How to Start a Louisiana LLC

The very first step in your Louisiana LLC would be to pick a name for your company. You need to develop a distinct, unique, and legally compliant name that best reflects your brand identity. Apart from this, you also need to make sure that your chosen name complies with Louisiana’s naming requirements and is easily recognized by potential customers and clients. 

Here’s a list of all the naming requirements you need to consider before starting your Louisiana LLC,

1. Your chosen LLC name should be different and distinguishable from other registered business entities in Louisiana. For reference, you can check out this business name search tool from the Secretary of State’s website to check if a particular name is already in use. 
   
   
2. Secondly, avoid using words that might confuse people and make them think your business is something it’s really not, like a bank, corporation, FBI, or CIA.
   
   
3. It goes without saying, but there should be no rude, forbidden, or obscene terms in your chosen LLC name.
   
   
4. Also, it’s best to stay away from terms like “trustee,” “board,” or “insurance” that could restrict your business’s identity.
   
   
5. Check that the name is not already used as a website domain to avoid trademark or legal issues.
   
   
6. Your LLC’s name should indicate that it’s a limited liability company. It’s a good idea to end the name with abbreviations like “LLC,” “LLC,” or “Ltd.” Most people just stick with “LLC.”
   
   
7. Some terms like “lawyer,” “credit union,” and “attorney” have special restrictions given their professional nature. You’d need to provide additional documents and licensing to the state government.  

Still confused? Here’s a complete list of all the LLC naming regulations in the state of Louisiana.

Suppose you aren’t comfortable fully launching your business just yet but are concerned about someone else taking up your name. In that case, you have the option to reserve your name by filing a Name Reservation form (Form #398) with the Secretary of State. You can save a name for up to 120 days. The normal fee is $25, but you can pay an added fee of $30 to speed up the whole process to 24 hours or $50 to get your paperwork processed within four business hours. 

You can send your completed paperwork to the address mentioned below:

Commercial Division

PO Box 94125

Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

Additionally, if you’re planning to submit your LLC formation documents through the state’s online geauxBIZ portal, you must first secure a name reservation and acquire a federal tax I.D. number. Once you’ve completed the steps, you can proceed to file your LLC articles of organization.

Note: It’s essential to remember that entrepreneurs are under no obligation to use their registered business name(one that’s mentioned in their Articles of Organization document) when doing business in the real world. 

You have the option to use a Trade Name or Fictitious Name, more popularly known as a DBA (doing business as). To register under a different name, you need to register your trade name with the Louisiana Secretary of State. You have the option to apply online or through mail by filing an Application to Register Trade Name Trademark or Service Mark (Form # 309). 

Remember that online filing is required for LLCs located in the following regions: Ascension, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Jefferson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ouachita, Orleans, Rapides, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, and Terrebonne. The filing fee is $75.