Skip to content

Foreign LLC guide · Louisiana

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

In 2026 we'd hire LA Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Louisiana Registered Agent.co ($199) for foreign LLC registration in Louisiana, in that order. State fees for a foreign LLC: $185 to register, $35 per report after that. Rank: 23rd of 50.
State Filing Data research desk

Louisiana: the figures

of 50 for registering a foreign LLC

Rank 1 is the least expensive state. The 50-state table

Registration fee

$185

static.sos.la.gov · October 2026

Yearly report

$35

Annual report

Home-state certificate

90 days

Age limit at filing

Three-year state fees

$255

Registration + reports in years two and three

Who we'd use in Louisiana

The methodology sets the order. Service fees over three years count most, then what the price covers.

Our first choice

1. LA Registered Agent.org: best for a low-cost Louisiana filing

$199 plus the $185 state fee, then $99 a year

We'd start with LA Registered Agent.org: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

Lower three-year service fees than Mainstay Filing put it on top; cost carries 35% of our method.

What you pay for

  • Louisiana registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • No agent fee in year one
  • $199 to register
  • Low $99 renewal

Against

  • Single-state service
Any state

2. Mainstay Filing: best for expanding companies

$199 plus the $185 state fee, then $149 a year

Second on our list, Mainstay Filing: the registration for $199 plus state fees, with a free first year as your registered agent.

A $100 gap over three years against LA Registered Agent.org keeps it out of first place.

From year two the agent is $149 a year, the same in every state you add.

What you pay for

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, free for the first year
  • Works in all fifty states

For

  • One price for any state
  • $199 to register
  • First agent year included

Against

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above LA Registered Agent.org
Louisiana focus

3. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for a local filer

$199 plus the $185 state fee, then $99 a year

Louisiana Registered Agent.co is our third choice: $199 plus the state fee, the first agent year included, then $99 a year for the agent.

On price it is level with LA Registered Agent.org.

What you pay for

  • Louisiana registration prepared and filed
  • A year of agent service

For

  • $199 to register
  • No agent fee in year one
  • Low $99 renewal

Against

  • Single-state service

Price comparison

#ServiceYear oneFrom year twoThree-year service fees
1 LA Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397
Visit LA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Louisiana Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397
Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Read from the companies' price pages on November 12, 2026. Add the $185 state fee to every row.

Calculate the total

Choose a service and a period; the calculator adds the state's fees to the service fees.

State fees $255 plus LA Registered Agent.org at $397: $652 over 3 years.

Louisiana and its neighbors in the rank

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
21st North Dakota$235
22nd New Jersey$250
23rd Louisiana$255
24th New York$259
25th Pennsylvania$264

Five rows of fifty; the rest are in Foreign LLC fees by state.

The Louisiana filing for out-of-state LLCs

An LLC formed elsewhere files the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972) with the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division and pays $185. Attach certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, not more than 90 days.

Each cycle it files the annual report ($35), on or before the anniversary of your qualification.

Documents you need

  • Certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, at most 90 days.
  • Your home-state legal name and formation date.
  • A Louisiana registered agent; every service on this page provides it.
  • Budget for the $185 registration fee.

Penalties for not registering in Louisiana

First consequence: no access to the courts as a plaintiff until it registers (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)). The company's contracts are not void (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)). Fees for the unregistered years come due too.

The reasoning

Of our five criteria, service fees over three years (35%) settled first place in Louisiana.

Three-year service fees come to $397 with LA Registered Agent.org, saving $100 against Mainstay Filing.

Questions

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Louisiana?

$185 as the official fee. Service fees: $199.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in Louisiana?

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

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

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

What does a foreign LLC file after registering?

The annual report, $35.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

First consequence: no access to the courts as a plaintiff until it registers (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)). The company's contracts are not void (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)). Fees for the unregistered years come due too.

Is a registered agent needed there?

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

Who should file the registration?

Our order is LA Registered Agent.org, Mainstay Filing and Louisiana Registered Agent.co. For LA Registered Agent.org: the Louisiana registration for $199 with a year of agent service and $99 yearly after.

Keep going

Official sources and price pages

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