Louisiana Business License

A businessman opening the office door for his employees

General Business License Requirements for Louisiana.

Business licenses are often required of business entities, regardless of their products and services. This page provides an overview of business license requirements in Louisiana.

Louisiana General Business Licenses

Louisiana Business License

Not required



General Business License licensure is not required on the State level in Louisiana.

Louisiana does not have a general business license at the state level, but local licenses are often required.

Local General Business Licenses

Baton Rouge Occupational License

Agency:City of Baton Rouge Parish Finance Department - Revenue Division (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

Business Registration Application Form

Agency Fee:

$50 for businesses that open between January 1-June 30 or $25 for businesses that open July 1-December 31.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational license renewal applications will be mailed to you during the month of December.

Agency Fee:

Fee is based upon business activity within the city of Baton Rouge or within the Parish of East Baton Rouge during the previous year.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Bossier City Occupational License

Agency:Bossier City Finance Department - Tax Division (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Application for Tax Registration

Agency Fee:

Varies by gross annual receipts.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Application for Renewal of Occupational License

Agency Fee:

Varies by gross annual receipts.

Due:

Licenses expire annually on December 31 and must be renewed by March 1.

City of Slidell Occupational License

Agency:City of Slidell Department of Finance (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

Fees vary by gross receipts and type of business. The minimum fee is $50.

Registration Renewal

Agency Fee:

Fees vary by gross receipts and type of business. The minimum fee is $50.

Due:

Annually

City of West Monroe Occupational License

Agency:City of West Monroe Business License Division (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

Fees depend on gross receipts and occupation.

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational License Application (Renewal)

Agency Fee:

Fees depend on gross receipts and occupation.

Due:

Annually

Lake Charles Occupational License

Agency:City of Lake Charles Finance Department (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Tax Application

Agency Fee:

Varies by business services and gross receipts. See Tax Table for details.

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Varies by business services and gross receipts. See Tax Table for details.

Due:

Annually by January 1.

Rapides Parish Occupational License

Agency:Louisiana Association of Tax Administrators - Rapides Parish (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

1. Blind persons and their widows and orphans R.S. 47:360(A)
2. Louisiana artists and craftsmen who display at functions sponsored by nonprofit organizations R.S. 47:360(B)
3. Nonprofit organizations – exempt from occupational license only; not sales & use tax R.S. 47:360(C)
4. Wholesale dealers in certain alcoholic beverages R.S. 47:360(D)
5. Other exempted businesses – Banks, building and loan associations, editors, broadcasters, publishers, ministers, school teachers, nurses,
farmers, sawmill operators and farmer-owned farm loan companies R.S. 47:360 (E)
6. Manufacturers, however retail sales by manufacturers shall be subject to payment of a license tax R.S. 47:360(F)
7. Disabled persons that are home-bound, confined to a bed or wheelchair and require aid of another person R.S. 47:360(G)

Form:

Occupational License – New Business Application

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

Fee determined by business type. See application for fee schedule with minimal license fee. 

Penalties:

5% for each 30 days or fraction thereof computed from open date (25% max)

Registration Renewal

Form:

Occupational License Renewal – All Other Businesses & Professionals

Filing Method:

Mail 

Agency Fee:

Fee determine dby gross reciepts, business type and interest by jurisdiction. 

Due:

Annually by January 1. 

Penalties:

Licenses become deliquent on March 1. 

Shreveport Occupational License

Agency:City of Shreveport Department of Finance (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?Not Set

Initial Registration

Form:

New Business Application

Agency Fee:

Initial fee is $50 for the first 6 months of the year and $25 starting July 1st - except for professional classifications.

Registration Renewal

Form:

A tax notice is mailed annually in December/January.

Agency Fee:

The fee is the tax amount due which varies according to total gross receipts, fees or commissions from business done in Shreveport during the past year.

Due:

Annually by March 1.

St. Tammany Parish Occupational License

Agency:St. Tammany Parish Department of Planning and Development (LA)
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

Occupational License Application

Agency Fee:

$50, becomes $25 on July 1st of application year.

Required Attachments:
  • An approval letter from the St. Tammany Parish Planning & Zoning Department (985-898-2529) for the business address.
  • Copy of business owner’s Driver’s License 
  • If incorporated, a copy of the Articles of Incorporation from the LA Secretary of State 

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$50

Due:

Annually by December 31. 

Learn about general business licensing requirements in other states:

© 2012 - 2023 Harbor Compliance. All rights reserved. Harbor Compliance does not provide tax, financial, or legal advice. Use of our services does not create an attorney-client relationship. Harbor Compliance is not acting as your attorney and does not review information you provide to us for legal accuracy or sufficiency. Access to our website is subject to our Terms of Use and Service Agreement.