLC’s articles of organization to the Louisiana Secretary of State. You may do so by filing the LLC in Louisiana application and all accompanying documents online or by sending it via mail or in person.
Make sure you fill out all required information for registering your LLC in Louisiana accurately and provide all the necessary information. Pay the $100 LLC filing fee while submitting your application and choose one of the expedited filing options if you so wish, at an extra cost.
Get an Employer Identification No.
Every LLC in Louisiana needs an employer identification number, also known as a Tax ID. The government and the Internal Revenue Service use this number to recognize and track a business and its tax filings each year, or lack thereof.
EIN is not just useful for tax purposes but for various other reasons. For instance, you will need an EIN to open a bank account in the name of your LLC in Louisiana. Having an EIN also improves your chances of getting external funding.
Open a Bank Account for Your LLC
To ensure that your business finances remain completely separate from yours, open a bank account in your LLC’s name. This will streamline your business finances and also help you build a banking history for your LLC in Louisiana.
Look for hybrid business banking options that do not require you to visit a physical branch for every need. Choose the right business banking solution that helps you manage your LLC in Louisiana finances easily from anywhere and anytime.
Get the Required Permits
Depending on the type of business you want to start in Louisiana, you may need different licenses and permits. Most businesses require a general business license, but specialized businesses require a few more licenses.
For example, a real estate business may require a real estate license. Check out the detailed requirements specific to your business, and obtain all required federal, state, and local licenses to start your business operations.
Choose Your Tax Structure
An LLC in Louisiana has the flexibility to choose its tax structure. A single-member LLC in Louisiana is taxed as a Sole Proprietorship and follows pass-through taxation where the business income passes to the LLC members.
A multi-member LLC in Louisiana, on the other hand, can be taxed as a Partnership and follow the pass-through taxation. Alternatively, it can also choose to be taxed as a Corporation, including both C-Corp and S-Corp tax structures.
Get a Trade Name (Optional)
Opt for an assumed name or fictitious name, aka trade name, if your chosen business name is too long or not memorable enough for branding purposes. Following the naming conventions may make the official name for your LLC in Louisiana too long.
File for a Doing Business As (DBA) or trade name with the Louisiana Secretary of State. You will need to pay a filing fee of $75 to register a trade name for your LLC in Louisiana and if you want to reserve it for 120 days, you need to pay $25 extra for it.
Get a Trademark (Optional)
If you want to protect your brand name, logo, or some other brand element, you can get a trademark. It costs the same as a trade name and involves the same process where you file an application with the Secretary of State.
Doing so will allow you to protect your brand and prevent any other company from copying your brand name or logo. You may also get servicemarks. If you apply for multiple categories, you need to pay the fee multiple times.
Stay in Good Standing with the State
Forming an LLC in Louisiana is a one-time thing, but running it in compliance with the state’s laws is an ongoing process. Make sure you follow all regulatory requirements and stay in good standing with the state.
Two key requirements you need to comply with when operating an LLC in Louisiana include paying taxes and filing your LLC’s annual reports on time. Failing to do so may result in penalties or cancellation of your LLC’s registration status, making it non-operational.
Why You Should Outsource LLC Formation Instead of Doing It Yourself
The key reason to outsource the formation of your LLC in Louisiana is convenience. Why deal with regulatory hassles and government paperwork yourself when you can outsource for free or at a nominal cost? Here are some more reasons, in case you need more convincing about forming an LLC in Louisiana.
Simplified Process
Simplify the tedious process of dealing with tons of paperwork by outsourcing to professionals. You only need to provide necessary legal documents and information for your LLC in Louisiana, and experts will take care of the rest.
100% Accuracy
It’s easy to make mistakes while filling out long and complex forms, especially if you’re doing it for the first time. Outsourcing to experts who do this frequently ensures accuracy and reduces the scope for human error in your application.
Faster Filing
When an experienced team takes care of the application process, they can complete it much more quickly than if you were to handle all the paperwork by yourself. They also offer expedited filing options to help you start an LLC as soon as possible.
