Louisiana Contractor LLC Setup — GeauxBiz Registration to EIN

For an LLC or corporation, forming your business entity is the first step in the Louisiana contractor licensing sequence — and doing it out of order is one of the most expensive mistakes new contractors make. The LSLBC application for that entity requires its Secretary of State Charter Number as a mandatory field, so you cannot submit that entity application without completing formation first.

Why You Need an LLC (or Corporation) Before Applying

A sole proprietorship is technically allowed. You can apply to the LSLBC under your personal Social Security Number without forming a separate entity. But doing so exposes you to unlimited personal liability for every construction project, every subcontractor dispute, and every insurance claim.

More practically, operating as a sole proprietor prevents you from using corporate qualifying party structures. If you want someone other than yourself to serve as your qualifying party — a common arrangement when the business owner lacks the required trade experience — you need a formal entity.

The GeauxBiz Registration Process

Louisiana handles business entity registration through the GeauxBiz portal, operated by the Secretary of State. GeauxBiz coordinates filings across multiple state agencies in a single workflow.

To register your LLC:

1. Go to the GeauxBiz portal and select "Start a New Business"
2. Choose LLC as your entity type
3. Provide your business name (the system checks name availability instantly)
4. Enter your registered agent information — this can be yourself or a registered agent service
5. List the initial members and managers of the LLC
6. Pay the filing fee — Louisiana raised the Articles of Organization fee to $125 under Act 921 of the 2026 session

Upon approval, the Secretary of State issues your Charter Number. Write this number down — you will enter it on your LSLBC application, and you will reference it on insurance certificates, bond applications, and local parish registrations.

Getting Your Federal EIN

After your LLC is formed, register for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS. The LSLBC application requires this, and you will need it for:

• Opening a business bank account (which you need for the CPA financial statement)
• Filing payroll taxes if you hire employees
• Workers' compensation insurance applications
• Parish occupational license tax filings

The EIN application is free and processes instantly online through the IRS website. Apply as the LLC, not as an individual.

The Correct Sequence Matters

Here is why order is critical. Some contractors hire a CPA to prepare their financial statement before forming their LLC. The CPA prepares the statement under the individual's name or under a business name that does not yet have a Charter Number. When the contractor later submits their LSLBC application, the financial statement does not match the entity on file — and the board kicks it back.

The correct order:

1. Form the LLC on GeauxBiz → receive Charter Number
2. Get the EIN from the IRS
3. Open a business bank account under the LLC
4. Transfer assets/capital into the business account
5. Hire the CPA to prepare the financial statement under the LLC's legal name
6. Submit the LSLBC application with matching entity documents

Each step feeds into the next. Skipping ahead creates mismatches that delay your application by weeks.

State Tax Registrations

GeauxBiz also routes your registration to the Louisiana Department of Revenue for sales tax purposes. As a contractor, you may need to collect and remit sales tax on materials depending on your project structure and local parish rules. The GeauxBiz workflow handles the initial tax registration, but confirming your specific sales tax obligations with the Department of Revenue is a separate step.

The Louisiana General Contractor License Guide maps the entire formation-to-licensing sequence, including the financial statement preparation steps and the exact documents to upload at each stage of the LSLBC application.

See more Louisiana guides →