How long does Louisiana take to process the Articles of Organization?

Standard online filings through geauxBIZ are typically processed within a few business days. Louisiana offers expedited service for an added fee: 24-hour processing for $30 or same-day priority for $50, in addition to the filing fee.

Does Louisiana call the LLC document a Certificate of Formation?

No. Louisiana uses Articles of Organization, not a Certificate of Formation. Certificate of Formation is the term used by Delaware, Texas, and a few other states. In Louisiana the charter document is the Articles of Organization filed under RS 12:1304.

Louisiana Articles of Organization: Filing & Cost (2026)

Q: How much do Louisiana Articles of Organization cost?

The Louisiana Secretary of State charges $100 to file the Articles of Organization (form #365) that create the LLC. Effective October 1, 2026, this fee rises to $125. You file online through geauxBIZ together with the required initial report.

Q: What form creates a Louisiana LLC?

Form #365, the Articles of Organization, filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State under RS 12:1304. You file it with an initial report (RS 12:1305) that names the registered agent and registered office. The standard method is online through geauxBIZ.

Q: What is the Louisiana initial report?

The initial report is a document filed together with the Articles of Organization that lists the LLC's registered agent, registered office, and the names and addresses of the managers or members. It is required by RS 12:1305 and there is no separate fee.

Q: Does a Louisiana LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Louisiana Revised Statute 12:1308 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered office in Louisiana and at least one registered agent. You name the agent in the initial report filed with the Articles of Organization.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You create a Louisiana LLC by filing the Articles of Organization (form #365) together with an initial report at the Louisiana Secretary of State and paying the $100 filing fee, online through geauxBIZ. You must name a Louisiana registered agent. Effective October 1, 2026, the fee rises to $125.

Quick Answer

Document: Articles of Organization (form #365) + initial report
Filing fee: $100 now; $125 from Oct 1, 2026
Agency: Louisiana Secretary of State - file via geauxBIZ
Governing law: RS 12:1304 (articles) and RS 12:1305 (initial report)
Registered agent: Required - named in the initial report (RS 12:1308)
Expedite: $30 (24-hour) or $50 (same-day priority)

Louisiana Agency and Form: Secretary of State, Form #365

A Louisiana LLC is created by filing the Articles of Organization with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division. The correct document for a limited liability company is form #365. Filing the articles - and the Secretary of State's acceptance of them - is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence under RS 12:1304 of the Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law.

Unlike states such as Delaware and Texas, Louisiana calls this document the Articles of Organization, not a "Certificate of Formation." If an out-of-state bank or form asks a Louisiana LLC for its Certificate of Formation, the equivalent is the filed Articles of Organization plus the certificate the Secretary of State issues after recording. You file through geauxBIZ, the Secretary of State's online business portal, which is the standard route. This guide covers the document itself; for the full step-by-step, see how to form an LLC in Louisiana and the national how to form an LLC guide.

What the Articles of Organization Must Include

RS 12:1304 sets out what the Articles of Organization must contain. Getting these right the first time avoids a rejected filing:

LLC name. It must contain "limited liability company," "L.L.C.," or "LLC" and be distinguishable from other names on the Secretary of State's record. You can reserve a name first for 120 days using form #398 ($25).
Purpose. A statement of the LLC's purpose, which may be a general statement that it may engage in any lawful activity.
Any other lawful provisions the members choose to include about the business and its regulation.
Signature of each person forming the LLC (the organizer), executed before the filing.

The internal economics of the company - ownership percentages, voting, and distributions - go in a separate operating agreement, which Louisiana does not file and does not require but which is strongly recommended.

The Required Initial Report

Louisiana is one of the states that pairs the charter document with a separate initial report. Under RS 12:1305, you file the initial report together with the Articles of Organization. The initial report states:

The LLC's registered office address in Louisiana;
The name and municipal address of each registered agent;
The names and addresses of the managers or members (as applicable); and
A signed affidavit of acknowledgment and acceptance by the registered agent, confirming the agent accepts the appointment.

There is no separate state fee for the initial report - it is part of the formation filing. Because it names the registered agent, the initial report is where the state's continuous registered-agent requirement first attaches to your LLC.

Louisiana Filing Fees (2026)

The core cost to create a Louisiana LLC is the $100 Articles of Organization fee. The table below lists the state fees most new LLCs encounter, each verified against the Louisiana Secretary of State fee schedule and the 2026 fee-change notice. The middle column is the current fee; the right column is the fee effective October 1, 2026, under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session.

