Filed with
Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz)
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every two years
- 01
Choose a name for your Indiana LLC
Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz) business filings →The name must contain "limited liability company", "L.L.C." or "LLC". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Indiana register.
Search the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz) business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Indiana LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Indiana, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz) →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz), which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Indiana operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Indiana business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Indiana requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Indiana sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Indiana LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Indiana LLCs file a Business Entity Report every two years. It is due every other year, by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month it was formed).
The first one is due in the anniversary month two years after formation.
Worth knowing in Indiana
- Your exact Business Entity Report due date is shown on the business details page in the INBiz business search.
- The Secretary of State administratively dissolves an LLC whose Business Entity Report is overdue.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz) and pay the state fee, act as your Indiana registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Indiana?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Indiana, and file a Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz). Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Indiana?
Indiana charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Indiana LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Indiana LLC have to file an annual report?
Indiana LLCs file a Business Entity Report every two years. It is due every other year, by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month (the month it was formed). The first one is due in the anniversary month two years after formation.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz) that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Indiana, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Indiana?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Indiana and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
