If you’re planning to start a business in Louisiana using a specific name, you may need to register for a business name. Business name registration is commonly referred to as a Louisiana DBA, “Doing Business As,” Assumed Name, or Fictitious Name, but is officially called a Trade Name.
To see if you need to register for a Louisiana Trade Name and steps on how to register, check out our guide.
Related: How to start a business in Louisiana
Who needs to register for a Louisiana Trade Name?
The requirements and need to register for a Trade Name vary depending on the type of business entity.
Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are the most common business structures to register for a Louisiana DBA. By default, the name of a sole proprietorship and general partnership is the owner(s) legal name, but if the small business owner wants to operate under a specific name, they will need to complete the Trade Name registration.
For example, if Jen Smith starts a jewelry making business and doesn’t want to operate under a specific business name, she doesn’t have to register. If Jen decides to name her business Jen’s Jewelry, she will need to register.
A corporation and Limited Liability Company won’t typically register for a Louisiana DBA since a unique entity name is created during the entity formation process. However, some will want to register for a DBA if they have another business or brand name they want to operate in addition to the legal name of the business. This can allow multiple businesses to operate with the liability protection of a Louisiana corporation or Limited Liability Company without having to form another entity.
Steps to Register a Louisiana Trade Name
Sole Proprietorship
Step 1: Obtain the Trade Name Form
Sole proprietorships will obtain a Trade name registration form from the Parish Clerk of Court in the Parish where the primary office of the business is located.
Related: How to form a sole proprietorship in Louisiana
Step 2: Fill out the Form
Every Parish is different, but they typically request the owner’s name and address and the new name of the Louisiana business.
Step 3: Submit the Form
Submit the form back to the Parish Clerk of Court’s office, and a name certificate will be provided.
General Partnership, Corporation & LLCs
Step 1: Verify Name Availability
Every name registration must be unique and not too similar to other names on record. Before filling out the form, do a Louisiana business name search with the Louisiana Secretary of State website to see if the name you want is available.
Step 2: Fill out the Trade Name Form
Obtain the form from the Louisiana Secretary of State and fill out the Application to Register Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark. Corporations and LLCs can file online through the Secretary of State’s Geauxbiz website or by mailing in the Trade Name reservation form.
Step 3: Submit the Form
Either submit the payment and form online or mail it to the Secretary of State.
If mailing, send to:
Louisiana Secretary of State
Commercial Division
P.O. Box 94125
Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125
If you have questions about the process of registering for a Trade Name, contact the Louisiana Secretary of State at 225-925-4704.
Louisiana DBA FAQs
How much does a Louisiana DBA cost?
The filing fee to register a Trade Name for a Sole Proprietor in Louisiana varies by parish but is typically around $50.
The cost to reserve a business name for a partnership, corporation, or LLC is $75.
Are there any naming restrictions when filing a Louisiana DBA?
DBAs can’t be registered using words related to financial institutions (such as banking, banker, credit union, etc.), insurance, surveyor, or cooperatives unless the business is licensed to provide those services.
Trade names can’t use a business entity suffix such as Incorporation, Corp, Limited Liability Company, LLC, etc.
Last, fictitious names may not reference a municipal body or public facility without the consent of the relevant governing entity.
Does a DBA need an EIN?
An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a unique nine-digit number that some businesses will register for through the Internal Revenue Department (IRS). An EIN is required for partnerships, corporations, multi-member LLCs, or any business that has employees.
Sole proprietorships and single-member LLCs without employees can use the owner’s social security number to identify the business.
There is no cost to get an EIN when registering directly from the IRS.
What is the difference between a Louisiana Trade Name and a business license?
These are actually two different business registrations. In addition to the Louisiana Trade Name registration, most businesses will also need a business license. The licenses a business will need vary depending on what the business does and local registration requirements.
