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LLC Formation·Best Overall·Updated August 19, 2026

Best LLC Formation Services in Louisiana

October 1 resets Louisiana's price list. Act 921 lifts the LLC filing fee from $100 to $125 and the annual report from $30 to $35, so this page prices the state on both sides of that date.

August 19, 202615 min read
Daniel Wong
Written byDaniel Wong
Legal & Compliance Analyst
6 services reviewed
Independently tested
Updated quarterly

Quick Comparison of All 6 Services

Compare pricing and ratings at a glance, then visit a service or read the full review below.

Louisiana

Sets the state fee and annual report below.

Include in every price

The agent is required in every state and the main reason provider prices differ. State fees go to the state and are identical with every provider.

Every price below is the full amount due, the $100† Louisiana filing fee is already in it. That fee goes to the state, not the company, and is identical whoever files for you. Only the provider's own fee varies. what the service charges $100† Louisiana state fee

NR logo

Northwest Registered Agent

4.8Best Overall
Registered agent free year 1, then $125 a yearAgent drops to $100 per state at five or more statesCancelling needs a phone call or email, not a dashboard click

Due today

$139

Registered agent included, free year 1State fees included

Then every year

$155

$125 agent renewal + $30 state report

Z logo

ZenBusiness

4.5Best for LLC Formation
$0 formation with guided, beginner friendly setupAgent is $199 a year, and that is most of the real costThe $99 agent price is not for formation customers

Due today

$199

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$229

$199 agent renewal + $30 state report

TB logo

Tailor Brands

4.2Best for Branding
$0 filing with logo and website tools built inWeekend support and a guided setupAgent $199 a year plus pre-checked trial add-ons

Due today

$299

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$229

$199 agent renewal + $30 state report

F logo

FileNow

4.2Best for Speed
Cheapest filing fee on this list at $49Free agent year one if you take the $199 Premium planAgent costs $119 a year on the $49 Starter plan

Due today

$268

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$149

$119 agent renewal + $30 state report

SF logo

Swyft Filings

3.2Best for Fast Filing
Fast filing is their whole promise, same day in most statesAgent is billed quarterly at $149, which is $596 a yearThat agent price is the highest on this list by a wide margin

Due today

$696

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$626

$596 agent renewal + $30 state report

L logo

LegalZoom

2.8Most Recognized
Best known brand with a big legal document libraryAgent costs $249 a year against a $99 low on this listAggressive upsells during checkout

Due today

$349

Registered agent includedState fees included

Then every year

$279

$249 agent renewal + $30 state report

† Filed online via geauxBIZ. Reserving the name first is optional and costs $25, it is not required before filing.

* Based on prices and renewal rates verified July 30, 2026. Provider and government fees change.

Compare every detailShow
Service
NR logo

Northwest Registered Agent

Best Overall
From $39
4.8
ZB logo

ZenBusiness

Best for LLC Formation
From $0
4.5
TB logo

Tailor Brands

Best for Branding
From $0
4.2
FN logo

FileNow

Best for Speed
From $49
4.2
SF logo

Swyft Filings

Best for Fast Filing
From $0
3.2
LZ logo

LegalZoom

Most Recognized
From $0
2.8

How We Chose the Best LLC Services for Louisiana

Louisiana operates under civil law rather than common law. It is the only state that does. That makes its LLC statutes read differently from every other state's. We evaluated each service on how well they handled the geauxBIZ filing portal, where the $100 fee becomes $105 once the state's card convenience fee lands, whether they filed the Initial Report alongside the Articles without charging extra for it, and whether they guided founders through Louisiana-specific operating agreement considerations that carry more legal weight here than in common-law states.

Until then the Articles of Organization cost $100 by mail, or $105 through geauxBIZ, because Louisiana adds a $5 statutory convenience fee to card payments. No routine turnaround is published. The state will handle yours in 24 hours for $30.

Two local quirks outrank the portal. Your Articles go in with an Initial Report carrying your agent's affidavit. The agent needs a real Louisiana street address. That is where a service earns its fee.

6

Services Tested Nationally

200

Hours of Research

50

States Covered

August 19, 2026

Last Updated

Full Reviews

1
NR logo
From $39
Best Overall

Northwest Registered Agent

A transparent LLC formation service that bundles a complete business identity (address, domain, email, phone, website) into a single $39 fee with no upsells.

