Cleaning Service Permit Requirements in Baton Rouge, LA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online application)

   Free

   Immediate (online application)

1. Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

   Required for all businesses selling taxable goods or services in Louisiana. The Louisiana state sales tax rate is 5%. Sellers must apply for a sales tax certificate with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Louisiana also has parish- and municipal-level sales taxes collected separately by local collectors, so the combined rate varies by parish and you must register with each applicable local collector in addition to the state.

   Official government source

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.·Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

   No registration fee is published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

   Not published by the Louisiana Department of Revenue; the '1-5 business days' figure has no official source.

2. Louisiana Workers' Compensation Insurance

   Under the Louisiana Workers' Compensation Act, administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Administration within the Louisiana Workforce Commission, every employer that is not statutorily exempt must either carry workers' compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure. Coverage attaches from the day an employee starts work and applies to full-time, part-time, seasonal and minor employees alike. This matters for a cleaning service: OWCA states that subcontractors and certain independent contractors are treated as employees if they are engaged in the pursuit of the employer's trade or business or are performing substantial manual labor, so calling your cleaners contractors does not by itself remove the obligation. The specific statutory exemptions are domestic employees, most real estate salespersons, uncompensated officers and directors of certain non-profits, and public officials. An employer must report an on-the-job injury causing death or more than one week of lost time to its insurer on Form LW-WC-IA-1 within 10 days of learning of it.

   Official government source

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by your insurer from your payroll and classification code, so the '$500-$2,000/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from licensed carriers, or apply to OWCA for self-insured status.·No application process or waiting period with the state; coverage must be in force before the first employee starts work, because liability attaches from day one of employment. Self-insurance requires prior OWCA approval. You can confirm any employer's coverage through the Louisiana coverage verification system.

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by your insurer from your payroll and classification code, so the '$500-$2,000/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from licensed carriers, or apply to OWCA for self-insured status.

   No application process or waiting period with the state; coverage must be in force before the first employee starts work, because liability attaches from day one of employment. Self-insurance requires prior OWCA approval. You can confirm any employer's coverage through the Louisiana coverage verification system.

1. City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance — Business License

   All businesses in East Baton Rouge Parish must obtain an Occupational License from the Finance Department's Revenue Collection Division (225-389-3084), renewed annually and posted at the place of business. Some businesses additionally need approval from Permits & Inspections and/or the health authority, and a zoning clearance or Certificate of Occupancy carries a separate fee. Certain categories are exempt by ordinance (for example manufacturers except on retail sales, and several enumerated professions).

   Official government source

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.·Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

   A one-time registration fee of $50 if the business opens January 1–June 30 or $25 if it opens July 1–December 31. The annual tax is computed from gross receipts using the classification tables in the Occupational License Tax Ordinance and can exceed $500 for larger businesses — it is not a $50–$500 band.

   Apply at least one month before opening. A temporary certificate is mailed after processing; after 30 days of operation you report gross receipts and the permanent license issues. Renewals are due January 1 and delinquent after March 1 (5% penalty per 30 days to a 25% maximum, plus 15% annual interest).

2. East Baton Rouge Parish / Baton Rouge Home Occupation and Trade Name Registration

   If operating a cleaning service from home, note that Baton Rouge issues no standalone 'Home Occupation Permit' — home occupations are a restricted use under Unified Development Code §9.4.5 (Planning Commission), barred in 'recognized residential subdivisions' and requiring a minimum 22,500 sq ft lot, appointment-only client visits between 7am and 7pm, and no signage. If using a trade name, register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State through geauxBIZ, not the East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk.

   Official government source

   Home occupation: no standalone permit or fee exists, and most subdivision lots do not qualify at all. Trade name: $75 with the Secretary of State, rising to $95 effective October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026.·Home occupation: not applicable — confirm zoning eligibility with the Planning Commission before starting. Trade name: no processing time is published for geauxBIZ filings.

   Home occupation: no standalone permit or fee exists, and most subdivision lots do not qualify at all. Trade name: $75 with the Secretary of State, rising to $95 effective October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of 2026.

   Home occupation: not applicable — confirm zoning eligibility with the Planning Commission before starting. Trade name: no processing time is published for geauxBIZ filings.

Official Sources

• City of Baton Rouge / Parish of East Baton Rouge Department of Finance
• Louisiana Department of Revenue — Sales Tax Registration

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