How To Start A Business In Louisiana 2024?

How To Start A Business In Louisiana 1
Louisiana is one of the best states to start a business. Photo: Kite_rin/Shutterstock

Site Selection magazine has been ranking Louisiana among the 10 best states to start a business.[1] for ten years in a row following their November 2019 latest ranking. Louisiana also boasts a potential supply of employees to hire for your new business, not to forget the low labor cost in the state. With all these advantages, Louisiana has been a great choice for business startups.

However, starting a business in the state can be overwhelming, considering there are so many steps to take and so much information to equip yourself with. We are going to break down the steps and tell you everything you need to know about how to start a successful business in Louisiana or become a business owner in this state. 

11 Basic Steps To Start A Business In Louisiana 2024

  • Pick a business idea
  • Plan your business 
  • Get funding
  • Choose a business structure
  • Register your Iowa business
  • Set up banking, credit cards, and accounting
  • Get Insured
  • Obtain Permits & Licenses
  • Hire employees
  • Build a business website
  • Promo your business

How To Start A Business In Louisiana? 

Here is the breakdown of the key steps you need to take to start your business in Louisiana.[2]

Pick A Business Idea

Take your time to think of research ideas for your business. You should take into consideration your skill, availability, resources, your interest, and the reason why you want to start a business. Also, aims at providing products and services that don’t already exist in the market or aims at refining existing products and services.

Plan Your Business 

After you have settled on a good business idea, consider drafting a business plan. A business plan helps you organize and develop your ideas and goals. A good business plan will offer you an idea of the start-up cost, your competitors, and other strategies for making money. 

Writing business plans can be very easy if you make use of online business plan generators. There are several business plans, so you have to research and settle on the best. 

Get Funding

After creating a good business plan, you can now look for funding. A business plan is what most investors and lenders review before providing business assistance.

There are several funding options in Louisiana that you can choose from in case you can’t find the business by yourself.

Here is a screenshot of funding opportunities published in the state. 

Choose A Business Structure

A business structure also known as a legal structure is literally how a business is organized. Deciding on a business structure that you will use as a key step in starting Louisiana is equally an important step. The most common business structures to consider in Louisiana include:

Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship is simply an individual who decides to go into business. It is the easiest to start and you don’t have to file any organizational documents with the Louisiana state. 

On the negative side, you are personally liable for all debts and actions of your company in case of a lawsuit. 

LLCs

An LLC combines the benefits of liability protection with the flexibility of sole proprietorship or partnership. 

To form a limited liability company in Louisiana, you will have to file the Articles of Organization with the Louisiana secretary of state. The state also requires that you appoint a registered agent and obtain an EIN. 

Though not a mandatory requirement in Louisiana, creating an operating agreement is also a key step in your LLC formation. It outlines how your LLC will be managed and the responsibilities of each member. 

That said, forming an LLC may be mind-blowing. If you want to undertake the whole process with peace of mind, you can make use of these top two LLC formation companies in Louisiana. 

Corporations

A corporation also offers liability protection just like an LLC but with more formal regulations than an LLC. This makes it the best option for most large companies’ investors. 

However, the formation process requires more paperwork than LLCs. In addition to filing a certificate of the corporation, appointing a registered agent, and obtaining EIN, you will have to hold meetings and draft bylaws. “

Nonprofits

If you have an idea to serve your community, starting a nonprofit is a great way to go. Non-profit is formed to facilitate social causes and for that reason, are exempt from paying tax. It is funded by a donation rather than an investor. 

Forming a nonprofit is a process, so you must thoroughly read Louisiana non-profit filing instructions.[3]

Partnership

A partnership is just like a sole proprietorship but with multiple members. That said, you don’t have to file any organizational documents to start a partnership. 

On the downside, a partnership does not offer liability protection. That is, your personal assets can be used as collateral to pay for debt or business actions in case of lawsuits. 

Register Your Louisiana Business

Register Your Louisiana Business
Registering your Louisiana business is a necessary step. Photo: Jacob Lund/ Shutterstock

Registering your business name is the first step toward making your business entity legal in Louisiana. You register your LLCs, corporations, and nonprofit names with the Louisiana Secretary of State or Louisiana Department. Registering your business in Louisiana comes with liability protection but doesn’t prevent someone from using that particular name. 

You don’t have to register sole proprietorship and partnership unless you want to operate your business with a different name from your official name. In such a case, you will file a DBA with the county clerk within the county where your business operates.

Set Up Banking, Credit Cards, & Accounting

You need to have separate business and personal accounts. By dedicating business banking and credit card accounts, you further prove that your business is a separate entity and this is an added liability protection. 

When you use the same account as your personal and business accounts, your assets may be at risk in case of business lawsuits.

Getting Insured

Business insurance[4] helps you manage risks and allows you to focus on growing your Louisiana business. Whether your new business has one or several employees, operates from a business location or a residence, sells products, or offers services, there are many types of insurance to choose from.