4.8
Get Started

From $39 + state fees

Pricing Plans

Popular
$39

LLC Formation + Business Identity

+ state fees

  • Preparation and filing of Articles of Organization
  • 1 full year of Registered Agent service included
  • Operating Agreement draft

Northwest is our top pick for LLC formation. The $39 package carries a business address, domain, website, email, phone line and mail scanning, plus the filing itself and a year of registered agent service. Nothing is pre-checked. It is privately held, and the Corporate Guides know the state rules they are quoting. The dashboard is plain rather than polished. At $125 a year to renew, that is a fair trade.

Pros

  • Flat $39 formation fee with no tiered packages or hidden add-ons.
  • Full Business Identity included: business address, domain, email, website, and phone service.
  • Free year of registered agent service with privacy protection.
  • Free mail scanning (up to 5 documents) and renewal reminders.
  • Same-day filing with no extra rush fees.
  • U.S.-based Corporate Guides who actually answer the phone.

Cons

  • Customer support is not available on weekends.
  • Online cancellation process can be cumbersome.
  • Trial digital services auto-renew if you forget to cancel.

Best For: Founders who want a complete business setup (formation, address, domain, email, website, phone) in one flat-fee package with no upsells.

Read full review
Get Started

From $39 + state fees

2
ZB logo
From $0
Best for LLC Formation

ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness files your LLC for $0 and runs the clearest dashboard we have used. The add-ons are where it earns.

4.5
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Starter

+ state fees, does not renew

  • Name availability search
  • Articles of formation filing
  • Electronic document access
Popular
$199/yr

Pro

+ state fees, renews at $199/yr

  • All Starter features
  • Rush processing in 1 business day
  • Worry-Free Compliance included, not just a free year
$399/yr

Premium

+ state fees, renews at $399/yr

  • All Pro features
  • Registered agent service included
  • Advanced Compliance Protection

ZenBusiness runs the smoothest filing in this category. The setup walks a first-time founder through every step, and the dashboard chases your deadlines for you. Starter is $0 and never renews, so a founder who buys nothing else pays the state and stops. The catch sits beside it. Pro renews at $199 a year and Premium at $399, and on Starter the EIN, the operating agreement and the agent are each priced on their own. A strong pick if you want a polished filing and you read the cart before you pay.

Pros

  • Starter is $0, you pay only the state fee
  • The dashboard is the clearest we have used
  • Phone support runs 7 days a week
  • A free first year of Worry-Free Compliance on Starter
  • Good mobile app, 4.6 stars on iOS

Cons

  • Heavy push for add-ons at checkout
  • On Starter the EIN, the operating agreement and the agent each cost extra, $99, $99 and $199 a year
  • Renewals climb, Pro at $199 a year and Premium at $399
  • Auto-renewing subscriptions are hard to cancel

Best For: First-time founders needing an easy, guided, and affordable LLC setup

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

3
TB logo
From $0
Best for Branding

Tailor Brands

Tailor Brands bundles logo design and a website into LLC formation, then charges $199 a year for the registered agent almost everyone needs.

4.2
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Lite

+ state fees

  • Filing of Articles of Organization
  • Standard processing, up to 14 business days
  • Business coaching program access
Popular
$199/yr

Essential

+ state fees

  • Everything in Lite
  • Expedited processing, 1 to 2 business days
  • Operating agreement creation
$249/yr

Elite

+ state fees

  • Everything in Essential
  • 1-year free domain hosting
  • AI-powered website builder

Formation is the free part. The logo and website builders are easy to use, and the guided setup is beginner friendly. The catch is checkout. Plan prices stay hidden until the end, a $39 a month bookkeeping trial comes pre-checked, and the registered agent most founders need costs $199 a year. That puts the real first-year cost at $199 plus your state's filing fee. If you want branding and formation together, it works. If you only need the LLC, Northwest files for a flat $39 with no upsells.

Pros

  • Free Lite plan covers the LLC filing and standard processing
  • Beginner-friendly dashboard that is easy to navigate
  • Built-in logo maker and website builder in one dashboard
  • Customer support available on weekends
  • Guided questionnaire walks you through setup

Cons

  • Plan prices stay hidden until the end of the questionnaire
  • Pre-checked $39 a month bookkeeping trial you must cancel yourself
  • Registered agent service costs $199 a year, more than budget rivals

Best For: First-time founders who want LLC filing and basic branding tools in one place.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

4
FN logo
From $49
Best for Speed

FileNow

FileNow guarantees 24-hour processing on all orders, but its lack of a free entry-level plan makes it less competitive for founders on a strict budget.

