How Much Does an LLC Cost in Indiana (Fees Breakdown)
Forming an LLC in Indiana costs $95 to file the Articles of Organization online through InBiz. Filing by mail or in person costs $100 instead. Both routes go through the Secretary of State's Business Services Division.
After formation, Indiana doesn't charge a yearly report fee at all. LLCs instead file a Business Entity Report on a two-year cycle, at its own separate cost covered further down. The full cost picture is broken out below. It runs from the formation filing through what comes due later, plus what you can skip.
Quick Summary
- Indiana's LLC report cycle runs every two years, not every year. Mark the anniversary month so a late filing doesn't put your LLC at risk.
- Filing online through InBiz adds a small access fee on top of the base amount, at formation and again on several fees later.
- Budget for Indiana's flat individual income tax on LLC profit. Then add your county's rate, since that's the part that actually varies.
| Cost Item | Amount | Frequency | Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC Formation Filing Fee | $95 online ($75 + $20 access fee) or $100 by mail | One-time | Mandatory |
| Name reservation | $10 | One-time | Optional |
| DBA / assumed business name | $20 online or $30 by mail, per name | One-time | Optional |
| Business Entity Report | $31 online ($20 + $11 access fee) or $50 by mail | Every 2 years | Mandatory |
| Registered agent service | $0 (self) or $80 to $300 | Every year | Optional |
| Registered Retail Merchant Certificate (sales tax) | $25 per location | One-time | If selling taxable goods |
| Business licenses and permits | Varies by industry | Varies | If applicable |
| Certificate of Existence | $26 online ($15 + $11 access fee) or $30 by mail | As needed | Optional |
| Certified copies | $1 per page + $15 certification (by mail) | As needed | Optional |
| Operating agreement | $0 (template) to $1,000+ (attorney) | One-time | Optional |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 (free at IRS.gov) | One-time | Recommended |
One-Time Costs to Form an Indiana LLC
These are the fees you pay once, when the LLC comes into existence. One optional filing often gets handled at the same time. Every state charges roughly the same set of formation fees. Indiana just has its own price tags.
1. LLC Formation Filing Fee ($95 Online / $100 Mail - Mandatory)
The Articles of Organization is the document that legally creates your Indiana LLC. You file it with the Indiana Secretary of State. The statutory fee is $75, plus a $20 enhanced-access charge for filing online, for a combined $95 [1]. Filing by mail or in person costs a flat $100, with no enhanced-access add-on.
That enhanced-access charge shows up again on a few other fees further down this page. It's a separate online-only surcharge Indiana adds on top of the base filing fee set by law [2]. Filing electronically doesn't earn you a discount here.
Indiana doesn't publish a guaranteed turnaround for either route. Online filing through InBiz runs faster than mail in practice, since the state doesn't have to open an envelope first. For the step-by-step process, see how to start an LLC in Indiana.
2. Name Reservation Fee ($10 - Optional)
Reserving your LLC's name before you file holds it for a set period so another business can't grab it first. It costs $10 through InBiz. Most founders skip this step. Filing the Articles of Organization directly locks the name in anyway.
3. DBA / Assumed Business Name ($20 Online / $30 Mail - Optional)
An Indiana LLC's DBA filing goes to the Secretary of State, not the county recorder [3]. County filing applies only to sole proprietors and general partnerships, a common mix-up that sends LLC owners to the wrong office. The fee is $20 per name filed online, or $30 by mail [4]. You can register more than one assumed name if your LLC runs multiple brands.
Recurring Costs to Keep an Indiana LLC in Good Standing
Formation is a single payment. Staying in good standing afterward means a different set of dates and fees that don't stop once the LLC exists.
1. Business Entity Report ($31 Online / $50 Mail, Every Two Years - Mandatory)
Indiana doesn't require a yearly report like most states. Instead, LLCs file a Business Entity Report every two years, due during the anniversary month of formation. The statutory fee is $20, plus an $11 enhanced-access charge online, for $31 total [5]. Filing by mail costs a flat $50.
Missing the deadline doesn't add a late fee on its own. But if the report still hasn't been filed 60 days after it's due, Indiana can start administratively dissolving the LLC [6]. Reinstating after that costs more than just filing on time would have.
2. Registered Agent Service ($0 Self / $80 to $300 Annually - Optional)
Every Indiana LLC needs a registered agent with a street address in the state to receive legal papers and state notices. You can serve as your own agent for $0, or appoint a qualified member of the LLC.
