Step 1: Choose a name Indiana will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “LLC”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Indiana Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Indiana against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $10, for 120 days (renewable). See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Indiana who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Indiana companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Indiana Secretary of State. The fee is $96 online ($100 on paper). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Indiana doesn't require one (IC 23-18-4-5), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Indiana LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Indiana has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Indiana LLC annual report
Fee: Business entity (biennial) report for a for-profit entity: $32 on INBiz or $50 on paper (INBiz's report page; State Form 48725, rev. 01-26), first due two years after registering; the statute's base fees are $20 electronic and $50 paper (IC 23-0.5-9-34). Due: Every two years, by the end of the anniversary month of formation. (Source: Hub official comments and introductory note (PDF), in.gov.)
| After formation | Indiana |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | Business entity report every two years ($32 online, $50 by mail) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Existence, $27 online on INBiz |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Indiana certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Indiana
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $96 |
| First year, state fees | $96 |
| Each year after | $16 |
Over five years, Indiana's state fees come to $160. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Business, in.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Hub official comments and introductory note (PDF), in.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business forms, in.gov, checked 2026-10-07
How do I file an assumed business name (DBA)?, faqs.in.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Business entityreport, inbiz.in.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Business Entity Reports, in.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Checklist, inbiz.in.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Download, forms.in.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Articles of Organization, State Form 49459, forms.in.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Regulatory analysis of the enhanced access fees (LSA 25-155) (PDF), in.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Indiana
- Choose a name Indiana will accept and check it against the Indiana Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Indiana.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State (from $96).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Indiana?
From $96 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $96 in the first year and $16 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Indiana?
The Indiana Secretary of State doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Indiana?
Indiana doesn't require one (IC 23-18-4-5), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Indiana online?
Yes. The Indiana Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for from $96.
When is the Indiana LLC annual report due?
Every two years, by the end of the anniversary month of formation.
Does Indiana require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Indiana's recurring filing: Business entity report every two years ($32 online, $50 by mail).