4.2
Get Started

From $49 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$49

Starter

+ state fee

  • Filing Articles of Organization / Incorporation
  • Unlimited Phone & Email Support
  • Electronic Delivery of State Documents
Popular
$199

Premium

+ state fee

  • Filing Articles of Organization / Incorporation
  • Unlimited Phone & Email Support
  • Electronic Delivery of State Documents

FileNow delivers a remarkably fast and straightforward LLC formation experience. We appreciate that 24-hour processing is standard across all plans instead of being an expensive add-on. The checkout process is completely transparent with zero pre-checked upsells or hidden fees. However, because the base plan costs $49 and does not include a registered agent, budget-conscious founders might prefer cheaper alternatives.

Pros

  • 24-hour order processing included on all plans at no extra cost
  • Transparent pricing with zero hidden fees or pre-checked subscriptions
  • Simple two-tier pricing makes choosing a package easy
  • Premium plan provides excellent value by bundling essential startup documents
  • Customer support is accessible via phone, chat, and email

Cons

  • No free formation tier available
  • Starter plan does not include registered agent service
  • Lacks advanced legal tools and ongoing compliance dashboards

Best For: Entrepreneurs who prioritize fast 24-hour processing and straightforward, transparent pricing.

Read full review
Get Started

From $49 + state fees

5
SF logo
From $0
Best for Fast Filing

Swyft Filings

Swyft Filings offers exceptionally fast processing speeds, but you must navigate a minefield of expensive upsells during checkout.

3.2
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Basic

+ state fees

  • Preparation and filing of LLC documents
  • Business name availability check
  • Standard processing (7-10 business days)
Popular
$199

Standard

+ state fees

  • Everything in Basic
  • Federal Tax ID (EIN) obtainment
  • Custom Operating Agreement
$299

Premium

+ state fees

  • Everything in Standard
  • Expedited processing (1 business day)
  • 2 months of unlimited attorney consultations

Swyft Filings lives up to its name by offering some of the fastest LLC formation times on the market. Their 5-step setup process is simple and easy for beginners to understand. However, their aggressive upsells and missing registered agent service make their $0 starting price highly deceptive. We recommend them only if you desperately need same-day processing and know exactly which add-ons to decline.

Pros

  • Exceptionally fast processing speeds
  • Streamlined 5-step application interface
  • Knowledgeable and responsive phone support
  • Basic package starts at $0 plus state fees
  • No confusing legal jargon during setup

Cons

  • Registered agent service is billed quarterly at $149, which is $596 a year
  • Aggressive multi-page upsell flow
  • Difficult cancellation process for ongoing subscriptions

Best For: Founders needing fast turnaround who can navigate heavy upsells.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

6
LZ logo
From $0
Most Recognized

LegalZoom

A famous name with an aggressive checkout process and expensive recurring fees.

2.8
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Pricing Plans

$0

Basic

+ state filing fees

  • Articles of organization filing
  • Business name availability check
  • Digital welcome packet
Popular
$249

Pro

+ state filing fees

  • Everything in the Basic package
  • Operating Agreement
  • EIN registration
$299

Premium

+ state filing fees

  • Everything in the Pro package
  • Business attorney guidance (30-day subscription)
  • Bookkeeping tools (6-month subscription)

LegalZoom relies heavily on its brand recognition to charge premium prices for basic services. While the platform is easy to navigate and offers excellent legal document libraries, the checkout process is a maze of expensive upsells and auto-renewing trials. We do not recommend it if you are on a budget. You will end up paying significantly more for registered agent and compliance services than you would with competitors.

Pros

  • Highly intuitive platform that is easy for absolute beginners to navigate.
  • Access to a massive library of legal documents and forms.
  • Long-standing brand reputation provides reliability and peace of mind.
  • Customer support is available seven days a week.
  • Basic LLC formation is free excluding mandatory state fees.

Cons

  • Incredibly aggressive upselling for simple tasks like obtaining an EIN.
  • Registered agent fees are heavily inflated at $249 per year.
  • Checkout includes pre-selected free trials that auto-renew at high prices.
  • Standard processing times are slow unless you pay a $99 expedite fee.

Best For: Founders prioritizing brand recognition and access to an extensive legal document library.

Read full review
Get Started

From $0 + state fees

Editorial Standards & Affiliate Disclosure

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What Makes a Good LLC Service for Louisiana Founders

Louisiana runs on civil law. It is the only state that does, so its LLC statutes read differently from every other. An operating agreement is not required by law. But Louisiana courts weigh member disputes their own way, so having one matters more than usual.

The state used to charge a franchise tax on top of income tax. It is gone. The Department of Revenue confirms the repeal covers periods that begin on or after January 1, 2026. An LLC formed today owes nothing for it. Guides still quoting a $110 minimum are describing a tax that no longer exists.

Louisiana has no anonymous LLCs and no series LLCs. Want privacy above all? Delaware or Wyoming serve you better. This state is built for founders who actually work here.