Benefits of Starting an LLC in Louisiana
There’s a reason why LLCs are such a popular business entity — they offer the best features of all other business entities combined. You get liability protection, flexibility, ease of management, and a lot of other benefits if you choose an LLC.
Check out these key advantages of an LLC.
Limited Liability Protection
The key advantage of forming an LLC in Louisiana is the shield against liability it provides to owners. Unlike Sole Proprietorships and Partnerships, an LLC’s members are not personally responsible for the company’s debts.
As such, the personal assets of the LLC members remain safe, even when business assets are seized to pay off the LLC’s debts. If the company is sued, the LLC members are not liable, unless the lawsuit is due to their malpractice.
Flexible Tax Structure
LLCs are generally considered pass-through entities. This means that LLC members pay personal income tax instead of the LLC in Louisiana paying corporate tax on business income. Members also need to pay self-employment tax.
LLCs have the option to choose their tax classification and can be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, S-Corp, or C-Corp. They have the flexibility to select the most suitable tax structure to realize greater tax savings.
Affordability
Limited liability companies avoid double taxation on their incomes, unlike corporations, for which owners need to pay corporate taxes as well as personal income taxes. This reduces the tax burden on an LLC in Louisiana or any other state.
Remember, the filing fee for registering an LLC in Louisiana is higher ($100) than that for registering a Corporation ($75). Still, in the long run, running an LLC in Louisiana is much cheaper than running a formal Corporation, in most cases.
Less Paperwork
Forming an LLC in Louisiana is simpler and quicker than forming a Corporation, which is a more formal business structure that requires additional formalities. As a result, the business formation paperwork is much less for an LLC.
Running an LLC in Louisiana also requires less paperwork. C-Corps, for example, require detailed minutes of meetings and have detailed documentation requirements. Limited liability companies have fewer requirements and, thus, paperwork.
Ease of Management
Managing a Limited Liability Company is much easier compared to managing an S-Corporation or a C-Corporation, which are more formal business structures and have more stringent rules, regulations, and procedures.
Corporations have stringent rules and requirements on how the business will be run. LLC members, however, can decide how they want to run the company and lay down the rules in a detailed LLC operating agreement.
Ownership Flexibility
Many business entities, an S-Corp for instance, have strict rules on who can or cannot be an owner or shareholder. S-Corporations can have a maximum of 100 shareholders and non-residents can’t be one of the shareholders.
LLCs, on the other hand, have no such limitations. You can have as many members as you want and form a single-member or a multi-member LLC. There are very few limitations on who can be the members of your LLC in Louisiana.
Ability to Hold Assets
Limited liability companies are considered pass-through entities for tax purposes. However, an LLC is a legal entity that has various rights and privileges, and one such right is the ability to hold assets in the company’s name.
You can buy real estate, equipment, and other physical or intangible assets for your LLC in Louisiana in the company’s name. You don’t need to buy business assets in your name or need to take any personal liability on the company’s behalf.
Ability to Enter into Contracts
Adding to the previous point, an LLC in Louisiana also has the right to enter into legal business contracts. Whether you need investment or sign a supply contract with a vendor, you can do so in the LLC’s name.
You or any other LLC member does not need to co-sign business contracts in your respective names. This makes things simpler and helps you avoid personal liability if the LLC in Louisiana fails to meet the terms of the agreement.
Tailor Brands Louisiana LLC Formation Services: Free + Paid Plans
Tailor Brands is a trusted provider of business formation services, offering years of expertise in helping entrepreneurs establish an LLC in Louisiana. The platform provides both free and premium service options to cater to various business needs.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the services included in each plan.
Lite Plan
The Lite plan is completely free for new business owners, offering the following services:
- LLC registration service: The Lite Plan allows you to officially form your LLC in Louisiana for free. This includes filing the necessary documents like Louisiana Articles of Organization with your state to register your business.
- Two business days processing time: With the Lite plan, your LLC formation documents are processed within two business days. This quick turnaround saves you time and ensures your business is ready to operate in no time.
