Incorporating in Louisiana

For complete and current information concerning Louisiana corporations you should go to the Louisiana Secretary of State web site. The following is not an attempt to present all you need to know when forming a corporation in Louisiana  but rather to call your attention to just some of the basic information and requirements you may want to know as you submit information to form your corporation.

The information herein is cited from the Louisiana Secretary of State web site, and while we make every effort to ensure its accuracy, MaxFilings cannot and does not guarantee that all of the information is accurate or complete and/or current and it should therefore be independently verified.

Louisiana corporation name:

Except in cases of railroad, telegraph and telephone corporations, a Louisiana corporation’s name shall contain the word "Corporation", "Incorporated" or "Limited", or an abbreviation thereof, or it may instead contain the word "Company" or the abbreviation "Co." provided the word "Company" or the abbreviation "Co." is not immediately preceded by the word "and" or the symbol "&". A corporation’s name may be in any language, but it must be in English letters or characters. The name must be distinguishable from the names of all other entities on record. The name cannot contain the phrase "doing business as" or the abbreviation "d/b/a" and it shall not imply that the corporation is an administrative agency of any parish of Louisiana or of the United States. Other than an independent insurance agency or brokerage corporation, a corporation’s name shall not contain the word "insurance". No business corporation other than a bank holding company shall include in its name any of the following words or phrases in any form: "bank", "banker", "banking", "savings", "safe deposit", "trust", "trustee", "building and loan", "homestead", "credit union", "insurance", "casualty", "redevelopment corporation", or "electric cooperative".

Louisiana corporation board of directors:

A Louisiana corporation shall have a board of directors of at least one natural person with the number being fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the articles of incorporation or, if not so fixed, the number fixed by, or in the manner provided, in the bylaws.  If not fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, the number of directors shall be the number elected from time to time by the shareholders and, if the directors have not been elected by the shareholders, the number of directors shall be the number named in the initial report or supplemental report.

Louisiana corporation officers:

A Louisiana corporation’s board of directors shall elect a president, a secretary and a treasurer, and may elect one or more vice presidents. Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation, none of the officers must be a director. Such other officers and agents as may be necessary for the business of the corporation may be appointed by the board of directors or in the manner provided in the by-laws. Officers and agents shall have such authority and perform such duties as may be prescribed in the by-laws or by the board. One person may hold any two offices provided that no person who holds more than one office may sign, in more than one capacity, any certificate or other instrument required by law to be signed by two officers.

Louisiana corporation shareholders’ meetings:

Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or by-laws, shareholders' meetings may be held anywhere in or out of Louisiana.  At least one meeting of the shareholders shall be held in each calendar year for the election of directors, if any are to be elected, but failure to hold such annual meeting shall not affect or invalidate the corporation’s existence.  If no annual shareholders' meeting is held for a period of eighteen months, any shareholder may call such meeting to be held at the corporation’s registered office. Special shareholders’ meetings may be called by the president or the board of directors, or as may be provided for in the articles of incorporation or by-laws. Special shareholders’ meetings will also be held when requested, in accordance with the law, by any shareholder(s) holding in the aggregate one-fifth (or such other proportion as may be fixed in the articles of incorporation).

Louisiana corporation directors’ meetings:

Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or the bylaws, board of directors’ meetings may be called by the chairman, the president, or by a majority of the directors. Board of directors’ meetings may be held at such place, in or out of Louisiana, as a majority of the directors may appoint or as may be fixed in the call of the meeting.

Louisiana taxes:
Visit the Louisiana Department of Revenue web site.

Louisiana Registered Agent:
Louisiana corporations are required to have a registered agent in Louisiana. By having MaxFilings provide you with a professional registered agent, you can be assured that all legal documents, tax documents, annual reports, and correspondence with the state and regulatory agencies will be handled promptly, professionally, and efficiently.

Start forming your corporation now:
If you’re ready to form a Louisiana corporation with MaxFilings, you can start entering your information now. You’re under no obligation, and there is no charge until you actually place your order.