Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in New Orleans, 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. New Orleans Occupational License

   All businesses operating in New Orleans must obtain a general Occupational License from the city's Bureau of Revenue (Department of Finance) — there is no 'City Clerk's Office' that issues business licenses. A Certificate of Occupancy for the proposed use at the location is a prerequisite. Wedding planners operating as sole proprietors, LLCs, or corporations need this license to legally conduct business. Renewal is required annually.

   Official government source

   $50/year minimum where gross sales are under $50,000, rising through the city's Occupational License Tax Tables (Table 1 runs to $6,200/year at $5.5M+ in gross sales).·Not published by the city. Apply through the One Stop App; a temporary Occupational License is generated automatically on approval, and the Amended Return Form must be completed within the first 40 days of operation.

   $50/year minimum where gross sales are under $50,000, rising through the city's Occupational License Tax Tables (Table 1 runs to $6,200/year at $5.5M+ in gross sales).

   Not published by the city. Apply through the One Stop App; a temporary Occupational License is generated automatically on approval, and the Amended Return Form must be completed within the first 40 days of operation.

2. Trade Name Registration (DBA)

   If operating under a trade name (e.g., "Perfect Day Events" rather than your legal name), register it with the Louisiana Secretary of State through geauxBIZ. This is required before accepting payments under a business name — Louisiana registers trade names only at the state level, so Orleans Parish does not handle these filings.

   Official government source

   $75 to register a trade name with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session this rises to $95 effective October 1, 2026. A name reservation, if used, is $25.·Not published. Trade name filings are submitted online through geauxBIZ; the Secretary of State publishes no processing-time commitment.

   $75 to register a trade name with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Under Act 921 of the 2026 Regular Session this rises to $95 effective October 1, 2026. A name reservation, if used, is $25.

   Not published. Trade name filings are submitted online through geauxBIZ; the Secretary of State publishes no processing-time commitment.

Official Sources

• City of New Orleans — Business Licensing
• Louisiana Secretary of State
• IRS — Apply for EIN

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