Indiana LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses.
The cost to form an LLC in Indiana starts at $95. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.
Read our LLC Cost in Indiana guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all Indiana businesses.
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You can form an LLC yourself and save a little money or use a professional service and save a lot of time.
Northwest ($29 plus state fees)
How Much Is an LLC in Indiana?
Indiana LLC Filing Fee: $95+
To form an LLC in Indiana, you'll need to file the Articles of Organization (Form 49459) with the Secretary of State.
The Indiana Secretary of State charges a $95 fee to process and record this document online and $100 fee to submit a hard copy by mail.
You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.
Registered Agent Fee
Every Indiana LLC must appoint a registered agent. Your Indiana registered agent must be a resident of Indiana and must be available to receive service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.
You can be your own registered agent in Indiana, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.
Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest.
Indiana Business Entity Report Fee: $50
All LLCs must file a biennial Business Entity Report (Form 48725) with the Secretary of State. The fee is $50 for a two-year registration and can be filed online or by mail.
Cost to Register a Foreign LLC in Indiana: $105+
LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of Indiana must register as a foreign LLC in Indiana.
The cost of registering an Indiana foreign LLC is $105 online and $125 by mail. You can register a foreign LLC in Indiana by filing a Foreign Registration Statement (Form 56369) with the Secretary of State.
Business Licenses and Permits
Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Indiana, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.
Learn more about state and local licensing in our Indiana business license guide.
Other Indiana Business Filing Fees
There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in Indiana.
‘Doing Business As’ (DBA) Name
When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered. Some business owners choose to also file for a DBA name, known as an assumed business name in Indiana.
You can file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the Indiana Secretary of State for $30 online or by mail by completing Form 30353.
Learn more in our Indiana DBA guide.
Certified Document Copies
You can get certified copies of your Indiana business documents by ordering online through INBiz. There is no cost for certifying any business document.
Certificate of Existence
Also known as an Indiana Certificate of Good Standing, an Indiana Certificate of Existence can be obtained on request from IN.Biz.
A Certificate of Existence is often required by banks and lenders.
Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.
How to Start an LLC in Indiana
Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.
Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Indiana
Step 1: Name Your Indiana LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Get an EIN
Step 1: Name Your Indiana LLC
When you name your Indiana LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:
- Is available for use in the state of Indiana
- Meets Indiana naming requirements
- Is available as a web domain
Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:
Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Indiana LLCs are required to appoint a registered agent to receive service of process. Business owners can hire a registered agent service or appoint any Indiana resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address to receive service of process.
Recommended: ZenBusiness offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.
Step 3: File Indiana Articles of Organization
To form an LLC in Indiana, you must file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State.
This can be done online or by filing Form 49459 by mail.
For a closer look at the filing process, check out our Indiana Articles of Organization guide.
Step 4: Create an LLC Operating Agreement
Operating agreements are not required for Indiana LLCs, but it’s a good practice to have one.
An operating agreement outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page and reducing the risk of conflict down the line.
Learn more in our Indiana LLC Operating Agreement guide.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.
To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.
LLC Cost in Indiana FAQ
What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Indiana?
The cheapest way to start an LLC in Indiana is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:
- Name your LLC
- Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
- File the Indiana Articles of Organization: The filing fee for this is $100 and can be done online, by mail, or in person.
- Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
- Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).
How much does an LLC cost per year in Indiana?
All limited liability companies (LLC) must file a biennial Business Entity Report with the Secretary of State. The fee is $50 for a two-year registration.
Indiana does not have a Franchise Tax or Privilege Tax for LLCs.
For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article.
How much does an LLC license cost in Indiana?
An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in Indiana includes a filing fee of $100. There is also a Biennial Report fee of $50.
You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.
See our How to Start an LLC in Indiana for more information on registering your business as an LLC.
Do LLCs pay taxes in Indiana?
LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently.
This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.
Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp.
For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide.
What are the tax benefits of an LLC?
The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC.
Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:
- As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
- As a C corporation
- As an S corporation
See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business.
Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?
Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons.
For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans.
Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.