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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Textbook chapter 3 · Louisiana

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, Louisiana (2026): 5 Sections and the 3 Best Services

For registering an LLC formed elsewhere in Louisiana in 2026, this chapter recommends Mainstay Filing ($199), LA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Louisiana Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked from first to last. Registration is covered in 5 sections. The state fee is $185, and the recurring report costs $35.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Chapter summary

Registration fee $185 static.sos.la.gov (edition of October 2026)
Home-state certificate 90 days Must be issued within
Report fee $35 Annual report
State cost, years 1 to 3 $255 Service fees excluded
Number of sections 5 Outlined below

Learning objectives

  • Which LLCs must register
  • The official form and fee
  • Recurring obligations
  • The services ranked highest

The Louisiana shortlist

Ranked by the grading page: three-year cost (34%), paperwork completed (30%), second-year price, fit with Louisiana rules and clarity of the price list.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for companies adding a second state

Highest ranked
$199 to register, $149 per year afterward

Mainstay Filing comes first. The first-year agent is included, so the Louisiana registration costs $199 beyond the state fee.

Three years cost $100 more than LA Registered Agent.org, yet this service completes more of the paperwork, and the ranking weighs that.

Agent pricing after the first year: $149 annually, in any state.

Price covers

  • Registration is filed for you
  • The registered agent carries no charge in year one
  • Covers all fifty states

Advantages

  • Ready for a later state as well
  • The agent is free for the first year
  • $199 plus the state fee

Limitations

  • LA Registered Agent.org charges $50 less for the agent
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. LA Registered Agent.org: best for adding only Louisiana

In-state service
$199 to register, $99 per year afterward

Entry number 2 is LA Registered Agent.org, where the registration charge is $199 plus state fees, and the first agent year is already paid.

Price covers

  • The Louisiana registration, prepared and submitted
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 to register
  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • The first agent year is free

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit LA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for a small agent renewal

In-state service
$199 to register, $99 per year afterward

Entry number 3 is Louisiana Registered Agent.co, where the registration charge is $199 plus state fees, and the first agent year is already paid.

It charges exactly what LA Registered Agent.org charges.

Price covers

  • The Louisiana registration, prepared and submitted
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $99 a year for the agent afterward
  • $199 to register
  • The first agent year is free

Limitations

  • Limited to one state
Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Rankings and prices together

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 LA Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit LA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Louisiana Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices as listed on November 13, 2026. The $185 state fee is omitted from these figures.

Registering with Louisiana, section by section

  1. Section 1

    Decide if the LLC must register

    Key term: foreign LLC. It is an LLC formed in a different state, and Louisiana asks it to register before operating here. Failure to register can mean: an unregistered LLC may not act as plaintiff before Louisiana's courts (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)) agreements already made are not voided (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)) back fees for the unregistered period

    Reference: legis.la.gov (edition of October 2026)

  2. Section 2

    Collect the document issued by the home state

    You will need certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, no older than 90 days.

    Leave it until the other documents are ready.

  3. Section 3

    Arrange a Louisiana registered agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. The address has to be a registered office in Louisiana, which the law treats as the company's domicile. P.O. boxes and virtual offices are not accepted.

    Any of the recommended services can serve.

    Reference: legis.la.gov (edition of October 2026)

  4. Section 4

    Your paperwork here is the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company

    the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division is the office that receives the filing and $185.

    Reference: static.sos.la.gov (edition of October 2026)

  5. Section 5

    Remain registered

    Note the annual report and its $35 fee (on or before the anniversary of your qualification).

Costs section by section

ItemGoes toCost
Foreign registration The state$185
Annual report The state$35
Service, if hired Your chosen service$199 at the start
State total over three years The state$255

Rows for the state rely on Louisiana's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

Why the list is in this order

Chapters the price completes accounts for 30% of the ranking, and led on it in Louisiana.

Registration involves two states, and a provider that covers both finished ahead of LA Registered Agent.org.

Louisiana questions

What does Louisiana charge a foreign LLC to register?

$185 for the filing. A service adds $199.

Which form do I file to register?

A single form does the job, and the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division handles it.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, issued within 90 days of filing.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

an unregistered LLC may not act as plaintiff before Louisiana's courts (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)) agreements already made are not voided (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)) back fees for the unregistered period

What is due after registering?

Section 5 covers it: the annual report for $35.

Which service should handle the registration?

Mainstay Filing, LA Registered Agent.org and Louisiana Registered Agent.co, from the highest ranking to the lowest.

More chapters

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Footnote for Louisiana Secretary of State: see geauxbiz.sos.la.gov (August 2026).
  2. Footnote for Louisiana Secretary of State: see sos.la.gov (August 2026).
  3. Footnote for Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, official source: see legis.la.gov (October 2026).
  4. Footnote for Louisiana Secretary of State fee changes effective October: see static.sos.la.gov (October 2026).
  5. Footnote for Louisiana registered agent statute: see legis.la.gov (October 2026).
  6. Footnote for Louisiana Secretary of State, forms and fee schedule: see sos.la.gov (October 2026).
  7. Footnote for Form 972, foreign LLC application: see sos.la.gov (October 2026).
  8. Footnote for R.S. 12:1345, application for authority: see legis.la.gov (October 2026).
  9. Footnote for R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing to obtain authority: see legis.la.gov (October 2026).
  10. Footnote for R.S. 12:1350, registered agent: see legis.la.gov (October 2026).
  11. Mainstay Filing, Louisiana service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  12. LA Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  13. Louisiana Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026