To file a DBA in Louisiana, you pay $75 and wait 2 to 3 business days for processing through the Louisiana Secretary of State. Louisiana’s official term for a DBA is “Trade Name,” regulated under La. R.S. §§ 51:211 through 51:224. It does not create a new legal entity. Your LLC stays your LLC; your sole proprietorship stays your sole proprietorship. The registration lets you operate, sign contracts, and accept payments under a name other than your legal name. Banks like Mercury and Wise require a trade name registration certificate before opening a business account under a DBA. Per La. R.S. § 51:281, you must register before using the name, not after. And despite what several guides state, no newspaper publication is required for a standard Louisiana trade name registration.

One important distinction the Louisiana Secretary of State’s own FAQ makes clear is that strict DBAs are filed at the parish level with the local Clerk of Court, not with the state. The $75 state filing covers Trade Name registration. Depending on your entity type and parish, you may need both.

Who Needs to File a DBA in Louisiana?

A sole proprietor must file a DBA if the business name does not include the owner’s legal name. An LLC or corporation must file if the operating name differs from the name registered with the state. A General Partnership must file if the business name omits any partner’s surname. Non-resident founders of a Wyoming LLC doing business in Louisiana must file a trade name to operate publicly under that LLC. Operating in Louisiana under a Wyoming LLC may also trigger foreign qualification with the Louisiana Secretary of State, which carries a $150 filing fee.

Louisiana DBA Name Requirements

Proposed names must follow the rules set by the Louisiana Secretary of State (verified May 2026). Check availability at coraweb.sos.la.gov before filing. Your proposed name must meet all of the following:

• Must not already be in use or reserved by another business. The names of revoked entities remain unavailable for 3 years after revocation.
• Must be expressed in English letters or characters.
• Must not include entity suffixes such as LLC, Corp, or Inc. unless the business is structured that way.
• Must not imply the business is a government agency or a nonprofit when it is not.
• Must not contain immoral, deceptive, or scandalous words.
• Must not conflict with a registered LLC or corporation name. An existing “Pelican Digital LLC” blocks a “Pelican Digital” trade name registration.

We recommend searching your proposed name multiple ways, including abbreviations and spelling variations. The Commercial Database search does not automatically catch every conflict.

How to File a DBA in Louisiana: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Name Search
Go to coraweb.sos.la.gov and search the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Commercial Database. Review all similar results, not just exact matches, before proceeding.

Step 2: Optional Name Reservation
Reserve your name for 120 days by filing the Application for Reservation of Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark with the Commercial Division for a $25 fee. Mail to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125 or fax to 225-932-5314. Only do this if you plan to delay the actual filing.

Step 3: Complete the Application
File the Application to Register Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark online at geauxbiz.sos.la.gov, or download and mail the form. Online filing is faster since mailed submissions must be notarized. The form requires your full legal name, the trade name, a brief business description, first-use dates, and registered agent details for LLCs and corporations.

Step 4: File with the Louisiana Secretary of State
Online: $75 plus a $5 processing fee, totaling $80. Standard processing is 2 to 3 business days. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an additional $300. By mail: send a $75 check or money order to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. By fax: send to 225-932-5314 with credit card details.

Step 5: Parish-Level Filing
The Louisiana Secretary of State’s FAQ states directly that DBAs are filed at the parish level with the local Clerk of Court. For sole proprietors and general partnerships in particular, your parish Clerk of Court filing is required for occupational licensing and local tax recognition. Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish both require a notarized Trade Name Affidavit before processing occupational license applications. Parish filing fees typically run $25 to $50. Call your specific Clerk of Court before assuming the state filing is enough.

What Does a Louisiana DBA Cost?

A standard filing, including online processing and parish recordation, runs $80 to $130. Verify current fees with the Louisiana Secretary of State and your local Clerk of Court before submitting, as these figures are subject to change.

Does Louisiana Require Newspaper Publication for a DBA?

No, for standard trade name registrations. The publication requirement cited in several competitor guides and older articles comes from La. R.S. § 51:288, which applies only to laundry supply designations. Standard registrations under La. R.S. §§ 51:211 through 51:224 carry no newspaper requirement. Some parishes may have local publication practices; confirm with your Clerk of Court. If a filing service tells you that three weeks of newspaper notices are required for a standard Louisiana DBA, ask them to cite the statute.

How Long Does a Louisiana DBA Last?

10 years from the filing date, per La. R.S. § 51:216. Renew using the same application form within six months before expiration. After expiration, anyone seeking to register your lapsed name must give you 60 days’ certified mail notice first under La. R.S. § 51:216(F)(2) before they can file.

DBA vs. Trade Name vs. Trademark in Louisiana

The table below outlines the key differences between a Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark, and federal USPTO registration:

A Trade Name lets you operate under a chosen name but gives you no exclusive statewide rights. Two businesses in different parishes can use the same trade name. Trademarks and Service Marks offer stronger in-state protection through the same $75 application. Neither replaces a federal USPTO registration, which provides nationwide protection after you prove use in interstate commerce.

Common Mistakes We See With Louisiana DBA Filings

• Filing the wrong form. The Secretary of State’s site has separate forms for registration, renewal, amendment, and abandonment. New registrations require the Application to Register a Trade Name, Trademark, or Service Mark.
• Skipping the name search. The GeauxBiz portal does not catch all conflicts at intake. A thorough review happens after submission. A rejected name means refiling and lost time.
• Ignoring the parish step. Clients in Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish have discovered, after filing with the Secretary of State, that they still need a filing with the Clerk of Court before their occupational license can be processed. Confirm locally before assuming you are done.
• Not notarizing the paper form. Mail submissions returned without notarization add weeks. Filing online through GeauxBiz avoids this entirely.
• Using the name before registration. La. R.S. § 51:281 requires registration before use. An unregistered name creates contract-enforcement risks and banking complications.

Does a Louisiana DBA Change How You Are Taxed?

No. A trade name registration does not change your tax classification. A sole proprietor with a DBA still reports income on Schedule C. A Single-Member LLC remains a disregarded entity for the IRS unless Form 8832 is filed to elect corporate treatment. A Multi-Member LLC still files Form 1065 and distributes Schedule K-1s to members. The tax structure is determined by your entity type and IRS elections, not by the name you operate under.

FAQ

What is the difference between a DBA and a trade name in Louisiana?

Louisiana’s statutory term is “trade name.” DBA is the informal equivalent used in most other states. They refer to the same thing, though in Louisiana, strict DBAs are filed at the parish level, while trade names are registered with the state Secretary of State.

How long does it take to file a DBA in Louisiana?

Online filings through GeauxBiz are processed in 2 to 3 business days. Expedited 24-hour processing costs an additional $300.

Does a Louisiana DBA expire?

Yes. Louisiana trade name registrations last 10 years and must be renewed using the same application within six months before expiration.

Can an LLC file a DBA in Louisiana?

Yes. LLCs, corporations, sole proprietors, and general partnerships can all register a Louisiana trade name.

Do I need a separate EIN for my Louisiana DBA?

No. A DBA does not create a new legal entity and does not require a new EIN from the IRS.

Can I have multiple DBAs in Louisiana?

Yes. Each requires a separate $75 application to the Secretary of State.

What happens if I use a trade name without registering it?

You risk contract enforcement problems, banking complications, and a violation of La. R.S. § 51:281.

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