The Indiana Secretary of State business search is free on the Business Services Division’s public business search, which is also reachable through INBiz, the state’s online business portal. Type the key words of your name and check that no Indiana entity on record is the same or confusingly close.
If the name looks clear, you can hold it for 120 days by filing a name reservation in INBiz for $10. To operate under a different name, Indiana uses an assumed business name filing: LLCs and corporations file it with the Secretary of State, while sole proprietors and general partnerships record it with the county recorder.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Indiana (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Indiana, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Indiana registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | IN Registered Agent.org | Indiana registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Indiana Registered Agent.co | Indiana registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Indiana. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. IN Registered Agent.org
IN Registered Agent.org is a Indiana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Indiana Registered Agent.co
Indiana Registered Agent.co is a Indiana registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Indiana name search at a glance
| Topic | Indiana (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| Search tool | Public business search (free); filings through INBiz |
| Name reservation | $10 when filed electronically (IC 23-0.5-9); holds the name 120 days; renewal available in INBiz |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100 on paper (State Form 49459); lower fee online in INBiz |
| Assumed business name (entities) | $20 per name online; $30 per name on paper (for-profit) |
| Assumed business name (sole props, partnerships) | Recorded with the county recorder; county recording fees apply |
| Assumed name cancellation | No statutory filing fee |
| Business entity report | Every two years: $32 online, $50 by mail |
Fees reflect Indiana Code title 23, article 0.5, chapter 9 and current state forms. Mainstay Filing’s Indiana LLC cost guide lists the full set of startup costs.
How to check business name availability in Indiana
Indiana’s business records are public and free to search. Here’s a reliable routine:
- Open the public business search. Use the Secretary of State’s search (linked as “Search Businesses” on the Business Services page). The INBiz portal links to it too.
- Search the distinctive words. Skip the ending. To test “Hoosier Hollow Brewing LLC,” search “Hoosier Hollow” so you see every variation already on file.
- Review entity names and assumed names. Entity assumed business names are filed with the Secretary of State, so a close match may be an LLC’s DBA rather than a legal name. Both deserve attention.
- Check status. Open close matches to see whether each business is active, administratively dissolved or otherwise inactive. Active names that aren’t distinguishable from yours will block the filing.
- Decide. Reserve the name in INBiz, or file your Articles right away, which also secures it once accepted.
INBiz’s own start-a-business guidance describes the name check as “only a preliminary search”: a name can’t be guaranteed as available until final processing at the time of filing. If the name looks available, INBiz says you can either reserve it for 120 days or file documents to organize the business under it.
The public search occasionally goes offline for maintenance. If it doesn’t load, try again later or start from INBiz.
Indiana business name requirements
- Distinguishable on the record: a new entity name must be distinguishable from the names of existing entities and reserved names on file with the Secretary of State.
- LLC designator: an Indiana LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation of one of those words.
- Regulated terms: words such as “bank” or “insurance” generally require approval from the relevant Indiana regulator.
- Not enough to differ: changing only the entity ending or punctuation usually won’t distinguish a name.
Need more candidates? Namechk’s business name generator can help you build a list to test in the Indiana search.
How to reserve a business name in Indiana
Indiana handles name reservations online. The Secretary of State’s business forms page lists both “Reservation of Business Name” and “Renewal of Business Name Reservation” as INBiz online filings.
- Fee: $10 for an electronic reservation under IC 23-0.5-9.
- Length: 120 days.
- Where: INBiz (create a free account).
- Renewal: available through INBiz if you need more time. The reservation gives you the exclusive right to form an entity under that name during the reservation period.
If you’ll file your Articles of Organization within days, skip the reservation; the filing secures the name once accepted.
Check trademarks, domains and social media
The Indiana search covers state filings only. Search the USPTO trademark database before you invest in a logo or signage, since a federal trademark holder can challenge your use of a similar name.
Then make sure the name is available online. Namechk checks domain names and social usernames at once, and the domain name generator suggests options when the exact .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Assumed business names (DBAs) in Indiana
Indiana’s DBA filing is called an assumed business name. Where you file depends on how your business is organized.
LLCs, corporations and other registered entities
- File a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the Secretary of State, online in INBiz or on State Form 30353.
- Fees under IC 23-0.5-9-40: $20 per assumed name when filed electronically for a for-profit entity, or $30 per name on paper. Nonprofits pay less.
- Each assumed name needs its own form and fee.
- To file online, sign in to INBiz, choose Online Services, then Assumed Name Filing. The state’s FAQ notes that registered entities file with the Secretary of State, not the county.
- Cancelling an assumed business name carries no statutory filing fee.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships
Owners who haven’t formed an entity record their assumed business name with the county recorder in each county where they do business. Recording fees are set by the county; Monroe County, for example, lists a $25 recording fee on its assumed business names page.
After the search: forming your Indiana business
Once you’ve confirmed the name, INBiz’s start-a-business steps and our Indiana LLC guide walk through the rest:
- File Articles of Organization in INBiz (or $100 on paper).
- Appoint a registered agent with an Indiana address. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Indiana registered agent guide explains the requirements.
- Get an EIN and register with the Indiana Department of Revenue if you’ll collect sales tax or have employees.
- File the business entity report every two years in your anniversary month ($32 online, $50 by mail) to stay active. Our Indiana start-a-business guide covers local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Indiana?
Use the Indiana Secretary of State’s free public business search, linked as Search Businesses on the Business Services Division’s website and from INBiz. Search the distinctive words of your name without LLC or Inc., then open close matches to check their status. Entity assumed business names are filed with the Secretary of State too, so review those results.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Indiana?
An electronic name reservation in Indiana costs $10 under Indiana Code 23-0.5-9 and holds the name for 120 days. You file it in INBiz, the state’s online business portal, which also offers a renewal filing if you need more time. Filing your Articles of Organization secures the name too, once accepted.
Where do I file a DBA in Indiana?
It depends on your business type. LLCs, corporations and other registered entities file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the Indiana Secretary of State, which costs $20 per name online or $30 on paper for for-profit entities. Sole proprietors and general partnerships record their assumed business name with the county recorder.
Is there a fee to cancel an Indiana assumed business name?
Indiana Code 23-0.5-9-41 says there is no fee to file a cancellation of an assumed business name with the Secretary of State, and the state’s cancellation form is marked no filing fee. County recorders handle cancellations for sole proprietors and partnerships and may charge their own recording fees.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Indiana?
The paper Articles of Organization (State Form 49459) list a $100 filing fee. Filing online in INBiz costs less, and the exact amount is shown at checkout. You’ll also need a registered agent with an Indiana address and must file a business entity report on schedule to keep the LLC active.
Does a clear Indiana search mean I can use the name?
Not necessarily. The Secretary of State decides availability when it reviews your filing, and a business may hold federal trademark rights without appearing in the state search. Check the USPTO database, then reserve the name for $10 in INBiz or file your Articles of Organization promptly.
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