Louisiana Secretary of State – LA SOS Business Search

Louisiana Secretary of State Corporations Division
Telephone: 1(225)925.4704
Fax: (225)932.5314
Website: www.sos.la.gov
E-Mail: sos.la.gov/OurOffice/ContactUs

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

In Louisiana, to search for any type of business entity you must go to the Secretary of State’s Website.

You will have the option to look up a corporation, LLC, or partnership by Name, Charter Number, or Officer Name. Be sure that if you perform a query by name you are as descriptive as you can because the database will return all matching entities.

Once you have made your selection you will be brought to the Results Page (As Seen Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

The Secretary of State will allow you to view up to 250 of the closest matching listings as well as the entity’s Name, Type, and City of the principal address. Once you have found the listing that matches, click on the ‘Details’ button to be brought to the Information Page (See Below).

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have reached the final step in your search and now may be able to view all the information associated with the entity you were looking up including its Name, Type, City, Status, Fictitious Names, Charter Number, Incorporation Date, Mailing Address, Active Status, Last Annual Report Filed, and whether it is a Profit or Non-Profit corporation.

On the tabs above you also have the option of Buying Certificates and Certified Copies, Subscribing to Electronic Notifications, or Printing the Record.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Louisiana

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards.