WEBVTT 00:00:00.205 --> 00:00:06.605 The 5 best registered agents in Louisiana in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, 00:00:06.733 --> 00:00:13.005 Northwest Registered Agent, LA Registered Agent.org, Bizee, 00:00:13.225 --> 00:00:16.845 and Louisiana Registered Agent.co. 00:00:16.845 --> 00:00:19.325 Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. 00:00:19.437 --> 00:00:23.245 Louisiana. Is it any different from other states? 00:00:23.245 --> 00:00:28.445 A little. Every agent signs a notarized acceptance, and a change of agent went up to 00:00:28.491 --> 00:00:33.965 $30 on October 1 this year. Those two details shape how you choose. 00:00:35.789 --> 00:00:36.765 What does the law say? 00:00:36.765 --> 00:00:43.405 Revised Statutes 12:1308 says every LLC must continuously maintain a registered 00:00:43.462 --> 00:00:46.445 office in the state and at least one registered agent. 00:00:46.585 --> 00:00:50.885 The registered office is treated as the company's domicile for all purposes. 00:00:50.885 --> 00:00:52.285 Who can be the agent? 00:00:52.285 --> 00:00:56.045 A citizen of the state who lives here, or a partnership, professional law 00:00:56.105 --> 00:01:00.765 corporation, or an authorized domestic or foreign corporation or LLC. 00:01:00.881 --> 00:01:05.325 Entities must have a certificate on file naming at least two individuals at their 00:01:05.397 --> 00:01:07.886 Louisiana address who can receive process. 00:01:07.886 --> 00:01:10.125 And the state's own words? 00:01:10.125 --> 00:01:15.085 The Secretary of State's FAQ says an agent can be almost anyone of legal age and a 00:01:15.138 --> 00:01:19.965 legal resident, including a member, an employee, an attorney or an accountant. 00:01:19.965 --> 00:01:21.325 What about the address? 00:01:21.325 --> 00:01:24.365 A municipal address, not a post office box only. 00:01:24.365 --> 00:01:26.845 I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. 00:01:26.845 --> 00:01:29.165 Thanks, Maya. Now the five. 00:01:30.845 --> 00:01:31.645 Number one? 00:01:31.645 --> 00:01:38.285 Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, the same $149 at renewal. 00:01:38.285 --> 00:01:39.485 What do I get? 00:01:39.485 --> 00:01:43.645 Its Louisiana address on the public record rather than yours. 00:01:43.925 --> 00:01:49.245 Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and your 00:01:49.298 --> 00:01:52.925 first three government mailings a year are scanned free. 00:01:52.925 --> 00:01:54.765 Switching from another agent? 00:01:54.765 --> 00:01:59.965 Mainstay files the change and signs the notarized acceptance as your new agent. 00:01:59.985 --> 00:02:03.005 The $30 state fee passes through at cost. 00:02:03.585 --> 00:02:05.405 The honest catch? 00:02:05.405 --> 00:02:10.285 Two agents below it are $99, so it's not the lowest flat price. 00:02:11.085 --> 00:02:12.125 Second? 00:02:12.125 --> 00:02:15.965 Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. 00:02:16.165 --> 00:02:21.405 Its page says the price hasn't moved in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular 00:02:21.453 --> 00:02:23.165 mail a year are scanned free. 00:02:23.165 --> 00:02:24.365 Catch? 00:02:24.365 --> 00:02:30.525 It auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per 00:02:30.605 --> 00:02:32.525 filing, until you cancel. 00:02:32.525 --> 00:02:35.165 Louisiana's report is $35. 00:02:35.165 --> 00:02:41.805 So that service plus the state fee is $135, nearly four times what the 00:02:41.872 --> 00:02:45.085 state charges. Cancel it unless you want it. 00:02:46.299 --> 00:02:47.899 Third? 00:02:47.899 --> 00:02:52.779 LA Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, same at renewal. 00:02:53.139 --> 00:02:58.619 A registered address on file, same-day scanning of legal documents and reminders 00:02:58.665 --> 00:03:00.619 before state deadlines. 00:03:00.619 --> 00:03:01.259 Switching? 