State hub · Louisiana
Louisiana LLC true cost (2026)
Louisiana state side: $100 formation filing, $30 for Annual Report (SOS) in the 3-year model, ~$190 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #19 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Louisiana state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. Filings go through geauxbiz.sos.la.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | Articles of Organization currently $100 (SOS Forms & Fee Schedule, Form #365). Act 921 raises Commercial Division fees effective October 1, 2026—including LLC articles to $125 per SOS fee-change PDF. Credit-card convenience fee $5. Initial Report is filed with articles. |
| Annual Report (SOS) | $30 | Current annual report fee $30. Act 921 increases annual reports to $35 effective October 1, 2026. Failure to file can lead to loss of good standing; prolonged nonfiling can result in revocation. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $190 | Current fees as of research date (before Oct 1, 2026 increase): formation $100 + 3 × $30 annual report = $190. If formed/maintained after Act 921 rates apply, use $125 + 3 × $35 = $230 instead. Convenience/expedite fees excluded. |
When Louisiana actually bills you
Louisiana's recurring filing is due During the LLC's anniversary month each year — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Louisiana charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | $100 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $30 | $130 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $30 | $160 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (SOS) | $30 | $190 |
Provider + Louisiana state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Louisiana state subtotal of $190.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $479 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $687 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $488 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $937 |
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How Louisiana ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Louisiana sits at #19 — the 19th cheapest three-year state charter — at $190 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $155 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $90 below the $280 median, and $2,320 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Louisiana lands in the cheaper half of the table.
- Just cheaper: Oklahoma ($175), Minnesota ($155).
- Just pricier: West Virginia ($205), Wisconsin ($205).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Louisiana)
- Louisiana registered office/agents required; notarized agent acceptances are part of the initial report package for organization.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Louisiana state fees is $190, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Louisiana, is about 60% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Fee increase on October 1, 2026 (Act 921): articles $100→$125; annual $30→$35.
- Initial Report (and possibly Supplemental Initial Report) is required with formation—not the same as the later annual report.
- Some parishes require online filing for available document types.
Who Louisiana is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Louisiana operators filing before the Oct 1, 2026 fee increase who want relatively low annual SOS cost.
Often a poor fit when…
- Filers who need long-term fee certainty without tracking Act 921 changes, or who cannot handle anniversary-month annual report timing.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Louisiana LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?
$100 to Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division for the formation filing. Articles of Organization currently $100 (SOS Forms & Fee Schedule, Form #365). Act 921 raises Commercial Division fees effective October 1, 2026—including LLC articles to $125 per SOS fee-change PDF. Credit-card convenience fee $5. Initial Report is filed with articles. That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Louisiana LLC fees after year one?
$30 for the Annual Report (SOS), due During the LLC's anniversary month each year. Current annual report fee $30. Act 921 increases annual reports to $35 effective October 1, 2026. Failure to file can lead to loss of good standing; prolonged nonfiling can result in revocation. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Louisiana LLC really cost over three years?
$190 in Louisiana state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $479 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $937 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Louisiana.
Do I need a registered agent in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana registered office/agents required; notarized agent acceptances are part of the initial report package for organization. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Louisiana figure above.
Is Louisiana a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Louisiana ranks #19 of 51 at $190 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Louisiana three-year number is built
Current fees as of research date (before Oct 1, 2026 increase): formation $100 + 3 × $30 annual report = $190. If formed/maintained after Act 921 rates apply, use $125 + 3 × $35 = $230 instead. Convenience/expedite fees excluded. Figures are re-derived from the cited Louisiana sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Louisiana state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- Louisiana SOS Forms & Fee Schedule (LLC articles $100; annual $30)
- Louisiana SOS Fee Schedule Effective 10/1/26 (Act 921)
- Louisiana geauxBIZ / SOS business services
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Louisiana's $190 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Louisiana math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.