How Much Does an LLC Cost in Indiana

Written by: Mary Gerardine

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How Much Does an LLC Cost in Indiana

The minimum Indiana LLC Cost is $98, which covers the processing fee for filing your Articles of Organization online; this is the document used to register your business with the state.

Having said that, the total cost of forming a Indiana LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Indiana article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

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LLC Cost in Indiana

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming an Indiana limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         
RequirementFee
Articles of Organization$98-$125
Registered Agent$0-$130+
LLC Name$0-$41
Operating Agreement$0+

Indiana LLC Filing Fee ($98-$125)

In Indiana, all business owners need to file the Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State’s Business Division in order to legally register their business as an LLC —foreign LLCs must submit a Foreign Registration Statement instead.

If you choose to submit either of these documents by yourself, you’ll be required to pay one of the following filing fees:

  • Domestic Entities: $100
  • Foreign Entities: $125

Filing fees are slightly lower for submissions made online, with domestic entities only needing to pay $98 and foreign entities paying $108.

If you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Indiana’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process you can check out our Indiana LLC Formation guide.

Indiana Registered Agent ($0+)

As part of the process of filling out either your Articles of Organization or Foreign Registration Statement, you’ll be required to appoint a registered agent. This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax, legal, and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Indiana LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations. This is also a way of ensuring that your personal information is kept off public records.

Although the exact cost of a professional registered agent service is unique to each provider, it’s generally around $130+ per year.

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Naming Your Indiana LLC ($0-$41)

When forming your Indiana LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

While registering a name in itself has no cost, there are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you’ve found an available name for your business but aren’t looking to form an LLC right away, you’ll need to submit a name reservation through INBiz in order to keep it safe for later use.

This costs $11 and will reserve your business’s name for up to 120 days. At the end of this period, you’ll need to decide whether to renew this reservation (and pay another $11 filing fee) or proceed to form your LLC.

Note: It’s a good idea to check the name you’re hoping to reserve is actually available by completing a Business Entity Search on the State of Indiana website.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

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Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you want to operate your Indiana business under a name other than the one it’s legally registered as, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) — which is also sometimes called an Assumed Name in Indiana.

You can obtain a DBA name by completing an Assumed Name Filing online through INBiz or by submitting Form 30353 by mail and paying one of the following fees:

  • Mail or In-Person: $30
  • Online: $21

Note: Assumed names will remain valid until you decide to cancel them.

Indiana LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for Indiana LLCs to have an operating agreement (or “company agreement” as it’s known in Indiana).

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Indiana Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Indiana LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of potential additional formation costs that LLCs in Indiana may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your LLC may be required to obtain certain local business licenses.

While very few municipalities impose a general licensing requirement for businesses operating within their limits, your LLC might need a municipal license if it’s involved in certain activities.

For example, in the county of Harrison, certain daycares must obtain a local license (which costs $100); similarly, childcare centers in Jefferson need a license that comes with a $75 fee.

In general, the cost of these local business licenses typically varies between $50 and $150 depending on the location, though you’ll need to contact your local county clerk’s office for a specific figure.

Note: You can find a complete list of local business licenses in this report, which has been provided by the Indiana Secretary of State.

Certificate of Existence

A Indiana Certificate of Existence is a document often required to open a business bank account, or by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business with the state.

It costs $27 to order this certificate online through INBiz; alternatively, you can choose to submit an Information Request Form by mail to the Secretary of State and pay for one of the following fees:

  • Regular Certificate of Existence: $15
  • Long Form Certificate of Existence: $30

The difference between these two documents is that the latter will also include a list of all the official documents your business has filed.

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Cost to Maintain an LLC in Indiana

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Indiana, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining an Indiana LLC below.

Business Entity Report

All LLCs based in Indiana are required to file a Business Entity Report every other year, starting on the month marking the second anniversary of their initial registration in the state.

This report, which is designed to keep the state updated on your LLC’s key business information, costs $50 to file by mail and only $32 online.

Note: If you’re unsure of when your LLC’s anniversary month is, you can easily find it by searching on the Indiana Business Database.

Registered Retail Merchant License

While there’s no statewide license that all Indiana businesses must obtain, your LLC will still likely need to get a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (RRMC).

This certificate, which costs $25 to obtain, is required of any business based in Indiana that plans to sell taxable goods or personal property.

Note: The RRMC is renewed on an annual basis after your LLC pays its sales tax bill.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended for most small business owners.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Indiana you need to be aware of, including:

  • Sales tax
  • Employment taxes
  • Business privilege taxes
  • Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

  • Sales and use taxes
  • Property tax

Indiana vs Other States

All things considered, Indiana is a solid option for entrepreneurs looking to start an LLC. In addition to moderately low initial start-up fees, it only has one mandatory ongoing cost that applies to all businesses — the biennial business entity report.

In comparison, Delaware charges between $90 and $200 in initial startup fees and $300 for the ongoing cost of annual franchise tax. However, Delaware is appealing to business owners for other reasons, including its lenient tax rates and business-friendly environment.

Ultimately, the best state to form your LLC will be one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from. This makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.

LLC Cost in Indiana FAQ

How much does an Indiana LLC cost?

The cost of forming an LLC in Indiana typically includes state filing fees, reserving a name, and obtaining a Registered Retail Merchant License. However, other costs such as obtaining the relevant licenses and business insurance are important as well. For more information, see our article on How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC.

How long does it take to get an LLC in Indiana?

The timeline for getting an LLC in Indiana can vary depending on several factors. Online filing is typically recommended, as it can shorten the overall process to between one and two weeks, while paper filings can take several weeks if submitted within normal business hours. For more information on the cost of this process, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Indiana guide.

How do I set up an LLC in Indiana?

Starting an Indiana LLC involves choosing a unique name, filing your Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State, and obtaining any necessary licenses or permits required for your business activities. For a more detailed look into these steps, check out our guide on How to Start an LLC in Indiana.

What are the benefits of an LLC in Indiana?

One of the key benefits of forming an LLC in Indiana is how affordable its initial and ongoing fees are. When compared to states like Delaware, the LLC cost Indiana business owners face is far lower. Instead of initial fees of $90 to $200 and ongoing costs of $300, Indiana LLCs only need to pay between $98 and $125 to start and between $32 and $50 to keep running.

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