An assumed name is a DBA (doing business as) in Indiana. Obtaining an Indiana DBA registration will not safeguard your personal assets. Forming a formal company structure, such as an LLC or corporation, can provide you with liability protection as well as a business name.
For most small companies, forming an LLC is the best option. Learn more in our DBA versus LLC comparison.
To begin with an Indiana DBA, choose your company entity type:
Partnership or sole proprietorship (if your business is not a formal structure)
Corporation, LLC, or LLP (if your business has a formal structure such as LLC or corporation)
Table of Contents
Register a DBA in Indiana for a sole proprietorship or general partnership.
General partnerships and sole proprietorships must register their Indiana DBA with the County Recorder in the county where they do business. Estates and real estate investment trusts must also register with the county.
A general partnership is a company created by two or more persons that does not have a formal corporate structure. A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business held by a single person. In either scenario, the company name is the same as the proprietors’ names. In these circumstances, a DBA might be advantageous for altering the company name to a more marketable one.
A DBA is solely used for branding purposes. A DBA does not safeguard your personal assets in the event that your company is sued. As a result, we highly advise that a DBA be utilised exclusively by a formal company structure such as an LLC or corporation to add new brands to an existing firm.
If you operate an informal company (sole proprietorship or partnership), we highly advise you to create an LLC to keep your business and personal assets distinct. The name of the LLC might be chosen to serve as the business’s brand name.
Step 1: Conduct an assumed business name search in Indiana.
Indiana assumed business names must be distinct and comply with Indiana’s company name standards.
To begin, go to the Indiana Secretary of State’s website and look for your new DBA name to ensure it isn’t already in use.
Review the Indiana naming criteria next. In Indiana, assumed business names shall NOT contain the following words:
Words that may cause confusion between your company and a government agency (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
Without the consent of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, the term “bank” or any variant may be used.
Unless the firm is a professional corporation with all stockholders who are licenced doctors, the phrase “medical” should be avoided.
We suggest that you check to see whether your name is accessible as a web domain (URL). You may not want to launch a company website right now, but you may wish to prevent others from gaining your URL.
Step 2: File a DBA with the County Recorder in Indiana.
To operate under a DBA, sole proprietors and partnerships must submit a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the relevant county recorder office(s).
Sole proprietors and partnerships must file in any county where they conduct or transact business.
We will walk you through the process of obtaining a Marion County DBA (Indianapolis). Please contact your county recorder for guidance in other counties.
The Indiana Secretary of State’s list of county recorders contains contact information for each county.
How to Register a DBA in Marion County
It is a good idea to search the county assumed business name records at the county office before beginning the DBA filing procedure.
After you’ve decided on a name, fill out the Certificate of Assumed Business Name and submit it to the Marion County Recorder. The certificate may be sent or delivered in person.
Maintain Control of Your Marion County DBA
DBA Concerns
To call the Marion County Recorder’s Office, dial (317) 327-4020.
Renewal of Your DBA
Your assumed name is not going away.
Remove Your DBA
The Marion County Recorder’s Office will accept the Dissolution of Doing Business As (DBA) form. This form is required to be notarized.
Fill out an Indiana DBA form for your LLC or corporation.
The Certificate of Assumed Business Name is filed with the Indiana Secretary of State by incorporated firms.
The following sorts of businesses are considered incorporated
Corporations, both for profit and non-profit
Professional Corporations and Associations
Limited Partnerships, often known as Limited Liability Partnerships,
Companies with Limited Liability
Entities Filing from Outside the U.S.
Using this method, you may register a DBA for your incorporated firm on your own. Use a professional service instead:
MyCompanyWorks (99 cents plus state tax)
Swyft Filings ($99 plus state tax)
Step 1: Conduct a business entity search in Indiana.
Indiana assumed business names must be distinct and comply with Indiana’s company name standards.
To begin, go to the Indiana Secretary of State’s website and look for your new DBA name to ensure it isn’t already in use.
Review the Indiana naming criteria next. In Indiana, assumed business names shall NOT contain the following words:
Your company’s name cannot include terms that may be confused with a government organisation (FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.)
Without the consent of the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions, the term “bank” or any variant may be used.
Unless the firm is a professional corporation with all stockholders who are licenced doctors, the phrase “medical” should be avoided.
For additional information, see the Indiana state laws that address LLC and corporate name standards.
We suggest that you check to see whether your name is accessible as a web domain (URL). You may not want to launch a company website right now, but you may wish to prevent others from gaining your URL.
Step 2: Register Your Assumed Business Name in Indiana
If your company is incorporated, you must register your DBA with the Secretary of State. The Certificate of Assumed Business Name may be submitted online, via mail, or in person. The form will request your new DBA name as well as company details.
Control Your Indiana DBA
DBA Concerns
Call the Business Services Division of the Indiana Secretary of State at (317) 232-6576.
Renew Your Business Name with the State
Your assumed name is not going away.
Modify Your DBA
You must complete and resubmit the Certification of Assumed Business Name form to make changes to your Certificate of Assumed Name.
Remove Your DBA
You may cancel or withdraw your DBA online or by filling out the Cancellation of Assumed Business Name form. There are no filing costs.