Question 1

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

By statute, the Secretary of State collects $75 for filing a domestic LLC's articles of organization electronically and $100 for filing in another way (paper).

Question 2

How do you form an LLC in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

File Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division, online through INBiz (inbiz.in.gov) or on paper. Addresses required in filings must be street addresses in Indiana where the statute requires an address.

Question 3

What are the LLC name requirements in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

An LLC name must contain the phrase "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC," and must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from existing entities, registered foreign entities, and reserved or assumed names. Filing an electronic application to reserve a name costs $10 (renewal and transfer of a reservation are also $10 electronically; cancelling is free).

Question 4

Do you need a registered agent for an LLC in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

A registered agent must be an individual, a general partnership, a domestic filing entity, or a registered foreign entity, and filings must give a street address in Indiana. Indiana law says there is no fee for filing a registered agent or office statement of change, and no fee for an agent's statement of resignation.

Question 5

Does an LLC have to file an annual report in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

Indiana requires a Business Entity Report every other year (biennial) for for-profit entities such as LLCs, due in the anniversary month the LLC was created; it can be filed up to 90 days before that month. The Secretary of State lists the fee as $31 online or $50 by mail; the statute itself sets $20 for electronic filing and $50 for paper. If the report is not filed, the Secretary of State sends at least four reminders and administratively dissolves the entity after it is five months overdue; reinstatement is possible within 5 years.

Question 6

Is an operating agreement required in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

Indiana law defines an operating agreement as "any written or oral agreement of the members" about the LLC's affairs that is binding on all members, so it does not have to be written. It is not among the filings listed in the Secretary of State fee statute.

Question 7

How do you register a DBA in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

An LLC files an assumed business name with the Indiana Secretary of State (Certification of Assumed Business Name, State Form 30353, one name per form; the form cannot be used for county filing). By statute the fee for a for-profit entity is $20 per name electronically or $30 per name on paper. Cancelling an assumed name is free.

Question 8

How do you get a sales tax permit in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

A business that sells goods or tangible personal property registers with the Indiana Department of Revenue (Business Tax Application, through INTIME/INBiz) to collect Indiana's seven percent sales tax and receives a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC). One certificate must be displayed at each business location. RRMCs renew automatically if the business has no outstanding liabilities or missing returns.

Question 9

How do you register a foreign LLC in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

An out-of-state LLC files a foreign registration statement with the Secretary of State. By statute the fee for a for-profit entity is $75 electronically or $125 on paper.

Question 10

How do you dissolve an LLC in Indiana?

Accepted Answer

A domestic LLC files articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State. By statute the fee is $20 electronically or $30 on paper.

LLC filing fee	By statute, the Secretary of State collects $75 for filing a domestic LLC's articles of organization electronically and $100 for filing in another way (paper). Source: IC 23-0.5-9-19
How to file	File Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division, online through INBiz (inbiz.in.gov) or on paper. Addresses required in filings must be street addresses in Indiana where the statute requires an address. Processing times were not stated on the pages reviewed. Source: IC 23-0.5-9-19; IC 23-0.5-4-2; Indiana Secretary of State Business Division pages
Name rules and reservation	An LLC name must contain the phrase "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC," and must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records from existing entities, registered foreign entities, and reserved or assumed names. Filing an electronic application to reserve a name costs $10 (renewal and transfer of a reservation are also $10 electronically; cancelling is free). Source: IC 23-0.5-3-1; IC 23-0.5-9-36 to 23-0.5-9-39
Registered agent	A registered agent must be an individual, a general partnership, a domestic filing entity, or a registered foreign entity, and filings must give a street address in Indiana. Indiana law says there is no fee for filing a registered agent or office statement of change, and no fee for an agent's statement of resignation. Source: IC 23-0.5-4-2, 23-0.5-4-3; IC 23-0.5-9-32, 23-0.5-9-33
Operating agreement	Indiana law defines an operating agreement as "any written or oral agreement of the members" about the LLC's affairs that is binding on all members, so it does not have to be written. It is not among the filings listed in the Secretary of State fee statute. Whether an operating agreement is mandatory was not stated in the sections reviewed. Source: IC 23-18-1-16

Annual report	Indiana requires a Business Entity Report every other year (biennial) for for-profit entities such as LLCs, due in the anniversary month the LLC was created; it can be filed up to 90 days before that month. The Secretary of State lists the fee as $31 online or $50 by mail; the statute itself sets $20 for electronic filing and $50 for paper. If the report is not filed, the Secretary of State sends at least four reminders and administratively dissolves the entity after it is five months overdue; reinstatement is possible within 5 years. Source: Indiana Secretary of State, Business Entity Reports page; IC 23-0.5-9-34
Sales tax permit	A business that sells goods or tangible personal property registers with the Indiana Department of Revenue (Business Tax Application, through INTIME/INBiz) to collect Indiana's seven percent sales tax and receives a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC). One certificate must be displayed at each business location. RRMCs renew automatically if the business has no outstanding liabilities or missing returns. The registration fee was not stated on the page reviewed. Source: Indiana Department of Revenue, Sales Tax page
DBA / assumed name	An LLC files an assumed business name with the Indiana Secretary of State (Certification of Assumed Business Name, State Form 30353, one name per form; the form cannot be used for county filing). By statute the fee for a for-profit entity is $20 per name electronically or $30 per name on paper. Cancelling an assumed name is free. Source: IC 23-0.5-9-40, 23-0.5-9-41; Indiana Secretary of State Form 30353

Registering an out-of-state LLC	An out-of-state LLC files a foreign registration statement with the Secretary of State. By statute the fee for a for-profit entity is $75 electronically or $125 on paper. Source: IC 23-0.5-9-26
Closing an LLC	A domestic LLC files articles of dissolution with the Secretary of State. By statute the fee is $20 electronically or $30 on paper. Source: IC 23-0.5-9-22

How to Start an LLC in Indiana: Fees, Filings and Annual Requirements

Quick answers for Indiana

Forming the LLC

Keeping the LLC in good standing

Out-of-state LLCs and closing

Where to get help in Indiana

Starting an LLC & Small Business FAQ

More Indiana law