00:03:01.259 --> 00:03:04.539 It costs just the $30 state fee. 00:03:04.619 --> 00:03:07.339 Annual report filing is a separate service. 00:03:07.339 --> 00:03:08.379 Versus Mainstay? 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:13.259 $50 a year less, $150 over three years. 00:03:14.939 --> 00:03:16.378 Four? 00:03:16.378 --> 00:03:22.699 Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a 00:03:22.763 --> 00:03:23.099 year. 00:03:23.099 --> 00:03:24.779 Any fine print? 00:03:24.779 --> 00:03:29.179 The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic. 00:03:29.179 --> 00:03:31.659 If I formed my company on my own? 00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:37.339 Then you start at $149. Two years comes to $298. 00:03:39.043 --> 00:03:39.923 And five? 00:03:39.923 --> 00:03:45.043 Louisiana Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. 00:03:45.063 --> 00:03:49.443 The office address on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail and reminders 00:03:49.483 --> 00:03:51.123 for state deadlines. 00:03:51.123 --> 00:03:52.243 Different from number three? 00:03:52.243 --> 00:03:56.083 Not on the listings. Same price, same catch. 00:03:56.774 --> 00:03:58.294 Why does the notary matter? 00:03:58.294 --> 00:04:00.534 Because Louisiana is stricter than most. 00:04:00.694 --> 00:04:05.334 The Initial Report carries an agent's affidavit and acknowledgment of acceptance, 00:04:05.394 --> 00:04:08.135 and each agent must sign it before a notary public. 00:04:08.135 --> 00:04:09.895 Even for a change? 00:04:09.895 --> 00:04:14.135 Yes. A change must be accompanied by a notarized affidavit of acknowledgment and 00:04:14.193 --> 00:04:16.375 acceptance signed by the new agent. 00:04:16.988 --> 00:04:19.575 So I can't just name my cousin without telling them? 00:04:19.575 --> 00:04:23.895 Not and have it stand. The new agent has to show up in front of a notary. 00:04:24.007 --> 00:04:27.015 That's one reason people let a service handle the paperwork. 00:04:29.221 --> 00:04:31.701 Where does the agent go when I form the LLC? 00:04:31.701 --> 00:04:37.862 In the Initial Report, Form 973, filed with the Articles of Organization, Form 00:04:38.022 --> 00:04:43.942 365. The Articles can't be accepted unless the Initial Report is filed too. 00:04:43.942 --> 00:04:46.102 What does that cost? 00:04:46.102 --> 00:04:52.582 The Articles are $125 since October 1, 2026, plus a 00:04:52.646 --> 00:04:55.382 $5 convenience fee on card payments. 00:04:55.382 --> 00:04:57.142 Anything else on the Initial Report? 00:04:57.142 --> 00:05:02.022 The names and municipal addresses of the first managers or members. 00:05:04.658 --> 00:05:06.018 How do I change it later? 00:05:06.018 --> 00:05:11.058 Form 983, the Notice of Change of Registered Office and/or Change of Registered 00:05:11.138 --> 00:05:18.098 Agent. The filing fee is $30, up from $25 before October 1, 2026. 00:05:18.098 --> 00:05:19.378 Who signs? 00:05:19.378 --> 00:05:23.938 A manager or member for the company, and the new agent signs the acknowledgment 00:05:23.984 --> 00:05:25.058 before a notary. 00:05:25.058 --> 00:05:26.658 Can I pay by card? 00:05:26.658 --> 00:05:30.058 Yes, with a $5 statutory convenience fee. 00:05:30.128 --> 00:05:32.178 You can also file online. 00:05:32.178 --> 00:05:33.218 Can I speed it up? 00:05:33.218 --> 00:05:39.618 Expedite is $35 for 24 hours or $60 for two to four hours. 00:05:39.718 --> 00:05:44.178 The change takes effect when the Secretary of State accepts it for record. 00:05:44.178 --> 00:05:45.378 Is there a shortcut? 00:05:45.378 --> 00:05:50.978 If your annual report is due or past due, you can make the change there instead. 00:05:52.089 --> 00:05:53.849 What if my agent resigns? 00:05:53.849 --> 00:05:58.409 Louisiana is different here. The agent resigns by giving written notice to the 00:05:58.479 --> 00:06:00.889 company and to the Secretary of State. 