By Jake Lawson | LLC Formation Strategist at llciyo.com
Louisiana does LLC formation differently—and not in a good way. After wrestling with their geauxBIZ system for 200+ client formations, I can confidently say Louisiana wins the award for “Most Unnecessarily Complicated LLC Filing Process” in America.
Here’s the absurdity: Louisiana requires you to get your federal tax ID (EIN) before your LLC legally exists. That’s like requiring a driver’s license before you’re born. Then, certain parishes force online filing while others accept paper. It’s a bureaucratic gumbo that’ll leave you wondering if someone designed this system as a practical joke.
But here’s the thing—once you understand Louisiana’s quirks and workarounds, you can navigate this mess efficiently. Let me show you exactly how to form your Louisiana LLC without losing your mind or your money.
The Louisiana LLC Reality Check
Filing fees:
- Standard: $100 (both online and paper)
- Expedited paper: $130 (adds $30 for 1-day processing)
- Online credit card fee: Extra $5
- Name reservation: $25 (credited toward formation)
Processing times:
- Online: 3-5 business days
- Paper standard: 3-5 business days plus mail time
- Paper expedited: 1 business day plus mail time
Annual obligations: $30-35 annual report every year on your anniversary date. Miss it for three years, and Louisiana dissolves your LLC faster than sugar in sweet tea.
The GeauxBIZ Paradox: Louisiana’s Broken “Innovation”
Understanding the Backwards Logic
Louisiana launched geauxBIZ (“go biz”—yes, they really went with that) in 2016 as their revolutionary one-stop business portal. The idea? Connect the Secretary of State, Department of Revenue, and Workforce Commission in one seamless system.
The reality? They created a Frankenstein’s monster that demands your EIN before your LLC exists.
Here’s why this is insane: The IRS expects you to have a legal entity before issuing an EIN. Louisiana expects you to have an EIN before creating your legal entity. See the problem?
Their “solution”? A convoluted three-step dance:
- Reserve your name for $25 (wait 24 hours)
- Get your EIN from the IRS (using a non-existent LLC)
- Convert your reservation to an LLC filing
I’ve seen 40+ clients end up with orphaned EINs attached to rejected LLCs because of this backwards process. Each time requires canceling the EIN and starting over. Efficient? Hardly.
The Parish Problem: Geographic Discrimination
Louisiana mandates online filing for these 14 parishes:
- Ascension
- Bossier
- Caddo
- Calcasieu
- East Baton Rouge
- Jefferson
- Lafayette
- Livingston
- Orleans
- Ouachita
- Rapides
- St. Tammany
- Tangipahoa
- Terrebonne
Live anywhere else? You can choose paper or online. Live in these parishes? You’re forced into the geauxBIZ labyrinth whether you like it or not.
This isn’t progress—it’s arbitrary geographic discrimination that makes no logical sense.
Option 1: The Paper Filing Path (When Available)
Why Paper Beats Digital in Louisiana
Counter-intuitive as it sounds, paper filing is often superior in Louisiana. Here’s why:
Advantages:
- No EIN required upfront
- Straightforward process
- Avoid geauxBIZ entirely
- Same processing time as online
Requirements:
- Notarized signatures (yours and registered agent’s)
- Registered agent must pre-sign Initial Report
- $100 check or money order
- Not available in the 14 mandatory online parishes
Paper Filing Strategic Execution
Step 1: Document Preparation
Download Forms #365 (Articles of Organization) and #973 (Initial Report). Louisiana requires both files simultaneously—you can’t submit one without the other.
Step 2: The Notarization Dance
You’ll need notarization for:
- Your signature on Articles of Organization
- Both signatures on Initial Report
If you’re your own registered agent, one notary visit handles everything. If using a commercial agent, they’ll provide pre-notarized forms.
Pro tip: Banks often provide free notary services for account holders. Skip the $15 UPS Store fee.
Step 3: Complete the Forms
Articles of Organization essentials:
- LLC name with proper ending (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company)
- Parish where LLC is located
- Registered agent name and address
- Purpose (usually “any lawful business”)
Initial Report requirements:
- Officers/managers/members (at least one)
- Registered agent acknowledgment
- Both signatures notarized
Step 4: Mail with Tracking
Send to: Louisiana Secretary of State Commercial Division P.O. Box 94125 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
Always use certified mail or tracking. Louisiana’s mail processing isn’t exactly world-class.
