Indiana is a great state for business and you may be wondering how to file a DBA here. This guide will help you through the process step by step. So whether you’re just starting out or want to switch your business name, read on for all the information you need to file IN DBA.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in Indiana you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Indiana Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Indiana. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Indiana.
First, you have to search the Indiana Secretary of State’s Business Search portal for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of Indiana. In general, your DBA should not include:
- Any term or abbrevation that is ristricted to government bodies only
- Term that confuse your business with government institutions such as state department, FBI, treasury, etc
- The word “bank” or any variation unless it is approved from the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.
- The word “medical” unless the company is a professional corporation in which all shareholders are licensed physicians.
Register Your Indiana DBA
Businesses That Register DBA With County’s Clerk
Indiana sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file an assumed business name application with the county clerk’s office(s) where the business is conducted or business orders are transacted.
Indiana Secretary of State’s list of county recorders helps you find your county clerk’s contact information.
Businesses that Register DBA with the Secretary Of State
The following businesses need to register their trade names with the Indiana Secretary of State:
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- For-profit Corporations
- Nonprofit Corporations
- Any Foreign Filing Entities
- Limited Partnerships (LPs)
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
File an Indiana DBA Online With Cyberdrive Indiana or download the LLC Assumed Name Application and send it to
DBA Filing Address:
Indiana Secretary of State
Business Services Division
302 West Washington St. Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Indiana DBA Filing Fee
$30 for mail and $20 online: for LLCs, for-profit corporations, LPs, and LLPs
$26 for mail and $10 online: for nonprofit corporations
Top Tip:
Instead of doing it yourself, save some time by hiring a reliable formation service like ZenBusiness. You can see editors’ Review on ZenBusiness to decide if it’s the best choice for your company.
The following information must include in the Indiana trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Indiana DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
Certificate of Indiana Assumed Business Name does not expire. So there is no need for the renewal of DBA in Indiana.
Change Your Fictitious Name ($25)
If you wish to make changes in your Indiana assumed business name, you can do it by filling the respective DBA change application.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your Indiana assumed business name by filling the Cancellation Certificate of DBA application or applying online.
