.
To form an Indiana limited liability company, file articles of organization with the Indiana Secretary of State and maintain a registered agent at an Indiana street address. Most filers use the INBiz portal, although paper filing is available. After formation, complete any tax, employer, license, or permit registrations that apply and add Indiana's biennial business entity report deadline to your calendar.
Key takeaways
- An Indiana LLC exists as soon as the articles of organization are filed with the Secretary of State, unless the filing states a permitted later effective time.
- Every Indiana LLC must continuously maintain an eligible registered agent and an Indiana street address for its registered office.
- The statutory articles fee is $75 for an electronic filing and $100 for a non-electronic filing. Review the itemized INBiz total for any separate portal, service, or payment-processing charges.
- Indiana LLCs file a business entity report every two calendar years on the Secretary of State's schedule and may file during the 90 days before the due month.
- Indiana permits series LLCs, but liability separation depends on special articles language, an operating agreement, separate asset records, and articles of designation for each series.
- After formation, register only for the Indiana tax, unemployment, license, and permit obligations that apply to the LLC's activities, workers, and locations.
Step 1: Choose an available Indiana LLC name
Every Indiana LLC name must be distinguishable from every other business on record with the Secretary of State and include an approved entity designator, such as LLC or L.L.C.
Here are Indiana’s LLC naming rules.
- Name and designator: The name must be distinguishable from entity names and assumed business names already on file and must contain “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” An entity designator alone does not make an otherwise identical name distinguishable.
- Regulated or misleading wording: Specified derivatives of "bank" require the applicable approval, and a name may not falsely imply a connection with a government agency. Check profession- or industry-specific naming rules with the relevant regulator.
- Professional services: Indiana preserves the authority of professional licensing boards, so confirm any profession-specific entity and naming requirements before filing.
Confirm current designator and restricted-word rules on INBiz or through the Secretary of State's Business Services Division before locking in a name.
Once you’ve found an available and appropriate name, run a business name search before you file your formation documents. You can search for your preferred business name through the INBiz portal, but the Indiana business name search tool searches the same database in an easier-to-read way. The tool is free and you can search for as many names as you want.
Free Indiana Business Name Check
Use our free name check tool to search the Indiana Secretary of State database and see if your business name is available.
By clicking "Check Availability," I agree to LegalZoom's Terms of Use. This search is a preliminary check of state databases and does not include variations or trademarks. Results do not guarantee name availability or compliance with legal requirements.
Clearing the Indiana search tool isn’t the final say. You should also check for federal trademarks, as your name may show that it’s available in Indiana while still protected federally.
Should you secure a domain name when naming your Indiana LLC?
A domain, social handle, and federal trademark search can help with branding, so it’s recommended that you confirm availability across the internet before settling on a name. If you plan to do any online marketing, having a consistent brand across platforms can be beneficial.
Can you reserve an LLC name in Indiana before filing?
You can reserve an available name for 120 days through INBiz. The fee is $10, and the reservation may be renewed for additional 120-day periods.
Step 2: Appoint an Indiana registered agent
Indiana law requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent and an Indiana registered office. The agent receives service of process, such as lawsuit papers, and other official communications for the LLC.
An Indiana registered agent can be an adult individual, an eligible business entity, or a commercial registered agent service as long as they have a physical Indiana street address and are available during business hours. An LLC cannot serve as its own registered agent, but an employee of the LLC can.
When you file your articles, they must state or represent that the named registered agent consented to serve.
What registered agent information becomes public record in Indiana?
The registered agent's name and Indiana street address appear in the public business record. So, if you are a single-member LLC working from home, you can be your company’s own registered agent, but your home address will be part of the public record. Using a professional service avoids that.
Step 3: File your Indiana articles of organization
Filing the articles of organization creates an Indiana LLC. File electronically through INBiz or use the current paper filing instructions from the Business Services Division.
When you fill out your articles of organization, you’ll typically need to provide the following information.
- LLC name: Exact legal name with an approved designator. A preliminary name search does not guarantee acceptance.
- Registered agent name and address: Full legal name and physical Indiana street address (no P.O. boxes).
- Registered agent's consent: You affirm this as part of the online filing.
- Principal office or contact address: The current form asks for principal-office information. If the business has no physical principal office, follow the form's contact-address instructions; a commercial mail receiving agency address may require additional disclosure.
- Duration: Most LLCs choose perpetual existence, though you can specify an end date if you want.
