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Louisiana · Secretary of State

Louisiana Secretary of State. Every filing, handled.

The Louisiana Secretary of State office in Baton Rouge processes every business filing for Louisiana entities. We file annual reports, amendments, foreign qualifications, DBAs, and certificates of good standing on your behalf — Louisiana is ranked #37 of 51 for business friendliness (a higher-regulation state with extensive compliance requirements).

Part of your File.Business BOS · 51 jurisdictions · 220K+ businesses
LALouisianaSECRETARY OF STATE · BATON ROUGE#37 BUSINESS-FRIENDLYLA SOS · COMMON FILINGSARAnnual ReportAnniversary daAMAmendmentsName · addressFQForeign Qual.From another stateDBADBA / Trade NameFictitious nameGSGood StandingCertificateDISDissolutionClose entityPROCESSING1-7 daysStandard · expedited availableAR FEE$35No franchise taxONLINE FILING✓ YesLA SOS portal
Louisiana SOS filings

Every filing the Louisiana SOS handles in one place.

Annual Report

Louisiana's annual filing: Annual Report. Due Anniversary date. $35. Annual cadence.

Formation filings

Articles of incorporation, articles of organization, certificate of authority for Louisiana entities. We file electronically with the SOS in Baton Rouge.

Amendments

Name changes, address updates, officer/manager changes, registered agent changes filed with Louisiana SOS.

Foreign qualification

Out-of-state entity registering to do business in Louisiana? We file the Application for Authority + Certificate of Good Standing from your home state.

Certificate of Good Standing

Order Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing for lender, M&A, or foreign-qualification use. Usually issued within 24-48 hours by Louisiana SOS.

Dissolution + reinstatement

Properly wind down a Louisiana entity, or reinstate one that's been administratively dissolved. We handle both filings.

How it works

A clean handoff, in 4 steps.

Pick the LA filing

AR, amendment, foreign qual, DBA, certificate, dissolution: we know which Louisiana form maps to your need.

Pre-fill from your record

BOS already has your Louisiana entity's officers + addresses + RA. We pre-fill the form, you review, we file.

File with Louisiana SOS

Submitted electronically via the Louisiana SOS portal. State fees paid. Processing in 1-7 business days standard, expedite available.

Receipt to vault

Louisiana SOS returns confirmation + filing number to your BOS vault. Compliance Score updates live.

Three ways to stay compliant

File it once, file it forever, or hand it all to us.

Pick the level of attention your entity needs.

One-Time
$149+ state fee
One filing, this year only
  • This year's Annual Report prepared and filed for Louisiana
  • State-stamped receipt delivered to your inbox
  • Plain-English review before submission
  • Annual Report accuracy guarantee
File once
MOST POPULAR
AutoFile
$99/yr+ state fee
Filed every year, never missed
  • Annual Report filed every year, automatically for Louisiana
  • Deadline tracking and 90/60/30/7-day reminders
  • Late-fee shield: we cover state late fees if we miss the filing
  • Receipt vault with full filing history
  • Cancel anytime, no questions asked
Start AutoFile
BEST VALUE
Compliance Bundle
$199/yr+ state fee
One entity, fully managed
  • Everything in AutoFile (annual Annual Report)
  • Registered Agent service in your state (1 entity)
  • Certificate of Status (1 included per year)
  • 1 Amendment included per year (address, member, name)
  • Deadline monitoring across all your filings (DBA, license, FQ)
  • Priority human support, no chatbot queue
Get Compliance Bundle
State fees pass through at cost. Vary by entity type and filing.
Running 3 or more entities?
Business OS at $29/mo bundles compliance across your whole portfolio.
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FAQ

Common questions.

Where is the Louisiana Secretary of State office?

The Louisiana Secretary of State, or its equivalent business-filings agency, is the office that maintains your entity's official record, and most filings are handled online rather than in person. You rarely need to visit; we file electronically with Louisiana on your behalf and return the stamped result. If you do need the physical address for a specific document, we point you to the correct Louisiana office.

How long does Louisiana SOS take to process a filing?

It depends on the filing type and Louisiana's current queue: routine online filings can clear in a day or a few days, while mailed or complex filings take longer, and peak seasons slow everything down. Many states offer expedited handling for a fee. We tell you Louisiana's realistic timeline for your specific filing and submit the moment it is ready, so you are not left refreshing a status page.

How much does Louisiana charge for the annual report?

Louisiana sets its own fee, and it varies by entity type and sometimes by revenue or shares; a few states charge nothing while others are substantial. Because the amount changes over time, we show the current Louisiana figure before you file and pass it through at cost. See the pricing page for our service, and remember to budget the recurring annual report fee.

Can I file myself directly with Louisiana SOS?

Yes. You are always free to file directly with Louisiana; the state does not require you to use a service. People use us to avoid rejections over formatting or missing details, to keep every filing and deadline in one place, and to have a specialist review the paperwork before it goes in. It is a convenience and a safety net, not a requirement.

Does Louisiana require an annual report?

Most states do, on an annual or biennial cycle, though the name and schedule vary and a few states do not require one at all. The report keeps your entity's information current and your status active, and missing it lets Louisiana move you out of good standing. We track your Louisiana deadline and can file the annual report automatically, backed by a compliance calendar.

How do I check entity status with Louisiana SOS?

Louisiana runs a public business search where you can look up an entity's name, status, and registered agent. It is useful for confirming good standing or checking a name, but it is not always treated as authoritative by third parties, who often want an official Certificate of Good Standing. We can pull your Louisiana status and order that certificate whenever you need real proof.

What if my entity is in bad standing in Louisiana?

Falling out of good standing in Louisiana usually means a missed annual report or fee, and it can block financing, contracts, and certificates until you fix it. The remedy is filing the overdue items and any penalty, or, if the state has already dissolved the entity, a reinstatement. We diagnose the exact cause in the Louisiana record and clear it so your status is restored.

Can Louisiana entities operate in other states?

Yes. A Louisiana entity can do business in other states, but once it has a real presence somewhere, it must register as a foreign entity in each of those states and keep an agent there. Operating across state lines without registering can bring penalties and can even bar you from that state's courts. We handle the foreign qualification wherever you expand.

How does Louisiana rank for business friendliness?

Business friendliness is a mix of formation cost, ongoing fees, taxes, and regulatory load, and Louisiana sits somewhere on that spectrum relative to other states. For a company that actually operates in Louisiana, though, forming at home usually beats chasing a friendlier state, because operating elsewhere means registering and paying twice. We focus on keeping your Louisiana filings clean rather than on rankings.

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