To start an LLC in Indiana, file Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State’s Business Services Division, preferably online through INBiz, the state’s business portal. The fee is $95 online or $100 on paper (as of October 2026). You’ll also name a registered agent with a physical Indiana address, and every two years you’ll file a Business Entity Report, which costs $32 online.
Indiana’s biennial reporting keeps upkeep cheap, and 2026 brought a small change worth knowing: under House Bill 1593, the window to file the report now opens 90 days before your anniversary month.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Indiana (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance
| Item | Indiana (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| Online portal | INBiz |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization (State Form 49459) |
| Filing fee | $95 online; $100 on paper |
| Business Entity Report | Every two years; $32 online, $50 paper |
| Report deadline | Last day of the anniversary month in your filing year |
| Registered agent | Required; physical Indiana street address, no P.O. boxes |
| Agent change | No fee (State Form 56367 or online) |
| Publication | Not required |
The paper fee is printed on State Form 49459; filing details are on the Secretary of State’s business services page. To see state fees next to service costs, use Mainstay Filing’s Indiana LLC cost page.
Step 1: Choose your Indiana LLC name
The name must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC” or “L.L.C.” and be distinguishable from other businesses registered in Indiana.
Generate a list of options with the namechk business name generator, then check them with INBiz’s business search. Our Indiana business name search guide explains how to search for similar names.
Also:
- Check the USPTO trademark database for federal registrations.
- See whether your domain and social handles are free on namechk.
- If you’ll use an assumed business name, check the filing rules before you start using it.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Indiana requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state. Indiana’s registered agent rules sit in the Uniform Business Organizations Code (IC 23-0.5-4), which recognizes two kinds of agents:
- **Noncommercial registered agents**, usually an individual such as an owner, friend or attorney
- **Commercial registered agents**, businesses that serve as agent for many entities and have registered as such with the Secretary of State
According to the state’s registered agent FAQ, a business can’t serve as its own registered agent. The registered office must be a physical Indiana street address; P.O. boxes aren’t accepted.
Owners who live in Indiana often act as their own agent. If you’d prefer privacy or travel often, a commercial agent is easier. Mainstay Filing provides registered agent service for the first year as part of its formation package, and our Indiana registered agent guide explains the options. Changing your agent later is free, so you can start with yourself and switch to a professional later without paying the state.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
INBiz is the fastest way to file, and it’s $5 cheaper than paper. If you file on paper, use State Form 49459 and mail it to the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division in Indianapolis with the $100 fee.
The Articles ask for:
- The LLC’s name
- The registered agent’s name and Indiana street address
- The principal office address
- Whether the LLC is managed by members or managers
- The organizer’s name and signature
Indiana also allows series LLCs; if you plan to use one, review the series rules before filing.
Step 4: Create an operating agreement
Indiana doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement. Write one anyway to settle ownership, contributions, management, voting, profit distributions and buyouts. Without it, Indiana’s default LLC rules decide those issues for you.
A signed agreement also helps a single-member LLC show that the business is separate from its owner, which supports liability protection.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Indiana taxes
Apply for a free EIN on the IRS website. Then register with the Indiana Department of Revenue for sales tax and withholding if they apply, and with the Department of Workforce Development if you’ll have employees. INBiz can help you start several state registrations from one place.
Once you have the EIN, open a business bank account in the LLC’s exact legal name. Banks usually ask for the filed Articles, the IRS EIN confirmation and often the operating agreement. Running all business income and expenses through that account keeps your records clean and helps protect the liability shield the LLC gives you.
FinCEN’s beneficial ownership page says U.S.-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the final rule effective August 2026.
Step 6: File the Business Entity Report every two years
Indiana LLCs file a Business Entity Report every two years. The report is due by the last day of the LLC’s anniversary month, and your filing years follow the year you formed: an LLC formed in an even year files in even years, and one formed in an odd year files in odd years.
Under HB 1593, effective January 1, 2026, you can file starting 90 days before your anniversary month, as the Secretary of State’s filing changes page explains. The fee is $32 online or $50 on paper. Use INBiz to confirm your exact due date, and mark the month the window opens on your calendar. Because the report only comes around every two years, it’s easy to lose track of, especially if your address or agent has changed in the meantime. An LLC that misses the report becomes delinquent and can be administratively dissolved if it doesn’t catch up.
Step 7: Check licenses and permits
Indiana doesn’t issue a general statewide business license. Licensing depends on your industry and location: many professions are licensed by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, and cities and counties may require permits. Check locally before opening.
How much does an Indiana LLC cost?
| Item | Online | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | $95 | $100 |
| Business Entity Report (every two years) | $32 | $50 |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | $0 |
That works out to $95 to form online and about $16 a year in reporting fees after that.
Indiana LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Indiana?
Filing Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State costs $95 online through INBiz or $100 on paper using State Form 49459, as of October 2026. After formation, the LLC files a Business Entity Report every two years, which costs $32 online or $50 on paper.
How often does an Indiana LLC file a report?
Every two years. Indiana LLCs file a biennial Business Entity Report, due by the last day of the anniversary month, in even or odd years matching the formation year. Since January 1, 2026, under HB 1593, the report can be filed starting 90 days before the anniversary month.
What is a commercial registered agent in Indiana?
Indiana’s Uniform Business Organizations Code recognizes commercial registered agents, which are businesses registered with the Secretary of State to serve as agent for many entities, and noncommercial agents, such as an owner or attorney. Either type needs a physical Indiana address, and a business can’t serve as its own agent.
Does it cost anything to change a registered agent in Indiana?
No. Indiana charges no filing fee to change a registered agent. You can file the change online through INBiz or use State Form 56367 on paper. Keeping your agent current matters because lawsuits and official notices are delivered to the registered office.
Do Indiana series LLCs file a Business Entity Report?
According to Indiana’s reporting rules summarized in the state’s filing guidance, individual series of a series LLC don’t file their own Business Entity Reports. The series LLC itself still files on its biennial schedule. Review the series rules with an attorney before forming a series LLC.
Does Indiana require newspaper publication for a new LLC?
No. Indiana doesn’t require a new LLC to publish notice of its formation. Once the Secretary of State files the Articles of Organization, the LLC exists. The next steps are an operating agreement, an EIN, state tax registrations, any licenses and the Business Entity Report every two years.
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