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Business Services Division > Your Business Starts Here! Your Business Starts Here!

The Business Services Division of the Indiana Secretary of State’s office is open 24/7 and is at your fingertips! The different prospective businesses we serve include:

  • Foreign out-of-state
  • Domestic in-state for-profit
  • Domestic non-profit entities 
  • Professional corporations
  • Limited liability companies 
  • Limited partnerships
  • Limited liability partnerships

By using the Business Services’ online business portal, not only can you form several domestic entity types, you are able to conduct business entity name searches and acquire official certificates of existence. Additionally, you are easily able to file business entity reports or download copies of filed documents. With just a few simple keystrokes, you can count on our system to deliver a quick response along, with the ability to directly file forms from your office to ours.

Not only are we striving to save Hoosiers time with our online services, we are also trying to save businesses time and money. We recognize it is not only important to provide these services online, but help ensure they are user-friendly, accurate and easy to understand. Many of these online services are available at no cost or for a minimal filing fee.

We encourage frequent users of the business online services to subscribe to IN.gov to enjoy the most convenient and cost-effective access. For more information about subscribing to this service visit in.gov or call 1-800-236-5446.

Toolkit to Help You Start Your Business

Business Startup Toolkit

Filings

Within minutes, documents filed online during business hours are reviewed and processed.

  • Walk-in and express-mail filings received by noon will be completed by noon the following business day. Filings received after 12 p.m. will be completed at noon in two business days.

  • Documents received by regular mail will be completed in three to five business days from the date received by the division. 
     
  • Documents not available online can be filed via fax and completed within 24 hours. Read more about our policies here - Fax Filing Policies and Guidelines.

Orders
  • Orders for certificates of existence and copies received by noon will be completed by noon the next business day. Orders received after 12 p.m. will be completed in two business days. Both certificates of existence and copies of filed documents can be downloaded from the website.

  • Orders for due diligent searches are completed within 10-14 business days.

  • If the division has the available documents you require, a copy will be provided to you. If the documents are not available, you will be notified of the records requested through the Indiana Commission on Public Records State Archives.

Registering Foreign and Domestic Entities

Currently, the Indiana Secretary of State provides the option to register both foreign limited partnerships and foreign limited-liability partnerships online.

If you are a foreign business from outside of Indiana, you must first obtain a certificate of authority from the Secretary of State before you can conduct any business. However, this requirement does not apply in some cases. You can view the following Indiana Code statutes to determine if your business activity requires this type of registration: IC 23-1-49-1 and IC 23-17-26-1.
Click here to find forms or file online.  

After a business entity has formed or been granted authority to do business in the state of Indiana, it has an ongoing responsibility to file regular business entity reports. These reports must be filed every year by nonprofit organizations and every two years by for-profit businesses. The filings are due during the anniversary month of the organization's formation or the anniversary month when granted authority to do business in the state of Indiana.

Click here to file your annual or bi-annual report.  

Helpful Resources

  • Indiana business statistics - Click here
     
  • The division's fee schedule - Click here

  • Bidding on state contracts - Click here


  • Download available forms - Click here

  • Samples of Certificate of Existence/Good Standings for all states - Click here

  • Other online services inquiries - Click here

  • Learn more about starting your business in Indiana - Click here