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Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
Launchwise Review

Rankings of registered agents, LLC formation and foreign registration services in all 50 states.

Launch guide · Louisiana · foreign registration

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Louisiana (2026)

Researched and written by the Launchwise Review editorial team
For a 2026 launch in Louisiana, Launchwise Review grades foreign registration services this way: Mainstay Filing ($199), LA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Louisiana Registered Agent.co ($199). Mainstay Filing earns the top grade here: $199 on top of the state fee, a free first year as registered agent and the same price in any state.
1
Number one here

1. Mainstay Filing: best for founders working in several states

Pay $199 plus the state fee, then $149 a year for the agent

Our mark 9.2 out of 10

Top grade, Mainstay Filing: the Louisiana registration costs $199, the first registered agent year is free, and later years are $149.

Your first year as agent is free; each year after that is $149, wherever you register.

It runs $100 above LA Registered Agent.org across three years; the extra paperwork it handles is worth that to us.

In the price

  • The registration filing, done for you
  • The first registered agent year at no charge
  • Same-business-day scans of legal papers served on the company, free

Pros

  • One price in every state
  • Papers served on the company are scanned the same business day, free
  • Registered agent service is free the first year
  • $199 for the service, with the state fee added

Less good

  • The agent costs $149 a year after year one, $50 above LA Registered Agent.org
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Mainstay Filing launch review
2
Lower renewal than Mainstay

2. LA Registered Agent.org: best for companies adding only Louisiana

Pay $199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year for the agent

Our mark 8.7 out of 10

Next up is LA Registered Agent.org: $199 beyond the state fee gets the company into Louisiana, with the agent renewing at $99.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

In the price

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • One year of registered agent service to begin with

Pros

  • A $199 service price plus the registration fee
  • $99 each year for the agent from year two
  • Covers the first year of registered agent service

Less good

  • Louisiana only; the home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the LA Registered Agent.org launch review
3
Best for a Louisiana-only company

3. Louisiana Registered Agent.co: best for Louisiana registrations only

Pay $199 plus the state fee, then $99 a year for the agent

Our mark 8.6 out of 10

Rounding out the list is Louisiana Registered Agent.co: $199 beyond the state fee gets the company into Louisiana, with the agent renewing at $99.

You get an in-state street address for the registered office, and any papers served on the company are scanned into your online account.

Their posted prices and features match, so LA Registered Agent.org and Louisiana Registered Agent.co grade as a near tie.

In the price

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • One year of registered agent service to begin with

Pros

  • $199 to register, plus the state fee
  • Covers the first year of registered agent service
  • The agent costs $99 a year after the first

Less good

  • Louisiana only; the home state needs its own agent
  • EIN application costs extra ($99)
Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Read the Louisiana Registered Agent.co launch review

The 3 grades at a glance

Place Company Launch grade Service price Second year Best fit Go
1 Mainstay Filing 9.2 $199 $149/yr Founders opening a second state Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 LA Registered Agent.org 8.7 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal on this page Visit LA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Louisiana Registered Agent.co 8.6 $199 $99/yr The lowest agent renewal on this page Visit Louisiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Launchwise Review assigns every grade out of 10 itself using the criteria on How we rank; no customer ratings go into it.

Louisiana foreign registration service cost in 2026: first year, renewals, three-year total

Company Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Three years, total Agent covered, year one
Mainstay Filing $199 $149 $149 $497 Free
LA Registered Agent.org $199 $99 $99 $397 Included
Louisiana Registered Agent.co $199 $99 $99 $397 Included
Prices were copied from each company's own pages on November 12, 2026. Add Louisiana's $185 registration fee to any row; it is not in the totals.

Why this order

At Launchwise Review, cost to launch and stay and launch paperwork handled each count for 26% of a grade, and renewal behavior, state match and price transparency split the remaining 48%. In Louisiana, launch paperwork handled made the call.

Adding a second state means dealing with two states, and one provider at one price in both earned the stronger coverage grade, ahead of LA Registered Agent.org.

Every criterion and weight is listed on How we rank.

Opening in Louisiana as a foreign LLC: fee, form and office

Your registration goes to the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division, on the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972). Budget $185 for the state. Have certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization in hand too, dated within 90 days of filing; Louisiana asks for it.

Calendar item for later: the annual report at $35, due on or before the anniversary of your qualification.

Before you file, get these together

  • Certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization, issued within 90 days of your filing date.
  • Your company's exact legal name and the date it was formed at home.
  • A registered agent with a street address in the state; every company graded on this page can serve.
  • The $185 state fee, ready to pay with the filing.
  • A calendar reminder for the annual report and its $35 fee.

What skipping Louisiana registration can cost you

Without registration, an outside LLC cannot bring a lawsuit in Louisiana courts (La. R.S. 12:1354(A)). Contracts it signs remain valid (La. R.S. 12:1354(B)). Back fees for the unregistered months are due as well.

Quick answers about Louisiana foreign registration services

When does an LLC from elsewhere have to register in Louisiana?

Once it does business there. Until then it cannot bring a lawsuit in the state's courts.

What should I budget to bring an existing LLC into Louisiana?

The state fee is $185; add a service fee of $199.

Which form brings a foreign LLC into Louisiana?

Ask the Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division for the Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana, Foreign Limited Liability Company (Form 972).

Do I need a document from my home state first?

Yes, order certificate of existence or good standing from the jurisdiction of organization and file within 90 days of its date.

Does the foreign LLC still need a registered agent?

Yes. Keep a registered agent with a street address in the state for as long as the company is registered there.

Which service is the best way to register a foreign LLC in Louisiana?

Mainstay Filing, because $199 beyond the state's fee in whichever state you enter, with year-one registered agent service free.

More from us

Sources and dates

  1. Louisiana Secretary of State, dated August 2026
  2. Louisiana Secretary of State, dated August 2026
  3. Louisiana yearly filing: Annual report, official source, dated October 2026
  4. Louisiana Secretary of State fee changes effective October 1, 2026, dated October 2026
  5. Louisiana registered agent statute, dated October 2026
  6. Louisiana Secretary of State, forms and fee schedule, dated October 2026
  7. Form 972, foreign LLC application, dated October 2026
  8. R.S. 12:1345, application for authority, dated October 2026
  9. R.S. 12:1354, effect of failing to obtain authority, dated October 2026
  10. R.S. 12:1350, registered agent, dated October 2026
  11. From Mainstay Filing: Louisiana service page, copied November 12, 2026
  12. From LA Registered Agent.org: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026
  13. From Louisiana Registered Agent.co: pricing and service pages, copied November 12, 2026