Whether you’re starting a new LLC or updating the registered agent for your existing business, it’s important to choose the best Indiana registered agent for your needs.

This article will help you to choose the registered agent that best fits your business, go over the basic functions of registered agents, and answer common questions about registered agents.

If you haven’t yet formed your LLC, you can get one year of registered agent services for free if you form your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees). (This is a great deal!).

Best Indiana Registered Agent Service

When choosing a registered agent service, you want someone who understands the importance of staying compliant and being diligent about legal processes and paperwork. That’s why Northwest Registered Agent is our #1 registered agent service choice for Indiana businesses.

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent, which offers everything that you need to form your LLC along with Registered Agent services. The company boasts over 20 years of operations helping small businesses start or grow.

Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee with outstanding customer support, exceptional services, and high prices to match. If data privacy and access to customer support are top on your list, the extra costs of working with Northwest Registered Agent may be well worth it for you and your business.

What Does an Indiana Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent does a few things for a company. Their main task is to be present when or if the company needs to receive tax or legal paperwork. These would be documents that can’t be sent to a mailbox or delivered to a front desk; rather, documents that must be handed directly to the person who represents the company.

A simple example would be a service of process, which is the delivery of legal documents in a lawsuit. These service documents must be delivered directly to the company’s representative – the registered agent – to ensure they are received.

This may seem like a small task, but the caveat that makes this a critical position is that the registered agent is required to be at the documented location to receive these papers during all “regular business hours.” This is the main reason that most people choose to use a registered agent service rather than operating as their own agent.

Other forms that your registered agent may receive on your behalf are:

• Tax forms
• Legal documents
• Official government correspondence
• Service of process

Another function of a registered agent is to file official documents with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. In most states, businesses are required to file an annual report once per year to keep the business in “good standing” with the state.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Indiana?

The short answer is yes, you can be your own registered agent.

Whether or not that’s the best plan for you or your company is another question entirely. If you are looking to spend the absolute, bare minimum amount of money on your business, then being your own registered agent may not be a terrible choice. Still, even in that scenario, we don’t recommend it.

Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service

There are only a few realistic options when it comes to whom you file as your registered agent:

• Yourself
• An attorney
• A registered agent service

As mentioned above, being your own agent has pitfalls and isn’t recommended. What’s more, an attorney in this position would be quite expensive and is generally only a viable option if you had them form your business for you.

So, that leaves you with the option of using a service. Here are the biggest benefits of using a professional registered agent service:

Privacy

When you form an LLC or corporation, your formation data goes into a state database which is open and searchable to the public. The information in this database can include:

• Business name
• Formation date
• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address

While you can’t stop the state from publishing this information, you can retain the privacy of your name and your address by using a registered agent service. Since this information is public, marketing companies use these databases to gather information to market their products and services to business owners. Your mailbox will thank you for keeping your business address private.

Another major privacy benefit is having legal documents delivered to your agent and not you personally. If, for some reason, someone brings a lawsuit against your company, would you rather have your agent call you with these documents or have them served to you in front of your customers, clients, or employees?

Easy Compliance

Along with privacy, another of the main benefits of using a registered agent service is that they will help to keep your business in “good standing” with the state.

Some states require LLCs and corporations to file annual reports or other timely documents. While these generally aren’t difficult tasks, they are often easily forgotten or lost in the day-to-day work that your business hands you.

Your registered agent will send you reminders that this work needs to be completed, and some will even provide you with the proper documents to make your work even easier.

How Do I Elect a Registered Agent in Indiana?

You will need to choose a registered agent when forming an LLC in Indiana. The state requires all LLC businesses to have registered agents. The responsibilities of your LLC’s registered agent primarily involve receiving official communications, which could include items such as tax documents or service of process correspondence. If any mailings require a signature upon delivery, your registered agent should be willing to sign.

While these responsibilities are fairly basic, they do require that your registered agent maintains an address in Indiana. You will have to provide the registered agent’s name and physical address when listing them in the formation documents. P.O. boxes generally aren’t accepted for these purposes.

Your chosen registered agent is listed among the Articles of Organization that must be submitted. An LLC formation service can fill out the Articles of Organization (including the registered agent information) if you’d prefer to hire professionals.

If you prefer to set everything up yourself, you can choose a registered agent when you register your Indiana LLC formation:

1. If filing online, you must choose a registered agent through the Indiana Secretary of State’s INBiz Access Indiana Portal. You’ll have access to a “Registered Agent” section once you create an account on the platform. There’s a box to check that indicates the registered agent has consented. The Indiana LLC filing fee is $95 and can be paid when you submit your LLC formation documents.
2. If filing by mail, you must download the Articles of Organization (Form 49459). Article II of the form asks for registered agent information, including the agent’s name, contact information, and whether they’re commercial or noncommercial. You also must check the box to indicate that the registered agent has consented. The form can be mailed to the Indiana Secretary of State – Business Services Division. The address is listed in the top right of the first page. The filing fee is $100 if you choose to file by mail, and payment should be included with the form.

How Do I Change My LLC’s Registered Agent in Indiana?

If your LLC ever has to change its registered agent, notifying the state of the change is quick and easy. Below are several ways you can change your registered agent in Indiana.

• File Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent If filing online, you must access the Statement of Change of Registered Agent through your LLC’s account on the INBiz Access Indiana platform. The online form is self-explanatory, with space to enter your new registered agent’s information. There is no fee to change a registered agent, regardless of whether the change is made online or by mail. If filing by mail, you must fill out the Statement of Change of Registered Agent (Form 56367). Article II of the form is where the new registered agent’s name and contact information are entered. This form too can be mailed to the Indiana Secretary of State’s Business Services Division. The address is listed in the top right of the first page. There is no fee when filing a registered agent change online or by mail.
• File Your Indiana LLC Biennial Business Entity Report Indiana requires LLCs to file biennial Business Entity Reports. If you’re within your LLC’s filing period, you can use this report to change your registered agent. You may use the INBiz Business Entity Report Section to file online with a fee of $32 via credit card. You may also choose to download and send a paper copy of your Indiana Business Entity Report (Form 48725) to the Indiana Secretary of State – Business Services Division with a $50 check or money order.
• File Indiana Articles of Amendment You can use INBiz Access Indiana to file your LLC’s Articles of Amendment. The fee is $20 when filed online. You can also download and fill out the Indiana Articles of Amendment of the Articles of Organization (Form 49460) to update your registered agent. The fee is $30 when filing by mail, fax, or delivery. Send the form, along with the filing fee via check or money order, to the Indiana Secretary of State – Business Services Division. Unless you also need to update most of your business information, this method is entirely optional since it’s not easy filing a legal amendment for your business.

If you choose to use or switch to a registered agent service, they should complete and file the changes for you. For more information about our recommended Registered Agent service for your LLC, check out our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Indiana Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

Indiana Secretary of State
Business Services Division
302 W. Washington St., Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Physical Address

Indiana Secretary of State
201 State House
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:30am – 5:00 pm

Phone: (317) 232-6576

Email: INBiz@sos.in.gov