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Louisiana Articles of Organization | LLC School
Louisiana LLC · Step 3 of 8 · Check current official instructions

Louisiana Articles of Organization: File for $125 (2026)

The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.

Ahmad AdilWritten by Ahmad Adil, LLC School · Check current official instructions
LA ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
Quick Answer

The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.

Step 3 — Fast Facts
Filing fee
$125 base; check payment charges
Initial Report
Form 973 required with Form 365
Standard processing
Check current queue
24-hour expedite
+$35; service conditions apply
Priority expedite
+$60; service conditions apply
Paper filings
Notarized · some parishes online-only

What This Filing Does

The Articles of Organization are your LLC's birth certificate — the moment the Secretary of State approves them, your company legally exists. Louisiana packages two documents into one filing: the Articles (the entity's core facts) and the Initial Report (its people and addresses). You can't file one without the other, and there's no separate fee for the report.

The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.

What Goes on the Forms

1

Articles: LLC name

Must satisfy R.S. 12:1306 — the right designator, distinguishable from the record, no restricted words without clearance. Run the name search first.

2

Articles: purpose & duration

A general-purpose clause works for most businesses; duration is perpetual unless you set an end date.

3

Initial Report: registered office & agent

Physical Louisiana address plus the agent's name — with the acceptance affidavit (e-signed within 7 days online, notarized on paper).

4

Initial Report: members or managers

Names and addresses of initial members (member-managed) or managers (manager-managed). These become public record.

5

Signatures — notarized on paper

Paper Articles are signed before a notary public; geauxBIZ filings use electronic signatures and skip the notary entirely — one more reason online wins.

Which Speed Should You Buy? — Filing Speed Optimizer

Louisiana is one of the few states that sells processing speed à la carte. Whether the upcharge is worth it depends entirely on what's waiting on your LLC.

Louisiana filing-fee reference

Base and expedite charges shown separately. Payment charges and other optional services are additional.

$125 base, including the required Articles and Initial Report package. Check the current queue and any payment charge.

How to File (Online vs Paper)

MethodFeeNotary?Notes
Online — geauxBIZ (recommended)$125 plus any payment chargeNoE-signatures; agent e-acknowledges within 7 days; required in some parishes
Paper (mail/fax)$125Yes — Articles + agent affidavitSlower with mail time; not accepted for all parishes

Common rejection reasons: missing or un-notarized signatures on paper, an agent affidavit that never arrived, a name conflict, or restricted words without board clearance. Each rejection costs you the calendar days, so triple-check the packet.

After Approval: Your Immediate Next Moves

  • Download your certified documents and record your exact approval date — that date is your anniversary, which sets your annual report deadline forever.
  • Create your operating agreement — especially important given Louisiana's one-member-one-vote default and community property rules.
  • Get your free EIN at IRS.gov, then register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
  • Calendar your anniversary date — your first $35 annual report is due by that date next year.

The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.

Optional Provider Service
Northwest: Optional Formation Assistance
Verify current customer feedback directlyOptional filing assistance · Verify current terms directly
  • ✓Optional formation assistance; confirm filing scope, service pricing and submission responsibilities.
  • ✓Confirm reminder and follow-up filing services; the LLC remains responsible for its deadlines.
  • ✓Confirm registered-agent eligibility, coverage, included periods and renewal charges.
  • ✓Review address-use rules and privacy policies; a service does not remove all information from public filings.
Current offer+ $125 LA state fee
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Next Step — Step 4 of 8
Create Your Operating Agreement
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Start Step 4

October 2026 forms and service fees

The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.

Current official requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Louisiana LLC — FAQ

How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Louisiana?
The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.
How long does Louisiana LLC approval take?
The current October 2026 Louisiana Form 365 lists a $125 domestic LLC filing fee and requires Initial Report Form 973 with its agent affidavit. Routine expedite adds $35 (24-hour service); priority adds $60 (2–4-hour service), subject to current conditions and complete accepted documents. Check any payment charge at checkout. Follow current form instructions for signatures, notarization, agent acceptance and parishes requiring online filing.
What is the Initial Report and does it cost extra?
Form 973 is the mandatory Initial Report accompanying Form 365. Complete its registered-office, agent-affidavit and initial member/manager information as directed by the current form.
Do Louisiana Articles of Organization need to be notarized?
Paper filings, yes — the Articles are signed before a notary, and the agent’s affidavit is notarized too. Online geauxBIZ filings use electronic signatures and need no notary, which is one of several reasons online is the default (and required for some parishes).
Can I file Louisiana Articles by paper everywhere?
No. Some parishes require online filing through geauxBIZ, so paper isn’t universally accepted. Unless you have a specific reason for paper, file online.
Why would Louisiana reject my Articles?
The usual causes: a name that isn’t distinguishable or uses restricted words without clearance, missing notarization on paper filings, an agent affidavit that was never signed, or fee errors. Each rejection costs calendar time, so verify the packet before submitting.
What should I do right after approval?
Download your certified documents and record the exact approval date — that’s your anniversary, which sets your annual report deadline permanently. Then create your operating agreement, get your free EIN at IRS.gov, and register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue.
Ahmad Adil, founder of LLC School
About the Author
Ahmad Adil

Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. For filing and ongoing compliance, confirm the requirements with the responsible state agency. This is educational information, not legal or tax advice.

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