Business license · Louisiana

Does Your LLC Need a Business License in Louisiana?

The short answer. We have not confirmed whether Louisiana requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check geauxBIZ. Your local government may also require its own license.

Louisiana Business License at a Glance

General state business license	Not confirmed
City or county licenses	Local governments may require one (see Local licenses)

Read from the government sources listed at the foot of this page, last checked September 30, 2026. See the sources.

Does Louisiana Require a State Business License?

We have not confirmed whether Louisiana requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check geauxBIZ.

Louisiana's own guide to business licenses and permits is geauxBIZ.

City and County Business Licenses

Louisiana law lets parishes and municipalities levy an occupational license tax on the businesses the statute lists, a schedule that covers every fixed location retail dealer in merchandise, services and rentals, with the annual license priced by gross sales. Louisiana Economic Development says information about required licenses and permits is available from your parish and city governments.

Where Louisiana points businesses for local requirements.

Professional and Trade Licenses

If your trade or profession is regulated in Louisiana, its state board issues a separate license. We have not yet confirmed which agencies issue them in this state.

Our verified guides for specific trades in this state:

See trade and business license requirements by state for every trade we cover.

Other Louisiana Registrations to Check

Louisiana articles of organization, the filing that creates the LLC itself.
Louisiana Sales Tax Registration, for a business that sells taxable goods or services.
Louisiana resale certificate, to buy inventory for resale without paying tax on it.
How to get an EIN, the federal tax ID most LLCs need to open a bank account or hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

: We have not confirmed whether Louisiana requires a general state business license, so do not assume it does not; check geauxBIZ.
: Louisiana law lets parishes and municipalities levy an occupational license tax on the businesses the statute lists, a schedule that covers every fixed location retail dealer in merchandise, services and rentals, with the annual license priced by gross sales. Louisiana Economic Development says information about required licenses and permits is available from your parish and city governments.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each state's law and agencies say about a general state business license, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you which licenses your own business needs: that turns on what the business does, where it operates, and what its city or county requires, and fees and exemptions change between our reviews. Confirm your own position with the state agency named on this page, the city or county where the business is located, and any state board that licenses your trade before you open.

Sources

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Louisiana sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so.

legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=102066La. R.S. 47:341, Imposition of tax; municipalities and parishes
legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=102082La. R.S. 47:354, Retail dealers in merchandise, services, and rentals
opportunitylouisiana.gov/faqs/do-i-need-a-license-or-permit-to-start-my-businessLouisiana Economic Development FAQ, Do I need a license or permit to start my business?
geauxbiz.sos.la.govLouisiana Secretary of State, geauxBIZ

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Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.