Option 2: The GeauxBIZ Online Gauntlet
When You’re Forced Online (Or Choose Pain)
If you’re in a mandatory online parish or prefer digital masochism, here’s your survival guide:
Phase 1: Name Reservation Workaround
Step 1: Create GeauxBIZ Account
Navigate to geauxbiz.sos.la.gov. The interface looks like it was designed by someone who hates both computers and humans, but perseveres.
Create account with:
- Email (one you’ll check for years)
- Password (meeting their specific requirements)
- Contact information
Step 2: Reserve Your Name
This costs $25 but gets credited to your formation fee. Smart? No. Necessary? Unfortunately, yes.
Search your desired name and reserve it. Wait 24 hours for approval. Yes, 24 hours to approve a name search that takes 0.3 seconds to process. Government efficiency at its finest.
Phase 2: The EIN Acquisition
Step 3: Get Your EIN (Backwards Edition)
Once your name reservation is approved, go to IRS.gov and apply for an EIN. You’re technically lying to the IRS by saying your LLC exists when it doesn’t, but Louisiana demands this fiction.
Select “Limited Liability Company” and enter your reserved name exactly as approved.
Critical warning: If your LLC gets rejected after this point, you’ll need to cancel this EIN and start over. I’ve done this dance 40+ times for clients. It’s as fun as it sounds.
Phase 3: The Actual LLC Formation
Step 4: Convert Reservation to LLC
Log back into geauxBIZ and find your name reservation. Click “Convert to Business Registration.”
Now begins the real torture:
Business Information Overload:
- EIN (the one you just got)
- NAICS code (pick something close)
- Business structure details
- Management type
- Member/manager information
- Registered agent details
- Tax registrations (multiple agencies)
- Workforce Commission registration
- Revenue Department accounts
This takes 45-60 minutes minimum. The system times out after 20 minutes of inactivity, potentially losing your progress. Fun!
Step 5: Digital Notarization Circus
Your registered agent receives an email requiring digital acceptance within 7 days. Miss this window? Start over.
I’ve seen three formations fail because registered agents didn’t check their spam folders. Always confirm your agent received and accepted the notice.
Step 6: Payment and Prayers
Pay $105 ($100 fee + $5 processing). Submit. Hope the geauxBIZ gods smile upon you.
The Jake Lawson Louisiana Strategy
After 200+ Louisiana formations, here’s my optimized approach:
For Non-Mandatory Parishes:
Always choose paper filing.
It’s simpler, doesn’t require the EIN dance, and processes just as fast. The notarization requirement is a minor inconvenience compared to geauxBIZ torture.
For Mandatory Online Parishes:
- Reserve name on Monday (avoid weekend delays)
- Get EIN Tuesday afternoon (after confirmation)
- Complete filing Wednesday morning (fresh mind, full patience)
- Confirm registered agent acceptance immediately
- Screenshot everything (geauxBIZ loses data randomly)
Universal Rules:
- Never file in December – Wait for January unless critical
- Use professional registered agent – Pre-notarized forms save hassle
- Keep PDF copies of everything – Louisiana’s record-keeping is questionable
- Set annual report reminders – State reminders are unreliable
Common Louisiana LLC Disasters
Disaster #1: EIN Orphaning Getting an EIN then having your LLC rejected. Now you have a tax ID for a non-existent business. Solution: Cancel EIN, start over, waste another day.
Disaster #2: Parish Confusion Filing paper in a mandatory online parish. Instant rejection, restart required.
Disaster #3: Notary Number Missing Notaries must include their commission number. Missing it means rejection and re-notarization.
Disaster #4: Initial Report Separation Trying to file Articles without Initial Report. Louisiana requires both together, always.
Disaster #5: GeauxBIZ Timeout System logs you out after 20 minutes. Losing 45 minutes of data entry is soul-crushing.
