Last Updated on June 13, 2022 by Fair Punishment Team

Louisiana has some of the best rules for starting an LLC. The state requires only two things from you: a $100 filing fee and a $50 annual renewal fee. 

LLCs are limited liability companies. They offer protection against lawsuits for their owners. This means that they are great for businesses because they shield the owner from financial liabilities.

There are three ways to form an LLC in the state of Louisiana. There is no limit on the number of members or shareholders that can join an LLC.

The first way to form an LLC in LA is through the Secretary of State. You must pay a $100 filing fee to get started. After this, you will need to pay an additional $50 every year to keep your company active.

The second option is to use a service like Legal Zoom. This is one of the most popular options for forming an LLC in LA. It costs about $99 per month.

You can also find other services online, such as IncorporateLA.com. These services cost between $200-$300 per year.

You can also form an LLC by using a lawyer. This process usually takes more time than the other methods. However, it does not require any legal fees.

If you are planning on doing business within the state of Louisiana, then you should consider forming an LLC. This protects you from potential lawsuits.

Naming Your Louisiana LLC

When you decide to form an LLC, you may be wondering how to name your new company. There are several names that you can choose from.

It is important to know what kind of entity you want to create before choosing a name. For example, if you want to form a corporation, then you cannot call your company a “Limited Liability Company.”

This is because corporations are treated differently under the law. Corporations do not provide limited liability protection. Instead, corporations are taxed at a higher rate.

In addition, there are certain restrictions when naming your company. For instance, you cannot use the words “Inc.,” “Ltd.,” “Co.,” or “Corporation” in your company name.

Instead, you can use these terms:

• S-Corp
• C-Corp
• P-Corp
• Subchapter S Corporation
• Subchapter C Corporation
• Subchapter P Corporation

To make sure that your company name complies with all of these rules, you can hire a professional to help you.

Once you have decided which type of entity you would like to create, you can now pick a name for your company.

For example, if you want your company to be a subchapter S corporation, then you can call it something like “Subchapter S Corp.”

However, if you want to protect yourself from personal liability, then you should consider calling your company something else. For example, you could call your company “Louisiana Limited Liability Company.“

You can also add the word “Company” after the name of your company. For example, you can name your company “Louisiana Company.”

Remember that there are certain restrictions when choosing a name. For instance, you can only use letters and numbers. You cannot include punctuation marks, symbols, or special characters.

Choosing a name is the very first step on your Louisiana Limited Liability Company (LLC) formation checklist. You must comply with the state’s naming requirements when choosing your business’s name.

Your company’s name should include the words “Limited Liability Company,” the abbreviation “L. L. C,” or the abbreviation “L.C.” after the word “Company” at the end.

Choosing A Registered Agent

There are many things to consider when selecting an agent. For example, do you want an agent who specializes in businesses?

Do you want someone local? How much experience does the agent have? Is he/she trustworthy? Does he/she know how to handle legal matters? What about taxes? Will the agent help you file your returns?

Once you’ve made these decisions, make sure you’re comfortable working with him/her. You’ll need to meet them several times and discuss everything related to your company. 

Northwest certified Registered Agents can actually assist with selecting a standard company form name, they can even put paperwork directly through the Louisiana website for this and then even ensure you’re extremely compliant with paperwork as such in the near or foreseeable future.

Northwest certified Registered Agents also help you to file in several states and makes sure you’re in compliance with all state laws.

We strongly recommend using ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agents to help you start your LLC. You can either use them for the whole process or hire them to assist you with specific steps. Either way, there is a cost involved.

However, if you choose to use them, you will be able to skip the following steps that you have to go through.

An agent services company offers a wide range of benefits including tax preparation, bookkeeping, payroll, estate planning, and much more. You can choose from a variety of packages depending on your needs.

In order to register a limited liability company (LLC) in Louisiana, you need to designate a person who will act as the certified registered agent. This person should be a resident of Louisiana and/or a corporation authorized to do business in Louisiana.

Anyone in your company can serve as the registered agent for your business. Learn more about becoming your own registered agent. Does a Registered Agent service make sense for you?

Using a professional registered agent service is an affordable way for your business to manage government filings. For most businesses, these benefits significantly outweigh the yearly fees. 

In Louisiana, a registered agent is a person or company who represents another individual or corporation in legal matters. Registered agents are often used by businesses to avoid having to pay expensive fees.

Businesses may hire a registered agent to handle their affairs, such as receiving mail and paying taxes. Having a registered agent can help protect the business owner’s personal assets if something goes wrong.

Filing Your Articles Of Organization

After you decide what kind of entity you’d like to form, you can now fill out the articles of organization. This document contains information such as:

• Name of the company
• The address where the company’s office will be located
• A list of officers (the people who run the company)
• The date the company was formed

The filing fee for this document is $50.00.

