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Plain CharterLLC questions, short answers.

Short answers · Louisiana

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Louisiana (2026), Plainly Answered

In Louisiana for 2026, we would use Mainstay Filing ($199), Louisiana Registered Agent.co ($199) and LA Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. The state's registration fee is $185 with any of them; service fees reach $397 to $497 over three years.

By the Plain Charter editorial team ·

Answer in brief

Cost to file
$185
Proof from home state?
Needed (90 day limit)
What recurs
$35, annual report
Our order
Mainstay Filing, Louisiana Registered Agent.co then LA Registered Agent.org

Who we'd hire in Louisiana

Best first, by our stated criteria.
1Best overall

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

$199 to register, $149 yearly

First choice: Mainstay Filing. The reason is simple: it costs $199 plus Louisiana's fee, with a free first year of registered agent service and $149 a year after.

Yes, Louisiana Registered Agent.co is $100 less across three years. We still put the pick that covers every state first.

There is no registered agent charge in year one; $149 a year follows.

The price covers

  • State registration
  • Registered agent, included for year one
  • The same fee in every state

Upsides

  • Same fee in every state
  • First agent year free
  • $199 plus Louisiana's fee

What to weigh

  • Louisiana Registered Agent.co renews the agent for $50 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Louisiana specialist

2. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for a lean registration

$199 to register, $99 yearly

Louisiana Registered Agent.co comes second: three years of service fees come to $397.

The price covers

  • Registration, filed
  • A year of agent service

Upsides

  • Service fee $199
  • Agent renews at $99
  • No agent fee in year one

What to weigh

  • Louisiana only; the home state needs its own agent
Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Louisiana specialist

3. LA Registered Agent.org: best for a second in-state filer

$199 to register, $99 yearly

LA Registered Agent.org comes third: three years of service fees come to $397.

Louisiana Registered Agent.co charges the same, so this one is a close second.

The price covers

  • Registration, filed
  • A year of agent service

Upsides

  • No agent fee in year one
  • Service fee $199
  • Agent renews at $99

What to weigh

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

How the picks compare

#PickFirst yearLater yearsBy year threeIncludes
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497state registration; registered agent, included for year one; the same fee in every stateVisit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2Louisiana Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Registration, filed; A year of agent serviceVisit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3LA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Registration, filed; A year of agent serviceVisit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Prices as published on November 12, 2026. The state's own fees are listed in the requirements below.

What owners ask

When does an out-of-state LLC have to register here?

If an LLC formed in another state does business in Louisiana, it registers first.

Doing business unregistered risks it cannot sue in Louisiana courts until it registers (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)); fees for the time before registering.

October 2026 · legis.la.gov

How much should I budget?

$185 to the state, plus $199 with a service.

Three years of state fees, registration included: $255. October 2026 · static.sos.la.gov

Which form, and where does it go?

The Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division accepts the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972) from LLCs formed elsewhere.

Add certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization at most 90 days.

What does staying registered cost?

You keep filing the annual report ($35).

Due: on or before the anniversary of your qualification.

How did you rank them?

Mainstay Filing wins on what the price takes off your plate, our 30% criterion.

We start with three-year cost (35%), then what the price takes off your plate (30%).

Two states, one provider: that is why it ranks first.

Our full method

What Louisiana requires

RequirementWhat it isFrom
Registration fee$185October 2026 · static.sos.la.gov
Proof of existenceNeeded, 90 daysOctober 2026 · legis.la.gov
Annual report$35October 2026 · legis.la.gov
Three-year state total$255Our sum of the fees above
We add the filing, two years of reports and any minimum tax for the three-year line. Publication and other variable costs are excluded.

Other quick questions

Does the home state still need an agent?

The home state rules still apply there. A provider in every state, such as Mainstay Filing, can cover both.

What do the picks cost over three years?

Mainstay Filing $497, Louisiana Registered Agent.co $397 and LA Registered Agent.org $397 in service fees.

Are the fees official?

Official schedules for state fees, company pricing for service fees, all dated on this page.

Must I hire anyone?

No law requires one. A service is a convenience.

Do the picks handle the filing?

Yes, every pick files it, and the state fee does not change.

Which one should I hire in Louisiana?

Mainstay Filing tops our list because you pay $199 to register and nothing for the registered agent until year two; Louisiana Registered Agent.co and LA Registered Agent.org come next.

Official sources and prices

  1. August 2026: Louisiana Secretary of State, geauxbiz.sos.la.gov
  2. August 2026: Louisiana Secretary of State, sos.la.gov
  3. October 2026: Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, legis.la.gov
  4. October 2026: Louisiana Secretary of State fee, static.sos.la.gov
  5. October 2026: Louisiana registered agent statute, legis.la.gov
  6. October 2026: Louisiana Secretary of State, forms, sos.la.gov
  7. October 2026: Form 972, foreign LLC application, sos.la.gov
  8. October 2026: R.S. 12:1345, application for authority, legis.la.gov
  9. October 2026: R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing, legis.la.gov
  10. October 2026: R.S. 12:1350, registered agent, legis.la.gov
  11. Mainstay Filing Louisiana service page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  12. Louisiana Registered Agent.co pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)
  13. LA Registered Agent.org pricing page (prices on November 12, 2026)