Key Takeaways

  • The Indiana Secretary of State offers an online business entity search for checking LLC name availability and business registration status.
  • You can search using various fields like business name, ID, principal name, or registered agent.
  • The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency and Supreme Court offer additional search tools for professional licenses and attorney status.
  • Your LLC name must follow Indiana’s naming rules and be distinguishable from existing businesses.
  • You can reserve a name before filing and verify availability using advanced search techniques.
  • Domain and trademark considerations are crucial before finalizing your business name.
  • If unsure about your LLC name or filing, legal guidance can help ensure compliance.

Indiana LLC Search is available from the Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division. All business filings, which includes LLCs and corporations along with trademarks, go through this department. The Division offers an online search where users can look for business records for the business name of their choice, as well as see if another business is in good standing. You can search this site by business name.

Another place you can search for business records is the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA). Since it handles licensing for professionals in Indiana, you can search for licenses on their website. The name is not necessary; you can also search by profession, county, city, state, zip code, license type, etc. Professions that are licensed by this agency include psychologists, plumbers, dentists, doctors, and accountants.

Attorney licensing records may be accessed at the Indiana Supreme Court. They have an online database that is searchable to find out the status of an attorneys license and a host of other information including disciplinary actions taken against them.

Naming Your LLC

If you are forming a new LLC in Indiana, one of the first things you need to do is search for the availability of your desired name. When choosing your business name, there are several suggestions to keep in mind:

  • Check to see if your desired business name is available as an internet domain name. Even if you don't plan to create a website for your business right away, you may want to in the future, and may also want to make sure someone else doesn't buy it.
  • You'll also want to consider how your business name translates to an email address.
  • Use some creativity to come up with a name that is unique, tells potential customers what the business does, and is memorable.

Aside from these suggestions, there are rules in Indiana you must follow when choosing a business name for your LLC.

  • You must use LLC or L.L.C. following your business name.
  • Your LLC name may not have “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” or abbreviations of those words.
  • Your LLC name must be different and distinguishable from any other business that are currently registered in the state of Illinois. That is why the business name search tool is so valuable.
  • In order to create a unique name, you cannot use minor differences in spelling or grammar. You also may not make the name singular, plural, or possessive in order to meet this requirement. If you are concerned about this issue, visit the Indiana Business website for a complete list of dos and don'ts.

Indiana LLC Naming Guidelines and Restrictions

When forming an LLC in Indiana, it's not just about creativity—the state has specific rules you must follow. Here’s a breakdown of Indiana’s LLC naming requirements beyond including “LLC”:

  • Distinctiveness: Your name must be “distinguishable upon the records” of the Indiana Secretary of State. Small changes like punctuation, capitalization, or spacing are not enough.
  • Restricted Words: You may not use words that could mislead the public, such as “bank,” “trust,” “insurance,” or any words implying a government affiliation, unless you have permission from the appropriate authority.
  • Prohibited Words: Words like “corporation,” “incorporated,” and their abbreviations are off-limits for LLCs.
  • Language and Characters: Your name can use Roman characters, Arabic or Roman numerals, and symbols like &, %, or $.
  • Name Reservation: If you're not ready to file your LLC but want to secure the name, you can file a name reservation for 120 days using Form 49459 or through the INBiz portal.

Before choosing your name, consider checking for trademark conflicts on the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website. Additionally, searching domain name registrars can help ensure your business name is viable online.

Searching the Name Database in Indiana

The database at the Indiana Department of Business Services is available at https://bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch. At that site, you can search by business name, business ID, Principal Name, Registered Agent Name, and Filing Number. An advanced search is available for you to use if you have more specific information about the LLC you are trying to find.

Other Indiana Business Entity Search Tools

In addition to the Indiana Secretary of State's main business database, you can find relevant business or professional records using:

  • INBiz Portal: This is Indiana’s central business filing system and includes the same business search features, but also allows you to manage filings, pay fees, and update records after forming your LLC.
  • Trademark Search Tool: Use the INBiz site to search for trademarks registered in Indiana. This helps avoid legal complications from using a name already protected within the state.
  • Indiana Department of Revenue: While it does not provide a business search, it’s where you'll register for taxes, which links to your business entity record.
  • Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC): Though not a search tool, IEDC offers incentives and support for newly formed LLCs—an important resource once your entity is formed.

These tools offer more than just name lookups. They support ongoing LLC compliance and ensure you’re in good standing with state regulations.

How To Search

Under “Business Search,” you may select “Starts With” and input the business name.

  • First, try this search with the entire business name, leaving off the LLC. If you get an exact match, it's obvious that your desired name is unavailable.
  • Next, you want to conduct a more thorough search to see if there are any businesses registered with similar names. To do this, just enter part of the name, such as the beginning word.
  • Look at the results to compare them to the name you have chosen.
  • If the results are “no data found,” then you know you may use the name you have chosen.

If you are not sure whether or not your name is available, or if the name you have chosen is different enough from the ones already registered, there is no harm in submitting your paperwork to the state. They will simply send your filing back to you if the name needs changing.

The Indiana Secretary of State is available to help you by answering any questions you may have. Also, since naming your business is a big deal, and doing it right can have a big impact on your business' success, you should consult with an attorney to make sure all steps are completed properly.

Tips for Conducting a Successful Indiana Business Entity Search

Conducting a thorough search before filing your LLC can help avoid rejected filings and legal conflicts. Here are some practical tips:

  1. Search Variations: Search multiple variations of your desired name—plural, singular, with and without spacing, etc.—to uncover potential conflicts.
  2. Use the Advanced Search: If you're unsure of the exact name, using fields like Registered Agent or Business ID can yield better results.
  3. Look for Similar Phonetics: Names that sound the same but are spelled differently (e.g., "QuickTech" vs. "KwikTek") can still cause rejection.
  4. Download Results: Save or print your search results for reference during the filing process.
  5. Check Status: Confirm that similar names are not in “Active” status. If they are inactive or dissolved, the name might become available after a statutory waiting period.

For added certainty, you may reserve your name while preparing the rest of your LLC paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I check if a business name is taken in Indiana?
    Use the Indiana Secretary of State’s business search tool to see if your desired name is already registered.
  2. What makes a name 'distinguishable' under Indiana law?
    A name must differ in a meaningful way from existing names—minor changes in punctuation, articles, or grammar are not enough.
  3. Can I reserve a business name before filing my LLC in Indiana?
    Yes. Indiana allows name reservations for 120 days through the INBiz portal or by filing the appropriate form.
  4. Is it necessary to check domain name availability?
    While not legally required, checking domain availability is highly recommended to secure your online presence and avoid conflicts.
  5. Where can I find help if I’m unsure about my LLC name or filing?
    You can post your legal needs on UpCounsel to connect with experienced business attorneys for personalized assistance.

If you need more information or help with an Indiana LLC search, you can post your legal need on UpCounsel marketplace. UpCounsel accepts only the top 5 percent of lawyers to its site. Lawyers on UpCounsel come from law schools such as Harvard Law and Yale Law and average 14 years of legal experience, including work with or on behalf of companies like Google, Menlo Ventures, and Airbnb.