- Business coaching: Gain access to expert business coaching that can guide your startup journey for free. This includes resources for building a strong foundation for your LLC in Louisiana and tips on business planning.
Price: $0 + state filing fee
Essential Plan
The Essential plan offers formation features with added value, including:
- $30 Amazon gift card: Every dollar counts when building a business from scratch. As a bonus, this plan rewards you with a $30 Amazon gift card. You can use it to purchase essential business tools or anything you need.
- Faster processing: With this plan, Tailor Brands guarantees expedited turnaround time to help you get your LLC in Louisiana up and running. This contributes largely to a smooth business launch.
- Annual compliance updates: Tailor Brands helps you handle mandatory filings like annual reports by sending you timely updates and notifications. Compliance is critical to keep your business in good standing with the state.
- Operating agreement support: With the help of experts, you can draft a comprehensive operating agreement for your LLC. This feature helps ensure legal and management clarity for your LLC in Louisiana.
Price: $199/year + state filing fee
Elite Plan
This plan provides the most comprehensive features for your LLC in Louisiana, including:
- DIY website builder: With the Elite Plan, you can create a professional website or online store for your LLC in Louisiana using Tailor Brands’ tools. The platform is user-friendly, even for those with no design experience.
- 1-year free domain: Establishing an online presence starts with securing a custom domain for your LLC. Tailor Brands provides a free custom domain for one year to help you enhance your brand’s credibility and online visibility.
- Business card and social media tools: The plan includes tools for designing professional virtual and physical business cards and creating social media posts. These features can help you connect with customers.
- Customizable logos: Tailor Brands offers up to eight logo designs so you can customize the perfect one for your business. With this branding feature, you can ensure that your LLC in Louisiana stands out visually.
- Social media post maker: With the Elite plan, you can easily create stunning posts for social media platforms. Tailor Brands’ tools include customizable post templates for promoting your business on social media platforms.
Price: $249/year + state filing fee
Why Choose Tailor Brands to Form an LLC in Louisiana
To get your LLC in Louisiana up and running with ease, you may need to engage the expertise of business formation providers, and Tailor Brands is one of the best out there. Here are some reasons why you should choose it for starting an LLC in Louisiana.
Free LLC Formation
Tailor Brands offers absolutely free LLC formation services, without any hidden costs. Simply pay the state filing fees and its team of specialists will take care of everything on your behalf.
Unmatched Expertise
Tailor Brands has a team of specialists working for it, with expertise in different areas of business, such as tax planning or business funding. When you choose Tailor Brands, you get access to all of them.
Hassle-Free
When you outsource LLC formation to Tailor Brands, you can sit back and relax while it handles everything. The entire process will go seamlessly and you will get a stress-free experience.
FAQ
Here is the step-by-step process to start an LLC in Louisiana:
- Make a Business Plan: Come up with a business idea and make a clear plan on how you plan to launch a successful business. This should include your pre-launch and post-launch marketing plans and go-to-market strategy.
- Select a Business Name: Choose a unique LLC name that meets Louisiana’s LLC naming conventions and well represents your business.
- Reserve a Business Name and Domain: Reserve your chosen name for your LLC in Louisiana for 120 days by filing a form and paying the required state filing fees.
- Appoint a Louisiana Registered Agent: Find and appoint a local resident agent who’s willing to receive legal documents on behalf of your business.
- Choose a Type of LLC: Decide whether you need to form a foreign LLC or domestic LLC, or a member-managed or manager-managed LLC. You can also choose between a single-member versus a multi-member LLC.
- Draft a Detailed LLC Operating Agreement: Brainstorm with other LLC members and write all the rules of how you plan to run your LLC and make strategic decisions.
- Register Your LLC: File your LLC Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State in Louisiana to legally register your business.
- Get an Employer Identification No.: Obtain a Tax ID to enable the IRS to easily identify and track your new business for tax purposes. It’s also useful for opening a business bank account and various other business purposes.