Item	Form	Fee (now)	From Oct 1, 2026
Articles of Organization (create the LLC)	#365	$100	$125
Initial report (filed with the articles)	with #365	$0 (included)	$0 (included)
Name reservation (120 days)	#398	$25	$25
Change of registered office or agent	#983	$25	$30
Expedited processing (24-hour)	-	$30	$30
Priority (same-day) processing	-	$50	$50
Federal EIN	IRS Form SS-4	$0 (free)	$0 (free)

For the full lifetime cost of a Louisiana LLC, including the annual report and taxes, see Louisiana LLC cost and the national how much does an LLC cost guide.

Registered Agent Requirement

Every Louisiana LLC must continuously maintain a registered office in Louisiana and at least one registered agent under RS 12:1308. You name the initial agent in the initial report that accompanies the Articles of Organization. The agent must be a Louisiana resident citizen, a partnership or professional law corporation authorized to practice law in the state, or a domestic or qualified foreign corporation or LLC authorized to act as agent for service of process.

The registered office must be a physical Louisiana street address - a post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement - because service of process must be capable of being made there. To change the agent later, file form #983 for $25 (rising to $30 on October 1, 2026). See Louisiana registered agent requirements and the national registered agent overview.

After Filing: EIN, Taxes, and Ongoing Reports

Filing the articles creates the entity, but a few steps complete the setup. Apply for a free federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS; it is required if the LLC has more than one member or any employees and is needed to open a bank account. By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment.

Louisiana keeps the LLC active through a yearly annual report, due on or before the anniversary date of organization. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue for the 5% state sales tax, and check for any business licenses your activity requires. For the tax picture, see Louisiana LLC tax filing.

Common Filing Mistakes to Avoid

A few errors cause most Louisiana rejections. Filing the Articles of Organization without the initial report is the most common, because Louisiana requires the two together. Naming a registered agent who has not signed the affidavit accepting the role is another. Choosing a name that is not distinguishable from an existing entity - or that omits a required LLC designator - will also bounce the filing; searching the register or reserving the name with form #398 first avoids this.

Finally, confirm the current fee before you pay: because Louisiana's Commercial Division fees rise on October 1, 2026, a filing submitted on or after that date must include the higher $125 amount. Always verify the amount on the Secretary of State fee schedule at the time you file, rather than relying on a third-party figure. When you are ready to close the business, you file separate dissolution paperwork - see how to dissolve an LLC in Louisiana.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Louisiana Articles of Organization cost?

$100 to file form #365 with the Louisiana Secretary of State, rising to $125 on October 1, 2026. You file online through geauxBIZ with the required initial report. See Louisiana LLC cost.

What form creates a Louisiana LLC?

Form #365, the Articles of Organization, filed under RS 12:1304 with an initial report (RS 12:1305) that names the registered agent. The standard method is online through geauxBIZ.

What is the Louisiana initial report?

A document filed with the Articles of Organization listing the registered agent, registered office, and managers or members, with the agent's signed acceptance. It is required by RS 12:1305 and has no separate fee.

Does a Louisiana LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. RS 12:1308 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a Louisiana registered office and at least one registered agent, named in the initial report. See Louisiana registered agent.

How long does processing take?

Standard online filings are usually processed within a few business days. Expedited service costs $30 (24-hour) or $50 (same-day priority), in addition to the filing fee.

Does Louisiana call the document a Certificate of Formation?

No. Louisiana uses Articles of Organization, not a Certificate of Formation. See Louisiana Certificate of Formation for why the terms are confused.

Sources

Louisiana Secretary of State - Forms & Fee Schedule ($100 Articles of Organization #365; $25 name reservation #398; $25 change of agent #983; $30/$50 expedite).
Louisiana Secretary of State - Start a Business (geauxBIZ).
Louisiana Secretary of State - File Business Documents (online filing).
Louisiana Secretary of State - 2026 Fee Changes (Act 921), effective Oct 1, 2026 (Articles $125; change of agent $30).
Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1305, Articles of organization; initial report.
Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308, Registered office and registered agent.
Louisiana Legislature - RS 12:1308.1, Annual report (anniversary date).
Louisiana Revised Statutes (Justia) - RS 12:1304, Articles of organization; contents.
Louisiana Revised Statutes (Justia) - RS 12:1301, Definitions.
Louisiana Department of Revenue - General Sales & Use Tax (5% state rate).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Legal Information Institute - Articles of organization (Wex legal definition).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Louisiana Secretary of State before acting.