Paper filings must be notarized. Online filings through geauxBIZ skip that step. Businesses in fourteen parishes, Orleans and East Baton Rouge among them, have to file online anyway. Every service on this list files online, so notarization is not your problem.

What to Do After You File Your Louisiana LLC

  1. Send the Initial Report with the Articles. Louisiana wants both at once. The report carries the affidavit your registered agent signs. Most services handle it at no extra cost, and our step by step Louisiana filing guide shows the whole sequence.
  2. Get your EIN from the IRS. The Articles do not ask for one, so it will not hold up your filing. You still need it for a bank account and for payroll. It is free. If your service got it for you, check that you have the notice, Form CP 575.
  3. File your Annual Report in your anniversary month. The fee is $30. It rises to $35 on October 1, 2026. Pay by card and add the $5 convenience fee. Miss it and there is no late fee, but you lose good standing and the state can revoke the LLC.
  4. Register for state taxes. Louisiana has an income tax and a 5% state sales tax. Selling taxable goods or services means a sales tax account with the Department of Revenue.
  5. Skip the BOI report. FinCEN exempted every company formed in the United States in March 2025. A final rule made that permanent on 14 August 2026. A domestic Louisiana LLC files nothing. Only companies formed abroad still report. A letter asking for a fee to file one is a scam, and FinCEN says so.
  6. Check local licensing. There is no general state business license. Parishes and towns often want an occupational license though. Ask your parish clerk before you open the doors.

Louisiana LLC Tax Overview

The franchise tax is gone. The Department of Revenue confirms the repeal covers periods that begin on or after January 1, 2026. An LLC formed today owes nothing for it. The guides still quoting a $110 minimum are a year out of date. State income tax still applies to what reaches the members.

Hidden Costs to Watch Out For in Louisiana

  • The filing fee rises to $125 on October 1, 2026 - Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session raises it from $100. The annual report goes from $30 to $35 the same day. Filing before October saves $25. The Secretary of State publishes both schedules.
  • Card payments carry a $5 fee - Louisiana adds a statutory convenience fee to every card payment, so a $100 filing costs $105 through geauxBIZ and a $125 one will cost $130. Online filings are card payments. Fourteen parishes have to file online, Orleans and East Baton Rouge among them.
  • Name reservation, $25 and optional - The Secretary of State says to reserve only if you expect a long wait, or you fear someone files the same name first. Filing your Articles takes the name off the board anyway. Most founders can skip it.
  • Expedited processing, $30 or $50 - Routine expedite is $30 and buys 24 hour handling. Priority expedite is $50 and buys 2 to 4 hours. Both rise on October 1, to $35 and $60. Both stack on the filing fee. Neither is in a formation service's base price.
  • Extra certificates, $20 - A bank or a landlord may want one from the Secretary of State. The charge is $20 today. It becomes $25 on October 1.
Bar chart of Louisiana Articles of Organization filing costs, $100 by mail and $105 online through geauxBIZ until September 30 2026, then $125 and $130 from October 1 2026 under Act 921.
What it costs to file Louisiana Articles of Organization. Two prices, two dates. The gap between the columns is the $5 convenience fee Louisiana adds to card payments, which is every online filing. Fee schedule and Act 921, Louisiana Secretary of State, verified August 14, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions About Louisiana LLCs

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Louisiana?

The state charges $100 to file by mail and $105 through geauxBIZ, because card payments carry a $5 statutory convenience fee. Both figures rise on October 1, 2026 under Act 921, to $125 and $130. There is no franchise tax any more. It was repealed for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Add $30 if you want 24 hour handling.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes. Your agent needs a real street address in the state. A P.O. box will not do. The agent also signs an affidavit that goes in with your Initial Report. Every service on this page includes agent service, and the table above shows what each charges to renew.

How long does LLC formation take in Louisiana?

The Secretary of State publishes no standard turnaround. It does sell speed. Pay $30 and your filing is handled in 24 hours. Pay $50 and it is 2 to 4 hours. Those become $35 and $60 on October 1, 2026. Paper filings run longer and must be notarized.

Do I need to reserve my LLC name before filing in Louisiana?

No. The Secretary of State says to reserve only if you expect a long wait, or you think someone may file the same name first. Filing your Articles takes the name anyway. A reservation costs $25 and holds for 120 days.

About the Author

Daniel Wong

Legal & Compliance Analyst

Daniel grew up in the shadow of Silicon Valley but chose the legal route over engineering, working as a paralegal for a corporate law firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He realized that early-stage founders were constantly making catastrophic legal mistakes because they couldn't afford a $500/hour attorney, prompting his move to B2B media.

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