How to Start a Small Business in Louisiana

Louisiana gives you one of the nicest startup portals in the South — GeauxBiz — and then one of the most layered tax structures. The two Louisiana specifics to plan around: parish-level licensing and taxes that vary by where you work, and a contractor licensing board with low dollar thresholds. Here is the sequence.

Step 1: Register through GeauxBiz

GeauxBiz (geauxbiz.sos.la.gov) walks you through entity selection, name availability, and filing in one flow. Articles of Organization for an LLC cost $100, filed with the Secretary of State. Louisiana LLCs file a small annual report each year around the anniversary of formation.

Sole proprietors can register a trade name and obtain an EIN through the same portal.

Step 2: Sales tax — state and parish

Register the state portion through the Louisiana Department of Revenue using LaTAP (revenue.louisiana.gov). The state rate is 4.45%, but parish and city taxes stack on top, and combined rates in many parishes exceed 9% — among the highest in the country. Local treatment varies by parish, so determine the right collection setup for every parish you sell into before your first sale.

Most pure services are not subject to Louisiana sales tax, but goods and several service categories are. Confirm your classification with the Department before quoting.

Step 3: The parish occupational license

Louisiana version of a local business license is the occupational license, issued by the parish or city where you operate, usually for a modest flat fee. You need one for each parish where you do business — a mobile service business crossing parish lines may need several. Start with your home parish clerk of court or revenue office.

Step 4: Licensing

• Contractors: the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors licenses commercial contractors above low dollar thresholds and residential builders above its own — most real contracting work needs a license, with separate commercial and residential categories.
• Trades and professions: electrical, plumbing, cosmetology, and real estate are regulated through their respective Louisiana boards.

What launching in Louisiana typically costs

• LLC filing: $100
• Sales tax registration through LaTAP: free
• Parish occupational license: typically $50 to $300 depending on the parish
• General liability insurance: commonly $50 to $150 per month for a solo service business

The 30-day version

Week 1: GeauxBiz registration and your EIN. Week 2: LaTAP sales tax registration, your home parish occupational license, and a bank account. Week 3: pricing and invoice and estimate templates. Week 4: outreach to your first ten prospects.

Our 100-step course pairs this state checklist with the pricing calculator, estimates, invoicing, and lead tracking you will rely on weekly. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice; confirm current requirements on GeauxBiz and the Louisiana Department of Revenue.