How to Start an Indiana LLC: Secretary of State Steps and Fees

An Indiana LLC exists once the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division accepts your Articles of Organization. The official form is State Form 49459, filed under Ind. Code § 23-18-2-4, and the filing fee for the paper form is $100 (set by Ind. Code § 23-0.5-9-19). Most people file the same document electronically through INBiz, the state's business portal at inbiz.in.gov. This page walks the whole sequence; the formation overview covers the decisions behind it.

What to Have Ready

• A name that passed your availability search, including a designator (LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company)
• Principal office address (a home address works)
• Your registered agent's name and Indiana street address
• A choice between member-managed and manager-managed
• A card or e-check for payment if filing through INBiz

Indiana LLC Formation Steps

1. Search the name. Run your candidate name through the Secretary of State's business search on INBiz. The name must be distinguishable from every entity already on record.
2. Reserve the name if you are not filing yet (optional). Indiana lets you hold a name through a reservation filing on INBiz. If you plan to file your Articles right away, skip this and let the formation filing claim the name.
3. Appoint a registered agent. Every Indiana LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent at a physical Indiana street address. A PO box is not acceptable, and a business cannot serve as its own registered agent. Details on the registered agent page.
4. Prepare the Articles of Organization, State Form 49459. The form asks for the LLC name, principal office, registered agent and registered office, duration, and management structure. The current revision is captioned with Ind. Code 23-18-2-4 and 23-0.5-9-19.
5. File with the Secretary of State. On paper, mail or deliver State Form 49459 with the $100 fee to the Business Services Division, 302 W. Washington St., Room E-018, Indianapolis. Online, log into INBiz, choose a new domestic limited liability company filing, and complete the same information; INBiz shows the exact online charge at checkout before you pay.
6. Adopt an operating agreement. Indiana does not file it, but banks ask for it and it settles ownership questions before they become disputes.
7. Get an EIN. Free directly from the IRS at irs.gov.
8. Open the business bank account. Bring the approved Articles, the EIN letter, and the operating agreement.

The Formation Document: State Form 49459

Indiana's LLC formation document is called the Articles of Organization. The paper version, State Form 49459, prints its own fee ($100) and statutory authority on its face. Filing it, on paper or through INBiz, is what legally creates the company under Ind. Code § 23-18-2-4. If a preparer or service files for you, the organizer listed on the form does not have to be a member of the LLC.

Filing Through INBiz vs. on Paper

INBiz is the Secretary of State's own portal and handles the whole filing without mail transit; the paper route means printing State Form 49459 and sending it with a check for $100. INBiz displays its current online price during checkout rather than on the blank form, so verify the figure there before paying. Either channel produces the same entity and the same stamped Articles.

After Approval

1. Download the stamped Articles of Organization from your INBiz account.
2. Apply for the EIN and open the bank account.
3. Calendar your first Business Entity Report. Indiana reporting is biennial: the report is due the last day of your anniversary month every second year, on the parity of your formation year, at $32 online or $50 on paper.

If we handle formation, the $199 service includes your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $99 a year.

Common Filing Mistakes

1. Missing designator. The name must end in LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company.
2. PO box for the agent. The registered office must be a physical Indiana street address.
3. Typos in the LLC name. Fixing one after approval takes an amendment filing.
4. Wrong management selection. Changing between member-managed and manager-managed later also requires an amendment.
5. Dead email address. State correspondence goes there; use one you monitor.

FAQ

Can I save an INBiz filing and finish later?

Yes. INBiz keeps in-progress filings on your dashboard so you can return to a draft.

What if I made an error on the filed Articles?

File Articles of Amendment through INBiz to correct the record.

Does someone else have to be the organizer?

No, but anyone can be. The organizer signs and delivers the Articles and does not need to be a member, so attorneys and filing services can act as organizer.

Is a separate Indiana business license part of formation?

No. The Articles create the entity. Licenses and permits are a separate layer that depends on your industry and municipality.