Louisiana law requires businesses to have a registered agent to ensure they can be reliably contacted for legal matters and compliance purposes.

Yes, but using a professional service like ours ensures you never miss important documents and helps maintain your privacy.

Without a registered agent, your business could fall out of compliance, leading to fines, penalties, and potential legal issues.

To change your registered agent, you need to file the appropriate forms with the Louisiana Secretary of State. We can assist with this process.

Our service ensures timely handling of legal documents, compliance with state requirements, and protection of your personal information.

If you know the kind of business you want to start, like a corporation, Limited Liability Company, partnership, or trade name, you can find the necessary forms on our website and even file online. However, if you are uncertain about which type of business structure to choose, it is advisable to consult with an attorney since we cannot provide that guidance. You might also consider reaching out to a local SCORE office or Counselors to America’s Small Business office for further help.

Hello. SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a non-profit association that provides free business counseling. LSBDC (Louisiana Small Business Development Center) offers advice about business plans, grants, and other things. Please note that these services are not offered by us and we don’t have any control over the quality, price or availability of their services.

Yes, the Secretary of State conducts a preliminary search to check name availability. Feel free to reach out to our office for assistance with this. Alternatively, you can verify name availability directly on the Secretary of State’s website. Simply navigate to the Homepage and access the Commercial Database. Enter your desired business name without the corporate designation such as L.L.C. or Inc. and hit search. You will see a list of existing or similar business names. Be aware that if a domestic or foreign corporation has had its name revoked, you must wait three years from the revocation date before that name can be used again. Remember, these searches are only preliminary; various regulations influence name availability, and a comprehensive search will be conducted once you file your documents.

To secure a name, you can submit a name reservation form to the Louisiana secretary of state via fax or mail, accompanied by a check or money order, ensuring the name is held for 120 days. Reserving a name is advisable if you anticipate a delay in filing your documents or if you’re concerned that another party might promptly apply for the same name. Once you submit your Articles or Trade Name, the name will be off-limits to others.

If you are already registered to conduct business in another state and want to operate in Louisiana, you must submit either the Application of Foreign Corporation for Certificate of Authority or the Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company for Certificate of Authority. In addition to this application and the required fee, you will also need to provide a certificate of good standing or existence from the Secretary of State in your home state, which should be dated within the last 90 days. You can send all these documents via fax along with your credit card details, mail them to our office with a check or money order, or submit them online.

A trade name refers to a specific word or group of words, name, symbol, or device, or a combination of these elements that a person uses to identify their business, profession, or trade, thereby distinguishing it from others in the same field. It is important to note that trade names can create conflicts with limited liability companies and corporations. Individuals or entities such as persons, corporations, limited liability companies, or partnerships can apply for a trade name. Additionally, doing business as names, or DBAs, are not registered with this office; instead, they must be filed at the local parish level with the Clerk of Court. For inquiries related to DBAs, please contact the Parish Clerk of Court directly.

Federal tax identification numbers are provided by the Internal Revenue Service.

You can easily obtain certificates and certified copies online by visiting the provided link. Each certificate or certified copy will have a code at the bottom, enabling you to print multiple copies with the same date for 120 days. Alternatively, you may request certificates or certified copies through the Louisiana Secretary of State by fax or mail, accompanied by a check or money order.

The Louisiana Secretary of State’s Commercial Division utilizes multiple fax machines, and it may take one to two hours for the faxes to be hand delivered to the right person. Telecommunications staff cannot confirm the receipt of a fax until it has been entered into our computer system. Please ensure you allow enough time for the faxes to be delivered and processed before reaching out to inquire about the status.

To add or remove a registered agent, simply complete the Change of Registered Office or Agent form. For adding or deleting a manager, member, officer, or director, you will need to submit either the Notice of Change of Member/Manager form or the Notice of Change of Officer/Director form. If your annual report is due or overdue, you can incorporate these changes in your annual report filing. These forms are also available for online submission.

To print an Annual Report Form from the Louisiana Secretry of State website, start by navigating to the Homepage where you can find the Commercial Database. Enter your business name, excluding any corporate suffixes such as L.L.C. or Inc., and hit the search button. A list of corresponding businesses will appear, and you can select the “details” button next to your business name. This will display all relevant information on your screen. If your annual report is approaching its filing deadline or is due within the next four weeks, you will notice a bar at the top of the page prompting you to “Print Annual Report Form for Filing.” You also have the option to submit your Annual Report online.

The Annual Report must be filed each year as a mandatory requirement. Ensure that the report bears the signature of the designated individual. You may submit it to our office via fax or mail, or you can conveniently submit the Annual Report online.

If you have received a Notice of Intent to Revoke, you must submit a completed annual report to this office within 30 days of the date of the notice (or within 60 days if it is a foreign corporation/LLC). Failure to do so will result in the revocation of your charter. If the charter is revoked, a reinstatement form will be required and filing fees will be significantly higher than that of an annual report. You may also file your annual report online. You will then be prompted to enter your charter number and renewal ID (both of which can be obtained by calling the secretary of state office).

You may request either certified or plain copies of documents by submitting a written request to our office via fax, mail with a check or money order, or online through our Commercial Database. For additional details, please refer to the Get Forms & Fee Schedule section.

If your corporation or company is no longer operational, has no outstanding debts, assets, or immovable property, you can dissolve it using an Affidavit. You can find the Affidavit to Dissolve form in the Get Forms & Fee Schedule section, or you can file the Affidavit to Dissolve online. However, if your corporation or company is inactive but does have debts, assets, or immovable property, you will need to file for a long form dissolution. It is advisable to consult an attorney or refer to the Louisiana Secretary of State website for relevant statutes regarding dissolution.

All documents can be mailed to:
Mailing address
Louisiana Secretary of State
Commercial Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125

Physical Address
Louisiana Secretary of State
Commercial Division
8585 Archives Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

If faxing:

Annual Reports and Reinstatements: 225.932.5312
Original Filings and Amendments: 225.932.5314
Certified Copy Orders: 225.932.5313
GeauxBiz.com: 225.932.5319
Name Reservations: 225.932.5314