Obtain Permits & Licenses

Depending on the nature of your business and location, you may be required to obtain one or more business licenses or local permits. Each municipality in Louisiana may have its regulations.

Just contact the Louisiana secretary of state to inquire about the type of business license] or permit required for your specific business.

Hire Employees

Hiring employees[5] is a very key step in your new business. However, hiring employees is not a one-step process. You will need to create a plan for paying your employees, register with some agencies such as the IRS to stay compliant with the requirements, plan to offer employee benefits such as healthcare, and adhere to federal and state labor laws.

Build A Business Website

An online presence is very important for your business growth. The good news, creating a business website is now a simple process thanks to online website builder tools. Some of the easiest-to-use online building tools include GoDaddy.com, Wix, Squarespace, and Zyro among others. 

Promo Your Business

There are several ways you can promote your new Louisiana business. The most effective ones include:

  • Write and distribute a press release
  • Customer reward programs
  • Open a YouTube channel for your business
  • Use Google My Business

Type Of Business Start In Louisiana

Type Of Business Start In Louisiana
There are many types of businesses you can consider. Photo: Ivanko80/Shutterstock

A lot of factors need to be put into consideration when choosing a business to start in Louisiana. But with all factors put into consideration, here are the top ten business ideas in Louisiana:

  • Daycare
  • Advertising agency
  • Dog training business
  • Data entry business
  • Pest control
  • Home health care
  • Catering
  • Photo Editing
  • Construction
  • DJ

How Much Does It Cost To Start A Business In Louisiana?

The cost of starting a business in Louisiana[6] depends on the business structure you settle on. For instance, a sole proprietorship is simply an individual deciding to go into business and doesn’t have registration costs. 

That said, the cost of starting most businesses in Louisiana ranges from $ 0 to $100 depending on the entity. However, some businesses such as home service contract providers can cost up to $600.

Important Steps After Forming A Business In Louisiana

The steps to take after forming your business may slightly differ depending on the business structure that you form. However, most of the steps are common, some of which have been discussed above. 

Some of the key steps to take after forming your business in Louisiana include:

  • Getting an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS
  • Applying for a business license
  • Opening a business bank account
  • You can meet with a tax advisor
  • File a DBA if necessary
  • Protect your name with a trademark
  • Research whatever you need to stay compliant

Final Thoughts

Louisiana has an average business start-up cost and a constant supply of employees which makes it attractive to many entrepreneurs. The good news, starting a business in Louisiana can be very simple if you follow our step-by-step guides. If you are planning to start a business in Louisiana or you are already operating one, feel free to share with us your experience.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I get an EIN in Louisiana?

You can get a Louisiana EIN from the IRS website and it is free. You can do the application online, via mail, fax, or even by phone for an international applicant.

How long does it take to register a business in Louisiana?

The Louisiana secretary of state takes 7-20 business days to process your articles of organization filing. However, the state offers expedited filing and can reduce the processing to two to three business days.

Is a Federal Employer Identification Number the same as an EIN?

Your EIN is required on your business tax returns, business tax account, and tax-related documents. It is also required by many banks, financial institutions, credit card companies, and vendors. Note: A federal employment identification number (FEIN) is the same thing as an employer identification number (EIN).

Is general liability insurance the same as limited liability insurance?

The key difference between limited liability and general liability is that limited liability insurance protects a business owner’s assets (including their business interest), and general liability insurance protects the business.

Do LLCs pay franchise tax in Louisiana?

The Louisiana corporate franchise tax is $1.50 for each $1,000 earned. Starting in 2023, that will go up to $2.75 for each $1,000. There’s a $110 initial corporation franchise tax as well.

Does an LLC in Louisiana have to file a tax return?

You only need to file your personal tax returns (Federal Form 1040 and Louisiana Form IT-540) and include your LLC profits on the return.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE REVIEWER

Jazmin Castello holds a Master's degree in Business Management, owns two companies, and has also published a self-help book. When she is not working or writing, she likes to spend time with her family and to travel.

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Bizreport Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards avoids using tertiary references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research. To ensure the accuracy of articles in Bizreport, you can read more about the editorial process here.

  1. Louisiana.gov. (2019). Louisiana Earns Top 10 Spot Among Nation’s Best Business Climates | Office of Governor John Bel Edwards. [online] Available at: https://www.gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm/newsroom/detail/2248.
  2. La.gov. (2019). Start a Business. [online] Available at: https://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/StartABusiness/Pages/default.aspx.
  3. La.gov. (2023). About/Instructions. [online] Available at: https://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/HTMLPages/LouisianaNonProfitCorporationFilingInstructions.htm.
  4. La.gov. (2015). Small Business. [online] Available at: https://www.ldi.la.gov/small-business.
  5. Sba.com. (2022). Louisiana Business License, Permit and Registration Resource. [online] Available at: https://www.sba.com/louisiana/.
  6. La.gov. (2019). Get Forms & Fee Schedule. [online] Available at: https://www.sos.la.gov/BusinessServices/FileBusinessDocuments/GetFormsAndFeeSchedule/Pages/default.aspx.
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