Indiana LLC Cost (2026): $95 to File and a $32 Report Every Two Years
Indiana is one of the few states that only asks for a report every other year. That single design choice makes it cheaper to keep an LLC alive here than in most of its neighbors: after the $95 filing, the only recurring state fee is $32 every two years. Ohio has no report at all, but Illinois charges $75 every year and Michigan $25. The one thing that can make Indiana expensive is ignoring that biennial deadline, because the fix involves the Department of Revenue, not just the Secretary of State.
Filing on INBiz vs by Mail
Indiana LLCs are created by filing Articles of Organization with the Indiana Secretary of State. Online filing goes through INBiz, the state’s business portal, and costs $95. Paper filing by mail costs $100. Card payments online carry a small processing surcharge of roughly 2%, so the real online figure is closer to $97.
Indiana does not sell an expedited service for LLC formations. Online filings are generally processed quickly, often within a business day or two, while paper filings take noticeably longer. That makes INBiz the obvious choice: it is cheaper and faster.
The articles ask for the LLC name, the registered agent and its Indiana street address, the principal office address, and whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed.
Northwest Registered Agent
Indiana lists your registered agent address on INBiz for anyone to see. $39 formation + $95 state fee, free registered agent for year one, then $125/yr.
$39 formation fee · Free registered agent for 12 months · Your address stays off public records · No data selling · No hidden fees
Form Your LLC with Northwest ($39) →Lowest 3-year cost we found: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service fees; state fees extra). Northwest also puts its address on your public filings instead of yours where the state allows.
The Biennial Business Entity Report
Instead of an annual report, Indiana requires a Business Entity Report every two years. It is due by the last day of your LLC’s anniversary month, so an LLC formed in May files by the end of May in the report year. The fee is $32 online or $50 on paper.
Because the first report typically comes due two years after formation, the three-year table below shows no state fee in year 2 and the first $32 report in year 3. Over any ten-year stretch, an Indiana LLC pays about $160 in report fees. An Illinois LLC pays $750 over the same period.
The report itself is short: it confirms the principal office, the registered agent, and the names of the managers or members in charge.
Missing the Report: Dissolution and Tax Clearance
The biennial schedule has a downside. With two years between filings, it is easy to forget, and Indiana does not charge a late fee that would warn you. Instead, an LLC that does not file is administratively dissolved.
Getting back into good standing is slow. Reinstatement requires a tax clearance from the Indiana Department of Revenue confirming you owe nothing, and that clearance commonly takes four to six weeks. Until it is done, the LLC is not in good standing, which can hold up a bank loan, a lease, or a contract that asks for a certificate of existence.
This is where a registered agent with automatic reminders pays for itself: the risk is not the $32, it is the month or more of paperwork if you miss it.
Assumed Names and the Retail Merchant Certificate
- Assumed business name: operating under a name other than your LLC’s legal name requires a Certificate of Assumed Business Name, $20 online or $30 by mail.
- Registered Retail Merchant Certificate: if you sell taxable goods, the Department of Revenue charges $25 per location, and the certificate is valid for two years.
- No franchise tax: Indiana does not tax LLCs at the entity level by default. Profit passes through to the owners’ state and county income tax returns.
Indiana 3-Year Cost
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $134 ($95 online + $39, RA free) | $125 (no report due + $125 RA) | $157 ($32 business entity report + $125 RA) | $416 |
| ZenBusiness (Starter) | $194 ($95 + $0 + $99 RA) | $199 ($199 RA) | $231 ($32 + $199 RA) | $624 |
| DIY, self as registered agent | $95 (Articles of Organization, INBiz) | $0 (no report due) | $32 (first biennial report) | $127 |
A DIY Indiana LLC costs $127 in state fees over three years, which places it among the cheapest states in the Midwest. The extra $289 with Northwest Registered Agent is registered agent service after the free first year, plus the reminders that keep the biennial report from slipping.
Form your Indiana LLC for $39 + $95 state fee.
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 formation, free Year 1 registered agent, compliance reminders, and your home address kept off public records.
Form My Indiana LLC for $39
Prefer a $0 upfront starter plan? Compare ZenBusiness (registered agent $199/yr).
When an Indiana LLC may not be worth it yet: if you are testing an idea with no customers and no contracts, operating as a sole proprietor costs nothing. Once you sign a lease, hire, or take on clients who could sue, $95 and $32 every two years is a small price for liability protection.
Why I Choose Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and helping clients through the process, I keep coming back to Northwest Registered Agent. Here is why:
- Remarkable Customer Support: Quick, human responses every time.
- Caring & Privacy-Focused: Genuine service with full respect for your privacy.
- Lightning-Fast Formation: Often faster than promised.
- Incredible Value: $39 includes a free business address, mail scanning, and more.
- Clear & Transparent: No hidden fees or surprises.
Ready to form your business? Choose Northwest today!
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Indiana?
$95 to file Articles of Organization online through INBiz, or $100 by mail. With Northwest Registered Agent the first-year total is $134, including a free first year of registered agent service.
Does Indiana require an annual report for LLCs?
No. Indiana requires a Business Entity Report every two years, due by the end of the LLC’s anniversary month. It costs $32 online or $50 on paper.
What happens if my Indiana LLC misses its business entity report?
The LLC is administratively dissolved. Reinstatement requires a tax clearance from the Indiana Department of Revenue, which commonly takes four to six weeks.
Can I expedite an Indiana LLC filing?
Indiana does not offer a paid expedite option for LLC formation. Filing online through INBiz is the fastest route.
