Last Updated on January 30, 2024
The Business Services Division of the Indiana Secretary of State administers all business-related responsibilities and duties in the state. The Division maintains the records and files of every business entity that has been registered in the state. It stores information on Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Partnerships, Limited Companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships.
Also see: How to start an LLC in Indiana
How to do an Indiana State Business Search
The business entity search tool of the Business Services Division has been incorporated in the state’s “one-stop” shop for business filings called INBiz. This tool will allow you to search for business entities registered in the state.
You can search for business entities using either of the following information:
- Business Name
- Business ID
- Filing Number
- Registered Agent Name
- Incorporator or Principal Name
You can also narrow your search by Entity Type, Status, Name Type, Street Address, City, and Zip Code.
Below are our simplified guidelines for using INBiz’s search tool.
Step 1. Go to the INBIZ Search Page (it will look like the screenshot below).
Step 2. For this example, let’s type by Business Name. Let’s type in “Cafe 127” in the “Business Name” field and click the “Search” button.
Step 3. The next page will show the business entity’s Name Type, Entity Type, Principal Office Address, Registered Agent Address, and Status. Click on the Business ID to access more details on the entity (see the screenshots below for reference).
You can also view the business entity’s filing and name history, as well as request certified copies of its documents, such as the Articles of Organization / Articles of Incorporation.
Registered Agent
In Indiana, one of the requirements for a registered business is that a Registered Agent has to be named. This agent is a single point of contact in case the business needs to be served with legal papers or contacted by the state. One of the business owners often files as the entity's Registered Agent. When they file, their home address is often used (PO Boxes aren’t allowed), and the owner's name and address are now a public record that can be looked up by anyone. This can be a big concern, especially for home-based businesses. Using a commercial Registered Agent service like Northwest Registered Agent will keep their personal address from being public record.
Business Licenses
The business name registration is different from business licensing in Indiana. The Indiana Department of Revenue has more information regarding Indiana business licenses.
Information on the Indiana (IN) SOS
Office:
The Indiana Secretary of State is one of five constitutional offices of the state.
The office is currently held by Diego Morales.
Functions:
Being the third-highest constitutional office in the state, the Secretary of State of Indiana plays a major role in government and public affairs. The Secretary of State of Indiana is the person in charge of the following four divisions:
- Elections
- Securities
- Business Services
- Dealer Services
The other duties of the Secretary of State include administering regulatory policies to security companies, registering vehicles and issuing licenses, overseeing elections, and maintaining state archives.
State Business Name Search Instructions
How much does it cost to do a business search in Indiana?
There is no cost to search for businesses using the Indiana business search database.