- Open a Bank Account for Your LLC: Find the best banking partner that offers convenient banking options for modern business needs and open an account. This allows you to keep your business finances organized.
- Get the Required Permits: Identify the business licenses and permits you require to operate your LLC in Louisiana and obtain them before you start your business.
- Choose Your Tax Structure: Decide if you want to go with the default pass-through taxation or choose another tax structure that better suits your needs. You even have the flexibility to apply for and obtain the S-Corp special tax status.
- Get a Trade Name: File for a DBA, aka trade name, to register and short and more marketable business name you can use for branding purposes. This will allow you to use a memorable brand name that customers can easily identify and recall.
- Get a Trademark: Protect your brand name, logo, and other brand elements from being used by other companies by applying for a trademark. You may also apply for a servicemark, if you need to.
- Stay in Good Standing with the State: Pay your taxes and file annual reports on time and meet all other regulatory requirements to stay compliant with the state rules.
If you follow the state’s guidelines, your LLC can keep running perpetually, without an expiration date. However, if you don’t file your annual report for three consecutive years, then your LLC status will be revoked.
As such, not paying taxes or not following other rules and regulations can also cause you to lose your LLC status. Make sure you stay in good standing with the state, and your LLC will operate seamlessly, without an expiration date. Fail to comply with the rules and you will face adverse consequences.
Here are some of the key benefits of an LLC in Louisiana:
- Liability Protection: An LLC in Louisiana offers limited liability protection to its members. This ensures they’re not held liable for paying off the company’s debts and their personal assets remain safe.
- Flexible Tax Structure: LLC members can choose how they want their business to be taxed to achieve maximum tax advantages and savings. It can be taxed as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or Corporation.
- Affordability: Compared to a Corporation, limited liability companies are more affordable in the long run as they don’t need to pay corporate taxes and avoid double taxation.
- Less Paperwork: LLCs don’t need to follow the stringent record-keeping requirements of a Corporation and, thus, require much less paperwork on a day-to-day basis.
- Ease of Management: Unlike a Corporation, where rules of management are fixed, LLC members have complete control over how they want to run their business and make strategic business decisions.
- Ownership Flexibility: LLCs have fewer limitations on who can be a member. There’s no upper limit on how many LLC members you can have, it can be 1 or it can be 100, whatever your business needs.
- Ability to Hold Assets: An LLC in Louisiana is a legal entity with specific legal rights and privileges. One such privilege is the ability to buy assets in the business name and not that of the owners or members.
- Ability to Enter into Contracts: Another legal right that a Louisiana Limited Liability Company has, is the right to enter into legally binding contracts. It can make business deals and sign contracts in the company’s name.
Though there are numerous advantages to forming an LLC in Louisiana, make sure you understand all the rules and regulations to ensure your business runs smoothly.
If you opt to file your articles of organization via mail, then that is likely to take 2-3 weeks, including the time it takes for the mail to reach the office. An online filing, on the other hand, is instant but requires a processing time of 3-5 business days for the concerned authorities to review and approve your application.
However, the state of Louisiana offers expedited processing options at an extra cost. You can, for example, get your application processed within 2-4 hours by paying $50 extra. Or you can opt for 24-hour expedited processing for an added cost of $30.
The filing fee for registering an LLC in Louisiana is $100 and $50 or $30 extra costs are involved if you want expedited processing. To process credit card payments, the state charges a convenience fee of $5. If you pay by check and it gets returned as non-payable, then you’ll need to pay a returned check fee of $25.
These are the essential costs associated with legally registering your LLC in Louisiana. Of course, if you involve a third-party service provider, then you need to account for its fees as well.
The best route is using a free LLC formation services provider like Tailor Brands. It gets the job done much faster, while costing you absolutely nothing, unless you opt for a paid plan.
Form an LLC in Louisiana for Free with Tailor Brands
Start your new business with ease by opting for Tailor Brands’ free or paid LLC formation services in Louisiana.
Outsource LLC formation and have a stress-free experience while a team of experts works to get your business registered.
$0 + State Filing Fees