Post-Formation Louisiana Requirements
Once your LLC is approved, you’re not done with Louisiana’s unique demands:
- Annual Report – Due yearly on anniversary date ($30-35)
- Trade Name Registration – If using DBA ($75)
- Parish Business License – Requirements vary wildly
- State Tax Registrations – Sales tax, withholding if applicable
- Workforce Commission – If hiring employees
The Professional Service Calculation
DIY Paper Filing:
- Cost: $100 + notary fees
- Time: 2-3 hours
- Frustration level: Moderate
- Success rate: 85%
DIY online filing:
- Cost: $105
- Time: 3-4 hours minimum
- Frustration level: Extreme
- Success rate: 60%
Professional Service:
- Cost: $139-$350
- Time: 20 minutes
- Frustration level: Zero
- Success rate: 99%
My verdict? Unless you’re a masochist or extremely budget-constrained, hire a service for Louisiana. The state has made the process unnecessarily complex, and professional services know every workaround.
Louisiana LLC Advantages (Yes, They Exist)
Despite the formation headaches, Louisiana LLCs offer benefits:
- No franchise tax (unlike Texas or California)
- Strong asset protection laws
- Flexible operating agreement terms
- No publication requirement
- Relatively low annual fees
Your Louisiana LLC Action Plan
If in a non-mandatory parish:
Day 1: Gather documents, get notarizations
Day 2: Mail filing with tracking
Day 7-10: Receive approval
Day 11: Get EIN (after approval)
Day 12: Open bank account
If in a mandatory online parish:
Day 1: Create geauxBIZ account, reserve name
Day 2: Wait for name approval
Day 3: Get EIN, complete online filing
Day 4-8: Wait for processing
Day 9: Receive approval, celebrate survival
The Honest Truth About Louisiana LLC Formation
Louisiana has created the most unnecessarily complicated LLC formation process I’ve encountered in 15 years and 50 states. The backwards EIN requirement, the parish-based discrimination, and the poorly designed geauxBIZ system combine to create a perfect storm of frustration.
But here’s the thing—once you’re through the formation gauntlet, Louisiana is actually a decent state for LLCs. No franchise tax, reasonable annual fees, and strong legal protections make the initial pain worthwhile.
My advice? Don’t let Louisiana’s bureaucratic nonsense discourage you from forming your LLC. Just go in prepared, consider professional help, and maintain your sense of humor. You’ll need it.
Resources and Contacts
Louisiana Secretary of State
- Phone: 225-925-4704
- Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Central
- Website: sos.la.gov
GeauxBIZ Portal
- Website: geauxbiz.sos.la.gov
- Browser: Use Chrome (seriously, nothing else works reliably)
Mailing Address: Louisiana Secretary of State Commercial Division P.O. Box 94125 Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
Jake Lawson has successfully formed over 1,200 LLCs nationwide, including 200+ battles with Louisiana’s geauxBIZ system. As lead strategist at llciyo.com, he specializes in translating government nonsense into actionable steps. Questions about Louisiana’s backwards system? Comment below—Jake responds to every inquiry with hard-won wisdom.
FAQ: Louisiana LLC Formation Mysteries Solved
Q: Why does Louisiana require an EIN before forming an LLC? Because someone at geauxBIZ didn’t understand federal tax law when designing the system. It’s backwards, illogical, and they refuse to fix it. Welcome to Louisiana.
Q: Can I avoid geauxBIZ entirely? Only if you’re not in one of the 14 mandatory online parishes. If you are, you’re stuck with it unless you hire a formation service.
Q: What happens if my registered agent doesn’t respond to the digital notarization? Your filing dies after 7 days. You’ll need to start over completely. Always confirm your agent received the request.
Q: Is the $30 expedited fee worth it for paper filing? If you need your LLC within a week, yes. Otherwise, save your money—the standard 3-5 day processing is reasonable.
Q: Can I change from online to paper filing mid-process? No. Once you start in geauxBIZ, you’re committed. Choose your path wisely before beginning.
Q: Should I hire a Louisiana attorney? For basic LLC formation? No. For complex operating agreements or multi-member structures? Absolutely.
Q: What’s the penalty for late annual reports? Your LLC goes “not in good standing” immediately. After 3 years, automatic revocation. Louisiana doesn’t play around with deadlines.
Ready to tackle Louisiana’s LLC formation? Arm yourself with patience, follow this guide, and remember—thousands have survived this process before you. You’ve got this, even if Louisiana doesn’t make it easy.