Before you form a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Indiana Business Search tool to check if your corporation name is available.
We'll show you how to check corporation name availability in Indiana in this guide.
Recommended: You’ll want to secure your website domain name as soon as possible. Check GoDaddy to make sure it’s available.
Indiana Corporation Name Search
The Indiana Secretary of State requires all business names to be distinguishable from other business entities in the state. So, you’ll want to search and make sure no other businesses in the state are already using your name.
It is also useful to see if your corporation name is available as a web domain (URL).
SKIP AHEAD:
How to Search Available Indiana Corporation Names
Once you know your corporation name meets Indiana business name guidelines, make sure it’s available by using the Indiana Business Search tool.
Want to learn more about corporations? Check out our What Is a Corporation guide to get started.
How to Check Available Domain Names
When deciding on a name for your corporation, you should make sure that a similar or exact domain name is available. A matching URL will help potential customers find your corporation faster.
How to Register a Corporation Name in Indiana
Register Your Name
A corporation name is officially registered when you file your Indiana Articles of Incorporation. You can hire a professional service to form a corporation for you or start a corporation yourself.
Ready to register your corporation name? Use our Form a Corporation guide to get started.
If you want to register a DBA in Indiana, known as an assumed business name, that’s a separate process that requires filing a separate form with the Secretary of State.
Reserve Your Name
While not required, you have the option to reserve your corporation name in Indiana for up to 120 days before you register it. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you are ready to register it yourself.
Name reservations can be filed online with the Indiana Secretary of State. The filing fee is $10.
Need Help Forming Your Corporation? ZenBusiness will get you started.
Indiana Corporation Name Requirements
Key Guidelines
Indiana has official requirements for its corporation names.
The name must contain the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited;" the abbreviation "Corp.," "Inc.," "Co.," or "Ltd.;" or words or abbreviations of similar meaning in another language.
If your company is a professional corporation, its name must contain the words "Professional Service Corporation" or "Professional Corporation" or abbreviations of these words.
There are also restricted words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” that you cannot use in order to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Additionally, only a professional corporation in which all shareholders are licensed physicians may use the term "medical" in its corporate name.
For more information, check out the Indiana state statute on corporation names.
Distinguishability
Your name must be distinguishable from all other Indiana business names. In Indiana, a distinguishable name is one that is substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
The following differences make a name distinguishable in Indiana:
- Different letters, numerals, or words.
- Different order of letters or numerals
- Different order of roots of the words
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Indiana:
- Differences in business identifiers (e.g., LLC, Corp., etc.)
- Use of articles (e.g., a, the, etc.)
- Differences in punctuation
- Differences in capitalization
- Plurals or possessives
- Hyphenation or combined words
- Use of "and" vs. "&"
- Use of Arabic, Roman, or spelled-out numbers
If your corporation name isn’t distinguishable, your Articles of Incorporation filing will likely be rejected.
What if my corporation name is already taken? Our AI-powered corporation name generator will give you thousands of new ideas.
For a list of brainstorming tips, check out our guide to naming your business.
Indiana Corporation Name Search FAQ
How do I check if a corporation name is taken in Indiana?
You can use the Indiana Business Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Learn more about business entity name availability in the Indiana Corporation Name Search section.
Should I name my corporation after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming a corporation after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting a corporation is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered business name generator.
What words can’t be used in an Indiana corporation name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Additionally, Indiana corporation names cannot include the word “medical” unless it is a professional corporation in which all shareholders are licensed physicians.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Indiana Corporation Name Requirements section.
Should I use a business name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your corporation, a corporation name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
Do I have to include ‘corporation’ in my name?
Indiana corporation names must contain the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited;" the abbreviation "Corp.," "Inc.," "Co.," or "Ltd.;" or words or abbreviations of similar meaning in another language.
Learn more about corporation naming requirements in the Indiana Corporation Name Requirements section.
Do I need to renew my business name in Indiana?
Indiana doesn't require corporations to renew their legal or DBA name.
Can my business name be different from my corporation name in Indiana?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or assumed business name in Indiana.
In Indiana, assumed business names for corporations are filed with the Secretary of State.
Learn more about assumed business names with our Indiana DBA guide.
Does my corporation need a DBA name?
Your corporation doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more with our Indiana DBA guide.