Once you have a business idea and a business plan written down, you can begin the process of registering a business in Louisiana. First and foremost, you have to select your business structure. The type of business structure will determine the requirements you need to comply with upon registering your business entity with the state of Louisiana. It is also closely tied to taxes so you can enjoy different tax advantages depending on the type of business structure. You may consult with your attorney about the type of business entity you want to open to learn about the benefits.
Once you have decided on a business structure, you can begin the registration process by gathering the necessary documentary requirements and filing fee. You must register your business at the Secretary of State office.
The next step is to register your business name. First, you need to check the name's availability from the Louisiana business portal. You can check this link to do the name search of existing businesses. This is also a good time to do a search for and to register a domain name for your business.
You may complete the registration process online via the Louisiana geauxBIZ website. You can also find more information on any additional licenses and permits you need to secure to start your business in Louisiana, depending on your industry or the nature of your business. Then, register for business tax with the Louisiana Department of Taxation and get your business insurance.
In the 17th century, the state of Louisiana was divided into ecclesiastical districts called parishes. This political division is still used today and functions similar to those counties in other states. As of 2002, there are a total of 60 parishes in Louisiana; most of which are overseen by the governing board - police jury.
Juries are made up of 3 to fifteen elected members. Other parish officials include the assessor, coroner, clerk of court, and sheriff. Each parish also elects school boards who serve in six-year terms. Other officers serve in four-year terms.
There is also 302 municipal governments in the state of Louisiana; they are classified based on population as city, town, or village. Officials of these municipalities include the mayor, police chief, and board of aldermen (council). As of 2002, the state has 66 public school districts and 45 special districts.
See the main Louisiana Page for parish links.© State & Local 2023