- Management structure: Indiana defaults to member management unless the articles state that managers will manage the LLC.
- Organizer information: Name and signature of the filer, who need not be a member or manager.
How do you file articles of organization for an Indiana LLC??
To file online, go to the INBiz portal and sign in. Select "Start a New Business," choose "Limited Liability Company," and complete the form. Filing online costs $75.
To file by paper, download the current articles of organization form from the Secretary of State business forms page. Mail it with a check or money order for $100 payable to the Indiana Secretary of State.
Here’s the address for mailed filings:
Secretary of State
Business Services Division
302 West Washington Street, Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Step 4: Create an Indiana LLC operating agreement
Indiana recognizes written or oral operating agreements for a general LLC and does not require the agreement to be filed with the Secretary of State. A written agreement is strongly recommended because it creates a clear record of ownership, voting, distributions, management authority, transfers, and winding-up terms.
What should an Indiana-specific LLC operating agreement include?
A written agreement is useful for both single-member and multiple-member LLCs. It documents how the business will be governed and who may act for it, but it does not by itself guarantee liability protection. You’ll want to include the following in your operating agreement.
- Ownership percentages: Each member's stake.
- Management structure: Member-managed or manager-managed, matching your articles of organization.
- Voting rights and decision-making: Approval thresholds for major moves. The operating agreement may modify many statutory default rules, subject to limits in Indiana law.
- Allocations and distributions: How profits and losses are assigned among members and when and how cash or other property is transferred to them.
- Buyout and exit terms: What happens if a member leaves, dies, or sells their stake.
- Dissolution procedures: How to wind down, consistent with Indiana's dissolution rules.
Keep the agreement consistent with the articles and maintain separate business finances and records. Review your draft carefully, or use LegalZoom's operating agreement service.
Member-managed vs. manager-managed: Which should your Indiana LLC choose?
Indiana defaults to member management unless the articles provide for managers. In a member-managed LLC, members handle management under the operating agreement and Indiana law. In a manager-managed LLC, appointed managers run the business, and the operating agreement should define their authority, appointment, removal, and decision thresholds.
Step 5: Get an EIN from the IRS for your Indiana LLC
An employer identification number (EIN) is a free federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You can apply after the LLC is formed and get yours within minutes through the IRS website. Federal rules require an EIN in specified cases, and a bank or state agency may separately request one.
A multiple-member LLC generally needs an EIN, as does an LLC with employees or certain federal tax obligations or elections. A single-member LLC that reports income on its owner's tax return and has no employees or excise-tax liability may not need a separate EIN under federal rules, but many banks will still require one to open a business-specific account.
Starting a business takes courage. LegalZoom makes sure the legal details don’t stand in your way, from the day you register until the day you retire.
Step 6: Register for Indiana taxes and employer accounts
Filing your articles of organization doesn't set up your tax accounts automatically. Depending on what your LLC does and whether you have employees, you may need to register with the Indiana Department of Revenue and the Department of Workforce Development. INBiz handles both, but they serve different purposes, and skipping one you actually need creates real tax exposure.
When does an Indiana LLC need to register with the Indiana Department of Revenue?
Register for business taxes in Indiana with the Business Tax Application (Form BT-1) for the Indiana tax accounts that apply to your business. You can register through INBiz or submit a paper form.
Common BT-1 accounts include:
- Indiana retail sales tax
- Withholding tax (if you have Indiana employees)
- Other Indiana tax accounts that apply to the LLC's activities or locations
Complete location registration where the applicable tax account or retail-location rule requires it. Not every operating address automatically needs every Indiana tax account.
When does an Indiana LLC need to register with the Department of Workforce Development?
Register with the Department of Workforce Development when the LLC meets Indiana's unemployment-insurance liability rules. Because liability depends on factors such as payroll, employer type, and the work performed, review DWD's employer-qualification guidance before registering.
What is an Indiana Registered Retail Merchant Certificate, and does your LLC need one?
A retail merchant making taxable retail transactions in Indiana generally needs a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC) for each applicable retail location. Apply through the BT-1 form or online process and pay the $25 one-time fee for each location.
An RRMC renews every two years only when required returns are filed and liabilities are current. The Department of Revenue may revoke it otherwise. The certificate doesn't replace any applicable local or industry approval.
Step 7: Check Indiana licenses, permits, and insurance
Indiana has no statewide general business license, but requirements still apply. Depending on the business, requirements may come from four common sources.