Hiring an Indiana registered agent service instead usually runs $80 to $300 a year. The trade-off is privacy, since your agent's address becomes public record instead of your own. You also get one less deadline to track yourself.
3. State Taxes (7% Sales Tax, 2.95% Individual Rate - Mandatory if Applicable)
Selling taxable goods or services in Indiana means registering for a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate first. It costs $25 per business location [7]. Once registered, you collect Indiana's 7% state sales tax on every taxable sale. No county or city adds anything on top.
A default pass-through LLC also owes Indiana's individual income tax on its members' share of profit. That rate is a flat 2.95% for 2026, stepping down to 2.90% in 2027 [8]. Add a county income tax on top, which varies by where you're based and typically lands between 0.5% and 3%. An LLC that elects corporate tax treatment instead pays Indiana's 4.90% flat corporate rate.
4. Business Licenses and Permits (Varies - Mandatory if Applicable)
Indiana doesn't require a general state business license for LLCs. Specific industries need their own licenses or permits instead, depending on what you do and where you operate. A contractor, a restaurant, and a home daycare each answer to a different licensing body. Check with your city or county, plus any state professional board that covers your field.
Optional Costs Worth Knowing About
Nothing below is required to keep an Indiana LLC in good standing. Each one solves a real problem when it comes up.
1. Certificate of Existence ($26 Online / $30 Mail - Optional)
A Certificate of Existence runs $15 statutory, with $11 more added for the online enhanced-access surcharge, landing at $26 total. Ordering by mail instead costs a flat $30 [9]. It confirms your LLC is registered and in good standing with the state.
Banks, investors, and out-of-state filing offices often want proof of good standing. That comes up most when you open a business account or register to do business elsewhere.
2. Certified Copies of Documents ($1 per Page Plus $15 - Optional)
Certified copies of your formation paperwork cost $1 per page plus a flat $15 certification charge when ordered by mail [10]. Each one is a file-stamped duplicate that proves your filing matches the state's own records. InBiz also offers certified copies through its own online checkout.
3. Operating Agreement ($0 Template / $100 to $1,000+ Attorney - Optional)
Indiana doesn't require an LLC to file an operating agreement with the state. Skipping one leaves things unsettled if a dispute ever comes up, covering ownership shares, management structure, and exit terms. Members write the document themselves. It becomes the reference point for how decisions get made.
Drafting one yourself with a free template costs nothing. Hiring a lawyer to draft a custom agreement runs $100 to $1,000 or more, depending on how much detail it needs. That expense pays off once the LLC has multiple owners.
4. EIN ($0 - Optional, but Recommended)
An EIN costs nothing from the IRS, and applying online takes about ten minutes. Banks, payroll providers, and the IRS all use it to identify your business. You'll need one to open a bank account, hire employees, or apply for a loan. The application is free and quick, so paying a formation service to file it just adds an extra charge.
FAQs
Do I Need to File a Business Entity Report for a Brand-New Indiana LLC?
No, not right away. Indiana's first Business Entity Report isn't due until two years after formation, so a brand-new LLC has no report obligation in its first year or two of existence.
Where Is an Indiana LLC's DBA Filed, County or State?
Indiana files an LLC's DBA with the state, and county recorders don't handle these filings for a registered entity. LLCs are a different filing category from sole proprietors and general partnerships, which do file locally. Sending it to the county instead only delays the certificate.
What Payment Methods Does Indiana Accept for LLC Filing Fees?
Indiana accepts checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards for state filing fees. Online filings through InBiz require a card, while mailed filings can use a check or money order made out to the Secretary of State.
Do I Need an EIN for a Single-Member Indiana LLC?
No, a single-member Indiana LLC with no employees isn't required to get one. Most banks still ask for an EIN before they'll open a business account, and it costs nothing from the IRS either way.
References:
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-9-19/
- https://www.in.gov/sos/business/files/20250326-IR-075250155FNA.pdf
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-3-4/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-9-40/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-9-34/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-6-1/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-6-taxation/in-code-sect-6-2-5-8-1/
- https://www.in.gov/dor/resources/tax-rates-and-reports/rates-fees-and-penalties/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-9-43/
- https://codes.findlaw.com/in/title-23-business-and-other-associations/in-code-sect-23-0-5-9-55/
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