The Louisiana Economic Development released a report stating that since 2008, the state has attracted a variety of development projects in industries including manufacturing, energy, agribusiness, digital media, and healthcare among others. These projects started by new and existing businesses have resulted in 83,000 direct as well as indirect jobs. This is not all; new company formation in Louisiana has led to the state witnessing an increase in new capital investments that touched the $50 billion mark.

What does it take to form a Louisiana business? There are a variety of processes that you will be required to follow in order to incorporate or form a new business in Louisiana. In order to make your business a reality, we are there to provide you with all the help and information required.

We are one of the top Louisiana registered agents and are familiar with all processes pertaining to the Louisiana State and can provide information and assistance for successful set up of your business!

Let’s take a look at how you can form a Louisiana business LLC or Corporation.

Louisiana LLC Registration and Formation

LLC company formation in Louisiana is governed by Chapter 22 – Limited Liability Companies, 2014 Louisiana Laws Revised Statutes. The procedure for registration and formation of LLC is as follows:

Step#1: Hire a registered agent

According to Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, La. RS 12:1308, an LLC will be required to continuously maintain a registered agent in the state. Whether you are planning to form a Louisiana business LLC or a foreign business entity, a registered agent is necessary to ensure the process of LLC formation is smooth. We would take this opportunity to share with you the fact that we are one of the top registered agents in the state and have been responsible for over 11,494 businesses set up in Louisiana.

We are in compliance with all regulations in the State of Louisiana.

Step#2: Name Reservation/Registration

In the state of Louisiana, a domestic entity or a foreign business can operate or file documents for formation only after the process of reservation or registration of name is complete. A business entity name can be reserved under Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, La.RS 12:1307 for a period of 120 days. Foreign business entities will be required to register their name under LA Rev Stat § 12:1-403 (2015). LLC company formation in Louisiana naming requirements, highlight the fact that the chosen business name should be distinguishable from the name of any other entity on the records of the secretary of state.

Step#3: Articles of Organization and Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana

If you are planning to form a Louisiana business LLC then the most important step is to prepare and file the right registration or business formation documents.

In the state of Louisiana, a domestic LLC can be formed and operated pursuant to Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, La. RS 12:1304. A domestic business entity will be required to file “Articles of Organization” with the secretary of state.
On the other hand, a foreign limited liability company can be formed and operated pursuant to Louisiana Limited Liability Company Law, La. RS 12:1345. A foreign business entity will be required to file “Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana” with the secretary of state.

We can file the form on your behalf as your registered agent in the state and provide you with certified copies of the LLC registration.

In case, you have any questions regarding how to form a Louisiana business, feel free to call us on 702-871-8678.

Louisiana Corporation Registration and Formation

How do you form a corporation in Louisiana? There is a process through which you will be able to incorporate your business in the state. The process is as follows:

Step#1: Maintain a Registered Agent

According to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-501 (2015), a Corporation will be required to continuously maintain a registered agent in the state. Whether you are a domestic Corporation or a foreign business entity, a registered agent is necessary to ensure the process of registration of a Corporation is faster and easier.

We would take this opportunity to share with you the fact that we are one of the top registered agents in the state and have been responsible for over 11,494 businesses set up in Louisiana. We are in compliance with all regulations in the State of Louisiana and will assist you to form a corporation in Louisiana.

Step#2: Name Reservation/Registration

In the state of Louisiana, a domestic entity or a foreign business can operate or file documents for formation only after the process of reservation or registration of name is complete. A business entity name can be reserved under LA Rev Stat § 12:1-402 (2015) for a period of 120 days. Foreign business entities will be required to register their name under LA Rev Stat § 12:1-403 (2015). Company formation in Louisiana naming requirements; highlight the fact that the chosen business name should be distinguishable from the name of any other entity on the records of the secretary of state.

Step#3: Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Authority

If you are planning to form a Louisiana business corporation then the most important step is to prepare and file the right registration or business incorporation documents.

In the state of Louisiana, a domestic corporation can be formed and operated pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-202. A domestic business entity will be required to file “Articles of Incorporation” with the secretary of state.
If you are planning to form a foreign corporation then you will be required to file “Certificate of Authority” with the secretary of state pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:304.

We can help in streamlining the process of company formation in Louisiana by filing documents on your behalf through the online process or through expedited process.

If you have any questions regarding Louisiana incorporation or LLC formation, you can simply visit the Louisiana Business formation page.

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Did you know Louisiana has been ranked #1 in the U.S. for “Workforce Engagement?” It’s not just a highly productive and motivated workforce that is driving business growth and economy of the state but generous tax incentives and low operating costs are also key drivers. These factors have also played a key role in transforming business incorporation in Louisiana into a successful initiative. The current-dollar GDP of the state was $246.3 million in 2017, which is quite a good growth as compared to $209.5 million in 2007.

Why Choose Louisiana for Incorporation?