00:06:01.102 --> 00:06:06.409 We found no resignation form and no fee on the forms page or the fee schedule. 00:06:06.409 --> 00:06:08.169 Do I have to replace them? 00:06:08.169 --> 00:06:13.289 Yes. A successor agent must be appointed within 30 days of the resignation. 00:06:13.289 --> 00:06:15.689 Sounds tighter than other states. 00:06:15.689 --> 00:06:19.929 It is. Thirty days is not much when the new agent needs a notary. 00:06:21.041 --> 00:06:23.761 What if papers need to reach a company with no agent? 00:06:23.761 --> 00:06:29.681 The Code of Civil Procedure lets the server go to any manager, any member, or an 00:06:29.743 --> 00:06:34.241 employee of suitable age and discretion where the business is regularly conducted. 00:06:34.241 --> 00:06:36.400 And if that fails? 00:06:36.400 --> 00:06:40.562 Then personally on the Secretary of State, who forwards the citation. 00:06:40.562 --> 00:06:42.881 What about a vacated office? 00:06:42.881 --> 00:06:47.681 If no statement of change is filed within 30 days after the registered office is 00:06:47.741 --> 00:06:52.721 vacated, anyone other than the company can treat the Secretary of State's office as 00:06:52.761 --> 00:06:53.841 its registered office. 00:06:55.261 --> 00:06:56.960 Any other state action? 00:06:56.960 --> 00:07:02.001 A company that skips its annual report three years in a row can be revoked, but the 00:07:02.054 --> 00:07:07.201 state first mails notice to its last registered agent, at least 30 days ahead. 00:07:07.946 --> 00:07:09.866 What does Louisiana want each year? 00:07:09.866 --> 00:07:15.946 An annual report, $35, on or before the anniversary date of organization. 00:07:15.946 --> 00:07:17.626 What's on it? 00:07:17.626 --> 00:07:22.106 The registered office, each agent, and each manager or member with a municipal 00:07:22.166 --> 00:07:22.666 address. 00:07:22.666 --> 00:07:25.306 So the yearly spend? 00:07:25.306 --> 00:07:31.786 With Mainstay, $149 plus $35 is $184. 00:07:31.882 --> 00:07:35.866 With a $99 agent, $134. 00:07:35.866 --> 00:07:38.505 Does the state remind me? 00:07:38.505 --> 00:07:42.746 We didn't verify a reminder program, so put the anniversary in your calendar. 00:07:43.515 --> 00:07:45.515 Can I be my own agent in Louisiana? 00:07:45.515 --> 00:07:49.755 As a Louisiana citizen who lives here, with a municipal address, yes. 00:07:49.995 --> 00:07:53.675 An organizer, a member or an employee can serve too. 00:07:53.675 --> 00:07:55.355 What's the tradeoff? 00:07:55.355 --> 00:07:59.955 The agent's name and address are publicly displayed on the Secretary of State's 00:07:59.990 --> 00:08:00.315 website. 00:08:00.315 --> 00:08:01.755 And presence? 00:08:01.755 --> 00:08:05.995 The agent is the person who receives legal documents and must forward them to the 00:08:06.048 --> 00:08:10.235 business. A same-day scanning service makes sure that happens fast. 00:08:12.437 --> 00:08:14.917 How would a New Orleans or Baton Rouge owner decide? 00:08:14.917 --> 00:08:20.997 Three things. Does the price hold, is there a real Louisiana address, and who 00:08:21.047 --> 00:08:23.557 handles the notarized $30 change. 00:08:23.557 --> 00:08:24.997 And your answer? 00:08:24.997 --> 00:08:30.917 Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Louisiana, at $149 a year. 00:08:31.675 --> 00:08:32.875 All five, once more? 00:08:32.875 --> 00:08:37.915 One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. 00:08:38.175 --> 00:08:44.755 Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. 00:08:44.855 --> 00:08:49.995 Three, LA Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. 00:08:50.251 --> 00:08:55.755 Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then 00:08:55.835 --> 00:09:02.195 $149. Five, Louisiana Registered Agent.co: 00:09:02.258 --> 00:09:04.195 $99 flat. 00:09:04.195 --> 00:09:05.835 The links are in the show notes. 00:09:05.938 --> 00:09:09.115 Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.