Before you form a limited liability company (LLC), register a trade name, or start a corporation, you’ll need to complete a business name search with the Indiana Business Search tool to see if your name is unique.
In our Indiana Business Name Search guide, we’ll show you exactly how to check LLC name availability in Indiana.
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Search NowHow to Check if Your Indiana LLC Name Is Available
Checking if your desired LLC name is available involves a few key steps, such as ensuring your business name follows state requirements and performing a domain name and state search. These are the steps you need to take to determine if your business name is available in Indiana.
1. Follow LLC Naming Rules
Before you perform an LLC name search, you need to make sure your business name follows the state’s business name requirements.
Some key guidelines for Indiana LLC names include:
- Your name must include the phrase “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., “LLC” or “L.L.C.”).
- Your name must be distinguishable from any existing business in the state. This includes Indiana reserved names.
Keep an eye out for restricted words. These words, such as “FBI” or “Treasury,” are often restricted to keep your LLC from sounding like an official institution.
Indiana also has the following restrictions for LLC names:
- You must have approval from the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions to use the word “bank” (or any variation) in your LLC’s name.
For more information, check out Indiana’s official state statutes.
Distinguishability
It’s important that your name be distinguishable from all other business names. In Indiana, a distinguishable name is one that’s substantively different from all other existing or reserved business names in the state.
In Indiana, the following differences make a name distinguishable:
- Different letters, numerals, or words
- A different order of letters or numerals
- A different order of roots of the words
The following differences do NOT make a name distinguishable in Indiana:
- Differences in business identifiers (e.g., “LLC,” “Corp.,” etc.)
- Use of articles (e.g., “a” and “the”)
- Differences in punctuation
- Differences in capitalization
- Plurals or possessives
- Hyphenation or combined words
- Use of “and” vs. “&”
- Use of Arabic, Roman, or spelled-out numbers
Failure to use a distinguishable name could result in the rejection of your formation filing.
2. Search for LLC Names
To ensure your business name is distinguishable, it’s important to perform a statewide search of existing business entities. You can check your business name availability by searching the Indiana Business Search online database.
3. Check Available Domain Names
When choosing a business name you’ll need to find out whether or not a good web domain name is available. Having a URL that clearly matches your business name is important. This small step can make a big difference in how prospective customers find your business.
The best way to determine if your desired URL is available is to search for it using your preferred domain registry, such as GoDaddy.
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4. Reserve Your LLC Name
You may reserve your LLC name in Indiana for up to 120 days before you officially register it with the state. This prevents other businesses from registering your name until you have the opportunity to register it yourself.
You can file a name reservation online with the Indiana Secretary of State. The filing fee is $10.
5. Conduct a Trademark or Service Mark Search
A trademark search is your first line of defense against potential legal issues. Use the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)’s online database to ensure your chosen business name or logo isn’t already protected. Don’t assume state-level LLC name approval is sufficient. Need professional guidance? Check out our review of the top trademark services for emerging businesses.
6. Form Your Indiana LLC
Indiana requires you to form an LLC by submitting Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State. This filing establishes your company’s legal presence in the Hoosier State. Your Articles of Organization must include the LLC’s name, principal office address, registered agent details, and the latest date of dissolution if not perpetual. Indiana also requires you to specify if the LLC will be managed by its members or managers, helping to define your company’s operational structure from the start.
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Start NowIndiana LLC Name Search FAQ
How do I check if an LLC name is taken in Indiana?
You can use the Indiana Business Search tool to see if your business name is available.
Should I name my LLC after myself?
While there’s no rule against naming an LLC after yourself, most experts advise against doing this.
One of the benefits of starting an LLC is the ability to choose a different name for your business, which can make it sound more professional.
To explore other naming options, use our free AI-powered LLC name generator.
What words can’t be used in an Indiana LLC name?
Business names generally can’t include words that imply the company is a banking or financial institution or that it’s affiliated with a local, state, or federal government agency.
Additionally, Indiana LLC names can’t use the word “bank” (or any variation) without approval from the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.
Should I use an LLC name generator?
If you’re having trouble choosing a name for your LLC, an LLC name generator can help you come up with some ideas.
What is a brand name?
A brand name is a name a company gives to a product or line of products. It can be the same as the company’s name or something different.
Learn more about branding with your business entity name with our How to Name Your LLC guide.
Do I have to include LLC in my name?
Yes. Indiana requires that its LLCs use “Limited Liability Company” or one of its abbreviations (e.g., “LLC” or “L.L.C.”) in their legal name.
Do I need to renew my business name in Indiana?
Indiana doesn’t require LLCs to renew their name.
Can my business name be different from my LLC name in Indiana?
Some companies choose to operate under a name that’s different from their legal name. This can either be called a “doing business as” (DBA) name or an assumed name in Indiana.
In Indiana, LLC assumed names are filed with the Secretary of State.
Learn more about assumed names with our Indiana DBA guide.
Does my LLC need a DBA name?
Your LLC doesn’t need a DBA name unless it plans to do business under a name other than its legal name. Learn more about Indiana DBA names by reading our guide to filing for a DBA and selecting Indiana from the drop-down menu.