An interesting fact is that some of the top businesses that have set up companies in Louisiana belong to industries like Energy, Agribusiness, Manufacturing, Automotive, and Water Management. Some of the biggest names include Future Pipe Industries, Inc., Odyssea Marine, Kinder Morgan, CenterPoint Energy, LHC Group, Amedisys, and Edison Chouest Offshore among others.

Now let’s take a look at some of the salient benefits that are responsible for fueling growth of small businesses:

• Company incorporation in Louisiana opportunity zones has its own set of benefits. The prime benefit of being a part of the Opportunity Zones Program is that your business can benefit from the lowering and deferring of federal taxes on capital gains for a period of 5 years. List of Opportunity Zones | Map of Opportunity Zones
• When you set up company in Louisiana, you can benefit from several types of tax credits and exemptions including Corporate Jobs Tax Credit, Automotive and Aerospace Industry Tax Credit, Biotechnology Sales/Use Tax Exemption, Industrial Tax Exemption, and Inventory Tax Credit among others.

How do you incorporate in Louisiana?

Is there a process through which company incorporation in Louisiana is possible? What type of documentation is required? Is the process complex? If you are confronted with these questions then the following steps will help you in understanding how incorporation works in Louisiana:

Type of Business

You can form different types of businesses in Louisiana and this includes domestic and foreign corporation, domestic and foreign limited liability company, partnership, sole proprietorship, and limited liability partnership. The process of incorporation in Louisiana along with the registration and processing fee will vary according to the type of business you want to establish in the state. Know more

Business Entity Name

What is the next step towards company incorporation in Louisiana? The next step is to identify and reserve a name and this is done as follows:

• Naming Requirements: According to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-401 (2015), a corporate name should contain the words “incorporated,” “corporation,” or abbreviations like “inc.,” “corp.,” etc. Similarly, an LLC should contain “limited liability company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
• Business name search: In the state of Louisiana, you need to check for name availability first. You can conduct a preliminary check by phone on 225.925.4704 or through fax to 225.932.5314. You can also conduct name availability check through mail to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804.
• Name Reservation: Once you have identified a business entity name, you can reserve the name with the Secretary of State pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-402 (2015). Name reservations are valid for a period of 120 days.
• Name Registration: If you are a foreign entity planning to set up a company in Louisiana then you will be required to register your business name with the Secretary of State pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-403 (2015).

Choose a Registered Agent

According to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-501 (2015) a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC in the state of Louisiana will be required to maintain a registered agent. We are one of the respected registered agents in Louisiana and will be responsible for initiating incorporation in Louisiana through processing of all your documents including “Articles of Incorporation” for domestic corporations and “Certificate of Authority” for foreign corporations.

Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Authority

You will be required to file “Articles of Incorporation” pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:1-202, if your business is a domestic corporation. You will have to file a “Certificate of Authority” pursuant to LA Rev Stat § 12:304, if it is a foreign business entity. In order to streamline the process of incorporation in Louisiana, we can file documents on your behalf through the online process or through an expedited process.

Date Stamped Copies

As a part of the process of company incorporation in Louisiana, we will ensure, you receive date-stamped and filed copies that verifies the state has filed as well as formed your corporation.

Costs and Fees associated with Louisiana Incorporation

What would it cost to set up company in Louisiana? Check Fees here!

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What makes Louisiana such an attractive state for new businesses? The answer lies in another question – What would you be looking for when establishing a startup company Louisiana? Different people have different perspectives but most businesses would agree on the following:

• A state that offers advantages and benefits
• A destination with a strong and reliable infrastructure
• A skilled and dedicated workforce

The good news is that Louisiana provides all of the above and much more. Small and medium enterprises in the state are not only growing through sales and services within the state and nation but also through exports that totaled $65.1 billion in 2015.

Advantages of setting up an LLC or a Corporation

As one of the top registered agents in the state, we can help you register a new business in Louisiana as this will ensure you are able to leverage all types of business gains and state provided incentives and grants. Let’s take a quick look at why Louisiana is considered one of the best places for establishing a business:

Advantage#1: Salient benefits of Corporation or LLC formation

Corporation

• Change in Ownership: If you register a new company in Louisiana as a Corporation and then convert to an S Corporation, sale, purchase, as well as gifting of stock can facilitate changes in ownership. These changes can take place without affecting the business of the corporation.
• Independent Life: One of the salient advantages of an S Corporation in Louisiana is that it enjoys an independent life. The business entity will continue operation undisturbed even if it experiences incapacitation of one or more stockholders or faces the death of one of its stockholders.

LLC

• Limited Liability: An owner of an LLC startup company in Louisiana, will be able to enjoy limited liability protection, which means claimants can sue the LLC and not the owner or investors.
• Flexible Profit Distribution: An LLC has the benefit of being able to select different ways of distribution of profits.
• No Minutes of meetings: Unlike a corporation, a startup company in Louisiana will not be required to maintain any minutes of the meetings or resolutions.

