Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Baton Rouge, LA

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you have employees, operate as an LLC/corporation, or file certain business tax returns. Free from the IRS. Sole proprietors with no employees may use their SSN instead.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. Louisiana Sales Tax Registration

   Register as a dealer with the Louisiana Department of Revenue if you sell, lease or rent tangible personal property or digital products in Louisiana, or furnish one of the services the statute specifically enumerates as taxable (R.S. 47:301(4)). Louisiana taxes only listed services, so most professional and personal services are outside the requirement. Registration is made through LaTAP or geauxBIZ; local sales taxes are collected separately by parish collectors.

   Official government source

   The Louisiana Department of Revenue publishes no fee for opening a sales tax account; register through LaTAP or geauxBIZ and confirm at registration.·Not published by LDR; register before your first taxable sale and confirm account activation through LaTAP.

   The Louisiana Department of Revenue publishes no fee for opening a sales tax account; register through LaTAP or geauxBIZ and confirm at registration.

   Not published by LDR; register before your first taxable sale and confirm account activation through LaTAP.

2. General Liability Insurance (venue and contract requirement, not a Louisiana licensing requirement)

   Louisiana does not license wedding planners and no statute requires them to carry insurance. The requirement is imposed by venues and clients. Public venues publish the hardest numbers: the City of Shreveport's SPAR special permit application for events in city parks requires a city-approved certificate of liability insurance naming the City of Shreveport as additional insured, with commercial general liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, workers' compensation as required by Louisiana law with employer's liability of at least $1,000,000, and business auto liability of at least $100,000 per person and $500,000 per accident — each carrying a waiver of subrogation, a 30-day cancellation endorsement and an additional-insured endorsement, written by carriers licensed in Louisiana with an A.M. Best rating of B+VII or better. If alcohol will be served, the liquor liability exclusion must be removed or host liquor liability added. The policy period must cover set-up and take-down, not just the event hours.

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by the insurer from your revenue, number and size of events, and claims history, so the '$400-$1,200/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from carriers licensed in Louisiana. Note that per-event coverage and an annual policy price very differently.·Not an official process with a published turnaround. An online quote is not coverage; the policy takes effect when the insurer binds it and the certificate follows. Venues typically require the certificate with the booking or permit application — Shreveport requires it submitted with the permit application, which is due 45 calendar days before the event.

   Not a government fee — the premium is set by the insurer from your revenue, number and size of events, and claims history, so the '$400-$1,200/year' band has no official source. Get quotes from carriers licensed in Louisiana. Note that per-event coverage and an annual policy price very differently.

   Not an official process with a published turnaround. An online quote is not coverage; the policy takes effect when the insurer binds it and the certificate follows. Venues typically require the certificate with the booking or permit application — Shreveport requires it submitted with the permit application, which is due 45 calendar days before the event.

1. Baton Rouge Occupational License

   All businesses operating in East Baton Rouge Parish/Baton Rouge, including wedding planners (sole proprietors, LLCs or corporations), must obtain an Occupational License from the Finance Department's Revenue Collection Division — there is no separate 'City Clerk's Office' business license. Renewal is required annually; the tax amount is based on business classification and gross receipts, not a flat fee.

   Official government source

   $50 one-time registration fee for businesses opening January 1-June 30, or $25 for businesses opening July 1-December 31. The annual renewal tax is computed from gross receipts under the Occupational License Tax classification tables.·Apply at least one month before opening. Once the Taxpayer Assistance Section processes the application, a temporary Occupational License Certificate is mailed; no processing time is published.

   $50 one-time registration fee for businesses opening January 1-June 30, or $25 for businesses opening July 1-December 31. The annual renewal tax is computed from gross receipts under the Occupational License Tax classification tables.

   Apply at least one month before opening. Once the Taxpayer Assistance Section processes the application, a temporary Occupational License Certificate is mailed; no processing time is published.

2. Trade Name (DBA) Registration — Louisiana Secretary of State

   If operating under a trade name (for example "Perfect Day Events" rather than your legal name), register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State (form #309, filed online through geauxBIZ) before accepting payments under that name. Trade names are a state filing in Louisiana — East Baton Rouge Parish does not register fictitious business names.

   Official government source

   $75 for a Trade Name/Trademark/Service Mark registration (Louisiana Secretary of State form #309). The Commercial Division fee rises to $95 effective October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session. Credit card filings add a $5 statutory convenience fee; optional expedite is $30 ($50 priority).·The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for standard filings; expedited service is $30 ($50 priority). Check name availability before filing (225-925-4704).

   $75 for a Trade Name/Trademark/Service Mark registration (Louisiana Secretary of State form #309). The Commercial Division fee rises to $95 effective October 1, 2026 under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session. Credit card filings add a $5 statutory convenience fee; optional expedite is $30 ($50 priority).

   The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for standard filings; expedited service is $30 ($50 priority). Check name availability before filing (225-925-4704).

Official Sources

• City of Baton Rouge — Business Licensing
• Louisiana Secretary of State
• IRS — Apply for EIN

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