If you don’t have any employees yet, you may be wondering whether you need to pay an employee withholding tax. In most cases, you don’t. However, if you plan to hire anyone within the next year, you should still withhold income tax at 6% until you get your first paycheck.

You are required to register as a limited liability company (LLC) by filing articles of organization online. You must also file an initial report.

To do this, you must use the website provided by the Secretary of State. If you choose to file using another method, you may be rejected because you did not follow instructions.

In Louisiana, LLCs are formed under different rules depending on whether they are filed by mail or online. For those filing by mail, there is a requirement to obtain an EIN from the IRS before filing.

The state requires employers to register with the Workforce commission and the department of revenue prior to registering as an LLC. Those living in certain parishes need to file online.

You need to file articles of organization for your LLC. Once this is done, you can upload your LLC certificate into your ZenBusiness dashboard.

Creating An Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is a contract between members of a limited liability company. It outlines the rules and responsibilities of each member. It also describes the rights and obligations of each member.

This document is very important because it defines the relationship between members of the company. If one person acts against the interests of others, then the other members can take action against that person.

You can create an operating agreement yourself, or you can hire a professional to draft one for you. Either way, you’ll have to pay a fee for this service. You can find forms online, or you can visit a law firm or attorney to ask for assistance.

There is no legal requirement for having an operating agreement. But it is a good idea to have one in case you need to fill it in later.

Blank agreements can be found online, or you can make up your own. You’re free to use them as templates. An operating style agreement must decide whether each member of the LLC can open standard bank accounts and use corporate funds.

It also needs to specify how much each partner owns in the LLC. A registered agent can help you create an operating agreement for your LLC or corporation. An operating agreement can be used to divide up property and some assets, as well as to lay out how decisions will be made. 

You may also want to use an operating agreement to set forth your company’s policies regarding hiring new employees, or how to resolve disputes between partners.

An operating agreement is a good practice to have. It ensures that all business owners agree on how to operate the company. This helps avoid future conflicts. 

Like many other states, Louisiana does not require new LLCs to register with the state Secretary of State.

However, all LLCs are strongly encouraged to adopt an operating agreement. This document outlines the basic rules by which the company operates.

It also helps protect the interests of the company’s members, provides guidelines for resolving disputes among them, and protects the company from being dissolved or forfeited due to the death or bankruptcy of any member.

An operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of every member of an LLC.

In this example, the LLC must be formed under the laws of Louisiana. Each member of the LLC must agree to abide by the terms of the operating agreement.

The LLC must have a manager who will oversee the day-to-day operations of the company. Members may also vote on major changes to the LLC, such as changing the name or moving the business location.

Obtaining An EIN Number

To be listed on the IRS website, an entity must file a Form SS-4 application. This form requires the applicant to provide information about the business such as the name, address, type of business, and other pertinent details.

The applicant must also provide proof of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport.

Once the application is complete, the applicant must submit it to the IRS along with copies of any supporting documents.

The IRS then verifies the information provided on the application and sends the applicant a letter confirming whether the application was approved.

In addition to the above requirements, if the applicant wants to use the EIN for payroll purposes, he/she must file a W–9 Form with the IRS. The W–9 Form is used to verify the identity of each employee who works for the company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I Need A Business License?

Business insurance helps protect your business from lawsuits, injuries, and employee death. You need to understand what kind of insurance you need before buying any insurance.

Your business needs different kinds of insurance depending on whether you provide services or sell products. For example, if you run a restaurant, you may want to buy commercial auto insurance, but if you sell cars, you should purchase car insurance instead.

You should first go to the website of the Louisiana Secretary of State to see if there are any requirements for getting an EIN. Then, you must check if you need any additional state permits or licenses.

What Are The Tax Requirements?

You must file taxes if you are engaged in any type of business activity. Depending on the nature of your activities, you may need to file different types of tax returns.

For example, if you run a restaurant, you will need to pay sales tax. However, if you sell used cars, you will need to file a use tax return.

To be eligible for a sales tax permit, a business must first register with the department. After registering, businesses file an annual report indicating the amount of taxes collected during the year.

Businesses pay sales tax based on the total value of the products sold, regardless of how many items were purchased. Sales tax rates vary among states and often change over time. 

Employees in Louisiana must be registered for unemployment insurance tax through the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Employers’ payroll taxes must be paid by employers.

Most LLCs must file a federal tax return every year. Some LLCs may choose to pay themselves as owners by filing a personal tax return. To do this, the LLC pays the individual who owns the LLC a salary or other compensation.

In addition to paying themselves, some LLCs may want to pay themselves dividends or distributions. This is when the LLC distributes money to the members of the LLC. 

Final Thoughts

If you are considering starting a new business, you need to know that there are several steps involved. Before you can open up shop, you have to decide which state you would like to incorporate in. 

Then, you need to apply for an EIN number so that you can receive a taxpayer ID. Finally, you need to set up a bank account. If you don’t follow these steps correctly, you could end up wasting a lot of time and money.