Class 1 · Indiana
How to Start an LLC in Indiana (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
The short version
You will be able to
- The Indiana filing, what it costs and where it goes
- How to meet the registered agent rule
- What to file every year afterward
- Who we would hire to file
Our graded picks for Indiana
1. Indiana Registered Agent.co: best for a small first bill
First in the class in Indiana is Indiana Registered Agent.co: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
A lower three-year cost than Mainstay Filing earns it first place; cost counts for 32% of the grade.
You file the business entity report on your own every two years.
What the price covers
- Your Indiana formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Agent covered for year one
- A low $99 renewal
- A formation fee of $199
Where it loses points
- The business entity report filing is not included
- A $99 add-on for the EIN application
2. IN Registered Agent.org: best for LLCs that stay in Indiana
IN Registered Agent.org lands in second place, and the reason is clear: formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99.
You file the business entity report on your own every two years.
It posts the same prices as Indiana Registered Agent.co.
What the price covers
- Your Indiana formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Agent covered for year one
- A formation fee of $199
- A low $99 renewal
Where it loses points
- The business entity report filing is not included
- A $99 add-on for the EIN application
3. Mainstay Filing: best for one bill for filing and upkeep
For number 3 we picked Mainstay Filing: you pay $199 each year and the formation, the registered agent service and the business entity report all get done.
That $200 three-year gap to Indiana Registered Agent.co settles where it lands.
You never file the business entity report yourself; only the $32 state fee is added.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Business entity report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- Official fee, at cost
Marks in its favor
- It files the EIN application for you
- $199 a year pays for filing and agent and report
- $199 at renewal
Where it loses points
- A $100 yearly premium over Indiana Registered Agent.co
The grades and prices at a glance
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indiana Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Indiana Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | IN Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit IN Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to form your Indiana LLC
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Step
1Choose the LLC's name
Look up the name on the Indiana business register at the Indiana Secretary of State first.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
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Step
2Appoint a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. An individual, a general partnership, an Indiana filing entity, or a foreign entity registered in Indiana. A business cannot serve as its own agent.
The address has to be a physical street address in Indiana. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
All of our picks fill the registered agent role.
Where this comes from: Class notes: faqs.in.gov (October 2026)
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Step
3Pick how you will file
Doing it yourself means $95 to the state and nothing else. One of our picks charges $199 on top and takes over the paperwork.
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Step
4Fill out and file the Articles of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company
When the Indiana Secretary of State accepts the Articles of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form State Form 49459) together with $95, the LLC exists.
Where this comes from: Class notes: forms.in.gov (August 2026)
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Step
5Get your EIN from the IRS
After the state approves your LLC, apply to the IRS for an Employer Identification Number; banks and payroll companies ask for it. Mainstay Filing covers this step too.
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Step
6Draft the operating agreement
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Keep up with Indiana's recurring filing
File the business entity report every two years ($32), by last day of the entity's anniversary month, every 2 years, and the LLC stays active.
Where this comes from: Class notes: forms.in.gov (August 2026)
The cost of this lesson
| Cost item | Payee | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The formation step | State | $95 |
| Business entity report | State | $32 every two years |
| Service fees (optional) | The provider | $199 for year one |
| Three-year state total | State | $127 |
How we graded the Indiana picks
Tuition over three years decided first place in Indiana. It is worth 32% of the grade, and the rest comes from homework the price handles, year-two price, fit with the state's lesson plan and pricing a beginner can read.
Count the first three years and Indiana Registered Agent.co comes out at $397, $200 cheaper than Mainstay Filing.
Questions students ask
What is the price of forming a Indiana LLC?
Filing costs $95. Add $199 if a service files it for you.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the Articles of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form State Form 49459); the Indiana Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Indiana require each year?
Keep an eye on the business entity report: $32, every two years, last day of the entity's anniversary month, every 2 years.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
It is allowed. Do the filing on your own for $95 and line up a registered agent as well.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
We would pick Indiana Registered Agent.co, because $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly. After that, IN Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing.
Class references
- Class reference on Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division: inbiz.in.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division: forms.in.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Indiana report due date: law.justia.com (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Ind: forms.in.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Indiana registered agent statute: faqs.in.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Indiana Registered Agent.co pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- IN Registered Agent.org pricing page: opened and read on November 13, 2026
- Mainstay Filing Indiana service page: opened and read on November 13, 2026