Best LLC Service in Louisiana (2026): Top Picks for LA Formation
Budget pick: Bizee - $0 service fee + $125 state fee. Free year of registered agent. Shares data with marketing partners (caveat required).
$39 service fee + $125 state fee = $164 total year one. Registered agent service included free for year one, then $125/year. Privacy-focused, family-owned, in business since 1998. Does not sell your data.
Form Your Louisiana LLC with Northwest →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.Louisiana LLC At a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing agency | Louisiana Secretary of State (geauxBIZ portal) |
| State filing fee | $125 |
| Processing time (online) | Typically a few business days through geauxBIZ |
| Annual/biennial requirement | Annual Report, due on or before your anniversary date each year. |
| Annual/biennial fee | $35 (plus a $5 online convenience fee when paying by card) |
| State income tax | Flat 3% individual income tax on pass-through income (2026 rate) |
| Franchise tax | No franchise tax on most LLCs (unless taxed as a corporation) |
| Registered agent required | Yes, physical Louisiana address required |
Louisiana compliance note: The $35 Annual Report is due on or before your LLC's anniversary date each year through the geauxBIZ portal. Louisiana does not charge a monetary late fee, but missing three consecutive annual reports leads the Secretary of State to revoke your Articles of Organization. Confirm your formation service tracks your anniversary date, since the state no longer mails paper reminders.
Louisiana LLC Formation Services Compared
| Service | LA Service Fee | LA State Fee | RA Year 1 | RA Renewal | Year-1 Total | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest | $39 | $125 | $0 (included) | $125/yr | $164 | ~$484 |
| ZenBusiness Starter | $0 | $125 | $99 (add-on) | $199/yr | $125 + $99 RA | Higher |
| Bizee Basic* | $0 | $125 | $0 (included) | $149/yr | $125 | Moderate |
| Inc Authority | $0 | $125 | $0 (included) | $249/yr | $125 | Moderate |
| LegalZoom Pro | $249 | $125 | Not included | $249/yr | Highest | Highest |
*Bizee Basic includes articles of organization filing only. RA included free year one then $149/year. Note: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. LegalZoom registered agent is never included in any plan; auto-renewal traps apply on add-on services. Rates verified October 2026.
Northwest Registered Agent: Top Pick for Louisiana
Northwest Registered Agent
Service fee: $39 • Louisiana state fee: $125 • Year-1 total: $164
Northwest has been forming LLCs since 1998. They are family-owned, have an A+ BBB rating, and maintain physical offices in all 50 states. They do not sell customer data - a meaningful differentiator in an industry where data selling is common. The $39 formation fee includes a free year of registered agent service (then $125/year), an operating agreement template, and same-day filing.
For Louisiana specifically: Northwest files the Articles of Organization directly with the Louisiana Secretary of State through the geauxBIZ system and sends compliance reminders for your Annual Report ahead of your anniversary date. Their Business Identity suite also includes business address and phone services.
What is not included: EIN assistance is a $50 add-on. Get your EIN free at IRS.gov in 15 minutes.
Form Your Louisiana LLC with Northwest →ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness
Service fee: $0 (Starter) • Louisiana state fee: $125 • RA: $99 add-on in year 1, then $199/year (auto-renewing)
ZenBusiness offers $0 formation on its Starter plan, but registered agent service is not included: it costs $99 for the first year, then $199/year. This makes ZenBusiness more expensive than Northwest on a 3-year basis for most Louisiana LLC owners who need registered agent service. ZenBusiness has a good dashboard and compliance alert system, but the auto-renewing subscriptions require attention at sign-up.
View ZenBusiness →Bizee (formerly Incfile)
Bizee
Service fee: $0 (Basic) • Louisiana state fee: $125 • RA: Free year 1, then $149/year
Bizee offers $0 formation with a free first year of registered agent service. After year one, RA renews at $149/year. Important caveat: Bizee shares customer data with marketing partners. If data privacy matters to your business or personal information, this is a meaningful drawback. Bizee is a reasonable budget option for price-focused formation.
View Bizee →Inc Authority
Inc Authority
Service fee: $0 • Louisiana state fee: $125 • RA: Free year 1, then $249/year
Inc Authority offers $0 formation with registered agent included free for year one. The year-two RA renewal at $249/year is higher than Bizee ($149) or Northwest ($125), making it more expensive long-term despite the free formation. Inc Authority upsells aggressively on add-on packages during checkout.
View Inc Authority →LegalZoom
LegalZoom
Service fee: $249+ • Louisiana state fee: $125 • RA: $249/year, not included in any plan
LegalZoom is the most expensive option: $249 for the Pro plan and registered agent is never included at any price point, adding another $249/year. LegalZoom also has auto-renewal traps on bookkeeping and attorney trial add-ons. The brand recognition does not translate to better formation quality than Northwest at $39. Not recommended for Louisiana LLC formation.
Read LegalZoom Review →DIY Filing in Louisiana
You can file your Articles of Organization directly with the Louisiana Secretary of State without a formation service. The process requires:
- Searching the Louisiana business entity database for name availability
- Completing and submitting the Articles of Organization online through the geauxBIZ portal
- Paying the $125 filing fee
- Designating yourself or a professional as registered agent
DIY filing saves the $39 service fee but requires tracking compliance deadlines yourself. For most new LLC owners, the $39 Northwest fee is worth it for same-day filing, compliance reminders, and a year of registered agent service included.
Frequently Asked Questions
The state filing fee for Articles of Organization is $125 (as of October 1, 2026). Using Northwest Registered Agent adds $39 in service fees, bringing the year-one total to $164 before later registered agent renewals are considered.
Yes. Every Louisiana LLC must file an Annual Report on or before its anniversary date each year through the geauxBIZ portal. The fee is $35 (plus a $5 online convenience fee when paying by card). There is no monetary late fee, but missing three consecutive reports leads to revocation of the LLC.
Louisiana imposes a flat 3% individual income tax on LLC pass-through income as of 2026 rates.
Yes. Every Louisiana LLC must appoint a registered agent with a physical Louisiana street address to receive legal and state documents during business hours.
Online filings through the geauxBIZ portal are typically processed within a few business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee.
Related Guides
- Northwest Registered Agent Review
- Bizee Review
- Compare All LLC Formation Services
- All State LLC Formation Guides
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes free business address, mail scanning, phone line, business email, domain name, website, and brand protection.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
In his 22 years of entrepreneurship, Frédéric Deltour has founded, grown and managed seven NGO's and international companies across diverse industries, including 3 LLCs formed using Northwest Registered Agent. He is a recognized therapist trainer, a published author, and has been featured in Le Parisien, IMDb, Goodreads, and international encyclopedias.
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