An Arkansas contractor taking work in Louisiana deals with the same four questions everywhere: who licenses the trade, when a licence is actually required, when workers compensation kicks in, and where the business registers. Below is Louisiana's answer to each, with the agency's own link.
Licensing
Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC)
Commercial and residential licenses required at $50,000 and up; home-improvement registration covers $7,500 to $50,000 projects; electrical and mechanical (HVAC) specialty work licensed at $10,000 and up. Residential threshold dropped from $75,000 under Act 178 (2024).
Workers compensation
Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers' Compensation
Required even with one employee, including part-time, temporary and seasonal workers; owners and certain officers with at least ten percent ownership may elect written exemption.
https://www2.laworks.net/FAQs/FAQ_WorkComp_EmployerCoverage.asp
Business registration
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division (geauxBIZ)
New hire reporting
Most states require newly hired employees to be reported within a short window of their start date.
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Starting or running the business itself is covered in the contractor business guide. Arkansas licence records for Benton and Washington counties are in the contractor directory.