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Statewise Business The state fee almanac for LLCs, sourced line by line.

Foreign LLC guide · Louisiana

Louisiana Foreign LLCs (2026): Registration Fees and the 3 Best Services

Louisiana in 2026, foreign LLC registration: we rank Mainstay Filing ($199), Louisiana Registered Agent.co ($199) and LA Registered Agent.org ($199) in that order. A foreign LLC pays Louisiana $185 up front and $35 per yearly report; 23rd of 50 over three years.

Entry by the Statewise Business almanac desk ·

Louisiana: the entry in figures

23rdin the 50-state table, foreign LLCsOrdered from least to most expensive. Compare all states
Foreign registration fee
$185static.sos.la.gov as of October 2026
Report each cycle
$35Annual report
Certificate from home
90 daysIssued no earlier than this
State fees over three years
$255Registering, then two report years

The services we would hire in Louisiana

Why this order: service fees across three years first, then coverage, renewal, Louisiana fit and fee clarity (methodology).

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a second or third state

Almanac first pickService $199, renewal $149/yr

Rank one, Mainstay Filing: $199 over the state fee, the registered agent free in year one, then $149 a year.

Louisiana Registered Agent.co comes in $100 lower across three years, yet coverage counts ahead of that gap in our method.

Past the free first year the agent bills $149 a year, no matter the state.

In the price

  • The registration filing, handled for you
  • The registered agent role costs nothing in year one
  • A state-independent fee

Strengths

  • No agent charge in year one
  • $199 to register
  • One price in any state

Weak points

  • Louisiana Registered Agent.co's agent renews $50 lower
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for adding just Louisiana

In-state optionService $199, renewal $99/yr

Louisiana Registered Agent.co holds second place: $199 plus the state fee, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

In the price

  • Registration filed for you
  • A year of agent service

Strengths

  • $199 over the state fee
  • Then $99 a year
  • A free first agent year

Weak points

  • Louisiana only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. LA Registered Agent.org: best for Louisiana registrations

In-state optionService $199, renewal $99/yr

LA Registered Agent.org holds third place: $199 plus the state fee, first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

On price it ties with Louisiana Registered Agent.co.

In the price

  • Registration filed for you
  • A year of agent service

Strengths

  • $199 over the state fee
  • Then $99 a year
  • A free first agent year

Weak points

  • Louisiana only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Prices in a row

#EntryYear-one priceYears two onService fees over three years
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Louisiana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3LA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices on file from November 12, 2026. Louisiana's $185 registration fee is extra in every row.

Work out the total

Registration fee $185, then the $35 report from year two, added to the service's prices.
$752 is the 3 years total with Mainstay Filing, split $255 state and $497 service.

Louisiana among its neighbors in the rank

PositionStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
21stNorth Dakota$235
22ndNew Jersey$250
23rdLouisiana$255
24thNew York$259
25thPennsylvania$264
Find the other states in Foreign LLC fees by state.

Louisiana registers foreign LLCs this way (2026)

The Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division takes the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972) and a $185 fee from foreign LLCs. It requires certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, dated within 90 days.

Then the company owes the annual report ($35), on or before the anniversary of your qualification.

Papers to gather

  • Certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, not more than 90 days.
  • Name and formation date as they appear on the home-state record.
  • A registered agent based in the state, supplied by every service on this page.
  • Payment of the $185 state charge.

Penalties for not registering in Louisiana

Until it registers, the LLC has no standing to sue in the state's courts (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)). What it signed stays in force (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)). Expect back fees for the period before registering.

How the Louisiana order was set

The deciding criterion in Louisiana was requirements covered, weighted 28%.

Coverage of several states beat Louisiana Registered Agent.co's lower renewal.

Louisiana foreign registration service questions

What does a foreign LLC pay to register in Louisiana?

$185 in state fees. The picks add $199.

What is the foreign registration form in Louisiana?

Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972), filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division.

Is a certificate from the home state required?

Yes, certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, dated within 90 days of the filing.

What does a foreign LLC owe each year?

It files the annual report for $35.

What happens if the LLC operates there unregistered?

Until it registers, the LLC has no standing to sue in the state's courts (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)). What it signed stays in force (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)). Expect back fees for the period before registering.

Does a foreign LLC need a registered agent in Louisiana?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Who should handle the registration?

Mainstay Filing, Louisiana Registered Agent.co and LA Registered Agent.org, in the order shown.

Other entries

Citations for this entry

  1. Louisiana Secretary of State. Source: geauxbiz.sos.la.gov. Last read August 2026.
  2. Louisiana Secretary of State. Source: sos.la.gov. Last read August 2026.
  3. Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, official source. Source: legis.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  4. Louisiana Secretary of State fee changes effective October. Source: static.sos.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  5. Louisiana registered agent statute. Source: legis.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  6. Louisiana Secretary of State, forms and fee schedule. Source: sos.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  7. Form 972, foreign LLC application. Source: sos.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  8. R.S. 12:1345, application for authority. Source: legis.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  9. R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing to obtain authority. Source: legis.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  10. R.S. 12:1350, registered agent. Source: legis.la.gov. Last read October 2026.
  11. North Dakota Secretary of State, limited liability companies. Source: sos.nd.gov. Last read October 2026.
  12. NDCC Chapter 10-32.1. Source: ndlegis.gov. Last read October 2026.
  13. Secretary of State, registered agents. Source: sos.nd.gov. Last read October 2026.
  14. Secretary of State, business services. Source: sos.nd.gov. Last read October 2026.
  15. NJ Division of Revenue, Business Formation service. Source: njportal.com. Last read October 2026.
  16. NJ Division of Revenue, fee schedule. Source: nj.gov. Last read October 2026.
  17. Public Records Filing for New Business Entity. Source: nj.gov. Last read October 2026.
  18. New Jersey Revised Uniform LLC Act. Source: pub.njleg.gov. Last read October 2026.
  19. NJ Annual Reports and Change Services. Source: njportal.com. Last read October 2026.
  20. Department of State, Application for Authority. Source: dos.ny.gov. Last read October 2026.
  21. LLC Law § 802, application for authority. Source: nysenate.gov. Last read October 2026.
  22. LLC Law § 808, consequences of doing business. Source: nysenate.gov. Last read October 2026.
  23. Department of State, Certificate of Publication. Source: dos.ny.gov. Last read October 2026.
  24. Department of State, biennial statements. Source: dos.ny.gov. Last read October 2026.
  25. Pennsylvania DOS, foreign associations. Source: pa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  26. Foreign Registration Statement, DSCB:15-412. Source: pa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  27. DOS fees and payments. Source: pa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  28. Commercial registered office providers. Source: pa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  29. Annual reports. Source: pa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  30. Louisiana service page of Mainstay Filing, taken November 12, 2026
  31. Pricing page of Louisiana Registered Agent.co, taken November 12, 2026
  32. Pricing page of LA Registered Agent.org, taken November 12, 2026