It can be a little intimidating knowing all the processes and paperwork that are involved with filing a DBA (Doing Business As) or trade name in Louisiana. In this guide, we’ll help you file LA DBA in just 3 steps.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in Louisiana you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Louisiana Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Louisiana. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Louisiana.
First, you have to search the Louisiana Secretary of State’sBusiness Search portal for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of Louisiana. In general, your DBA should not include:
- LLC, Incorporated, Corp., or any other business entity suffix unless the business is actually an LLC, or corporation.
- Terms falsely indicating that your company is a nonprofit, charity, or government organization.
- The words banker, bank, banking, savings, trust, trustee, safe deposit, building and loan, homestead, or credit union unless approved by the Louisiana Commissioner of the Office of Financial Institutions.
- The words “engineering,” “engineer,” “surveying,” “surveyor,”(or related terms) unless approved by the Louisiana Professional Engineering and Land Surveying Board.
- The words “redevelopment corporation,” “casualty,”or “electrical cooperative.”
- Words suggesting that the company is organized for any unlawful purpose.
- Terms consisting of or comprising immoral, deceptive, or scandalous matter.
Reserve Your Louisiana Business name ($25)
In Louisiana, businesses are required to use their assumed business name before they can register it. In case, you haven’t yet started using your LA trade name, the Louisiana government allows you to reserve a fictitious business name before registering it.
In order to reserve a DBA for your company, you can apply online or file out and return the Application for Reservation of Trade Name. Your DBA will be reserved for 120 days after the application is processed.
Register Your Louisiana DBA
File a Louisiana DBA Online with the Louisiana geauxBIZ website or download the LA Assumed Name Application and send it to:
DBA Filing Mailing Address:
Commercial Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
DBA Filing In-Person Address:
Louisiana Secretary of State
8585 Archives Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Louisiana DBA Filing Fee
$75: Regular DBA filing fee in LA
$300: 24 hours expedited DBA filing fee in LA
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The following information must include in the Louisiana trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Louisiana DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State ($75)
Certificate of Louisiana Assumed Business Name expires after every 10 years. So, for the renewal of DBA in Louisiana, you need to file a DBA renewal application online or download the DBA renewal form and send it to:
DBA Filing Mailing Address:
Commercial Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
DBA Filing In-Person Address:
Louisiana Secretary of State
8585 Archives Ave.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
Change Your Fictitious Name
If you wish to make changes in your Louisiana assumed business name, you can call the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Commercial Division: (225) 925-4704.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your Louisiana assumed business name by calling the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Commercial Division: (225) 925-4704.