- State professional licenses: Regulated professions such as health care and real estate may need approval from the relevant board. Contractor licensing is often local, so check the rules for the work and location.
- State industry permits. Food service needs a permit from the Indiana Department of Health or a local health department. Selling alcohol requires a license from the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission.
- Local licenses and permits. Requirements vary by city, county, activity, and location. Check the appropriate local government rather than assuming one general license applies to every business.
- Zoning and land use permits. Confirm your zoning classification permits your business type through local zoning offices.
Pin down your specific industry and location, then check with both the relevant state licensing board and local government before opening. If this is overwhelming or you prefer to spend time running your business, LegalZoom can provide a personalized report on which licenses, permits, and registrations your business needs.
Common Indiana LLC formation and maintenance costs
Indiana LLC costs include filing fees, current INBiz portal or payment charges, recurring biennial-report costs, and conditional or optional expenses.
| Filing | Online (INBiz) | By mail |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of organization | $75 statutory fee + current portal/payment charges | $100 |
| Name reservation (optional) | $10 statutory fee + current portal/payment charges | $20 |
| Biennial business entity report | $20 statutory fee + current INBiz charges | $50 |
The articles of organization and biennial reports are your only required costs, but most LLC owners should budget for other expenses like a professional registered agent service and any required business licenses or permits.
How to maintain your Indiana LLC
Keep the registered agent and registered-office information current, file the business entity report on schedule, and renew any tax accounts, licenses, permits, and insurance that apply.
How does the Indiana biennial business entity report work?
The business entity report is due every two calendar years on the Secretary of State's schedule. It is commonly due in the LLC's anniversary month, and you may file during the 90 days before the due month. The fee is $20 electronically and $50 non-electronically.
What happens if you miss Indiana's biennial report deadline?
If you don’t file your biennial report, the Secretary of State may begin an administrative-dissolution proceeding after the report has remained unfiled for 60 days. The state must then send written notice, and the LLC has another 60 days to correct the ground before dissolution.
An administratively dissolved LLC continues to exist, but it may act only to seek reinstatement or wind up. Reinstatement requires curing the applicable filings, taxes, and fees and submitting the current application.
Can an Indiana LLC change its registered agent after formation?
Yes. File the current registered-agent or registered-office change with the Secretary of State, obtain the new agent's consent, and avoid any gap in the LLC's eligible agent or Indiana registered office.
How to start your Indiana LLC with LegalZoom
Everything in this guide is doable on your own; INBiz is built for self-filers. But if you'd rather hand off the name search, registered agent designation, articles of organization filing, and ongoing compliance tracking, LegalZoom can form your Indiana LLC and help keep you compliant with requirements like the biennial business entity report.
Find the right state to form an LLC
Find the right state to form an LLC
Every state has different rules, costs, and considerations for LLC formation.
Indiana LLC FAQs
Can a non-Indiana resident own an Indiana LLC?
Yes. Indiana does not impose a general residency requirement on LLC members. The LLC still must maintain an eligible registered agent and an Indiana registered office.
When must an LLC formed in another state register in Indiana?
An LLC formed elsewhere may need to register as a foreign entity before doing business in Indiana. State law excludes some activities, so review current Secretary of State guidance or seek legal advice before operating.
Does Indiana require LLCs to publish a formation notice?
No. Indiana forms an LLC when its articles of organization are filed with the Secretary of State, and state law does not require a newspaper publication step.
How is an Indiana LLC taxed by default?
For federal income tax purposes, a single-member LLC is generally treated as part of its owner's tax return. A multiple-member LLC is generally taxed as a partnership unless it elects corporate treatment. Indiana filing obligations follow the LLC's organization and tax classification, while sales, withholding, and other state taxes may apply based on its activities or employees.
When might an Indiana LLC need a certificate of existence?
A certificate of existence shows that the LLC exists and is in good standing with Indiana. Banks, lenders, landlords, or other states may request one for financing, contracts, or foreign registration, and it can be ordered through INBiz.
How do you amend Indiana articles of organization after formation?
File articles of amendment with the Indiana Secretary of State through INBiz or on paper when you need to change information in the articles of organization. The filing identifies the LLC, the original filing date, and the amendment. Indiana provides separate filings for registered-agent or registered-office changes and for principal-office address changes, so use the form that matches the specific update.
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