Advantage#2: Business Incentive Programs

What other benefits does the state of Louisiana offer businesses? In fact, there are several programs that you can benefit from after you register a new business in Louisiana. These include tax credits, loans and grants, and several other incentives. Let’s look at some of the most popular benefits:

• The Enterprise Zone: The EZ program as it is known is basically an incentive program that revolves around creation of new jobs. If your startup company in Louisiana qualifies for this program then you can benefit from franchise as well as income tax credits. You can derive a maximum of $1,000 in tax credits for each new job being created.
• Louisiana Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program (ITEP): This is a state incentive program that provides tax incentives to those businesses that are into manufacturing. As a part of this program, you can benefit from 100% property tax abatement for an initial term of five years, which can be extended to three more years.
• Small Business Loan and Guaranty Program: This is another beneficial program that you can leverage on if you register a new company in Louisiana. Most often than not, small businesses require funding assistance and this program provides loans varying from $5,000 to $1.5 million. The program is being administered by Louisiana Economic Development through Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).

Apart from the above mentioned programs, there are several other business incentive programs in Louisiana including Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Program, Research and Development Tax Credit, Economic Development Award Program, Quality Jobs Program, Micro Loan Program, Inventory Tax Credit Program, and Small Business Loan Program among others.

Are there any Disadvantages of Incorporating in Louisiana?

You are probably wondering if there are any disadvantages of establishing a startup company in Louisiana. As such, there are no disadvantages except for the time taken to process the registration or incorporation documents and the specific disadvantages of a business like limited life of an LLC. As a state that provides positive business climate and plenty of incentives, the disadvantages for forming an LLC or corporation in Louisiana is definitely not a deterrent in business growth.

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Once you have incorporated or formed your business in Louisiana, what next? The next step is to find out if you require a business license or permit to begin operations in the state. However, it is important to understand that not all businesses require a state license and there are some businesses that may require a specific city or county license as well. The required licenses or permit in some cases may fall into a regulatory category and these are normally issued by different Louisiana state agencies.

Louisiana Business License Requirements

How do you obtain a business license in Louisiana? More importantly, does your business require a license or permit? How does the process of identifying and acquiring a license work? Which business entities require a license and which requires permits? Who is the issuing authority for these licenses? These are some of the important questions that you might be confronted with and hence, we have created a guide that will help answer some of these questions.

Let us look at a step-by-step approach towards acquiring a Louisiana company license or a permit.

Step-1: Identify the Industry or Type of Business

Which industry is your business entity a part of? In the state of Louisiana, the requirement for business license or permit is dependent on the type of industry. Some of the most common industries include:

• Manufacturing, processing, mining, and/or fabricating
• Agriculture/Animals/Water/Logging/Land Use
• Contracting or Real Estate
• Entertainment, Gaming, Casino
• Tourism
• Energy
• Sales: Retail, wholesale, on-line sales
• Service businesses
• Healthcare

Essentially, the type of business license, the issuing authority, and licensing fee will depend on 2 factors:

• The industry
• The city or county where your business is registered or based

Step-2: Do you need a Business License

Once you have identified the industry, the next step is to identify whether you need a business license in Louisiana. Some of the businesses that require a license or permit include:

• Gaming, Casino and Video
• Food – Retail and Restaurants
• Alcohol – Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturer
• Hearing Aid Dealer
• Motor Vehicle (New/Used) and Recreational Vehicles
• Private Employment Service
• Mining
• Livestock
• Provider: Foster Care, Adoption Agency, and others
• Security Company
• Wholesale Drug Distributors

If your business is not in the above list, you need to check with the county or city council to find out if your business requires a local permit or a license.

Step-3: Apply for a Business License

The application procedure, the processing and the fee for a Louisiana company license varies according to the industry or type of business. Here is an example that will help you understand how the process works.

Type of Business: Retail Food Establishment

If you are planning to start a “Retail Food Establishment” in Louisiana then the issuance of business license or permits will be handled by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health.

A Retail Food Establishment in Louisiana does not require a business license; instead you will be required to apply for a permit. Here is the procedure:

• You will be required to submit a scale-drawn floor plan of your food establishment and a site plan to the sanitarian and it should be compliant with all requirements of the applicable State Sanitary Code.
• Once the plan is approved, inspection will be conducted in the said premises.
• After a final permitting inspection, the Permit to Operate will be issued by State Health Department.
• The fee to be paid for the permit is $150 for 1 permit and is valid for Restaurants, Bars, Meat Markets, Seafood Markets etc.
• There will be an extra fee of $25 for a temporary special event permit.

Today, there are almost 34,000 food establishments that have business license in Louisiana and you can have one too!

In case, you have any questions regarding how to form a Louisiana business and apply for a business license, feel free to call us at 702-871-8678.

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• Why Delaware?
• Delaware Registered Agent
• Delaware Annual Requirements
• Delaware Corporation Statutes: Delaware Code, Title 8: Corporations