Register a DBA in Indiana

What the law requires

Indiana splits the assumed-name filing by business form within a single statute. Individuals and general partnerships (other than LLPs) doing business under a name other than their real name file a certificate with the county recorder of each county where a place of business or office is situated (IC 23-0.5-3-4(a)); filing entities (corporations, nonprofits, LLCs, LPs, LLPs) doing business under a name other than the name in their organic record file with the Secretary of State (IC 23-0.5-3-4(e)).

"an individual or a general partnership, other than a limited liability partnership, conducting or transacting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the real name of the individual or general partnership conducting or transacting the business shall file for record, in the office of the recorder of each county in which a place of business or an office of the individual or general partnership is situated, a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used and the full name and address of the individual or general partnership engaged in or transacting business." — Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-4(a), (e)

Where filings go

County recorder (each county with a place of business or office) for individuals and general partnerships; Indiana Secretary of State for filing entities.

"(e) Except as provided in subsection (i), a filing entity conducting business in Indiana under a name, designation, or title other than the name shown in its organic record shall file with the secretary of state a certificate stating the assumed name or names to be used and the full name and address of the entity's principal office in Indiana." — Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-4(a), (e)

Name restrictions

A filing entity may not include an entity indicator (such as 'Inc.', 'Corp.', 'LLC', 'LP', or 'LLP') in an assumed business name filing that is inconsistent with its actual entity type, subject to a 12-month grace period after a conversion, domestication, or merger. Separately, a name or assumed name may not contain language falsely indicating or implying connection with a government agency, and an SOS-registered assumed name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records under IC 23-0.5-3-1(a).

"(f) A filing entity may not include an entity indicator, such as "Inc.", "Corp.", "LLC", "LP", or "LLP" or a similar description in an assumed business name filing, that is inconsistent with the entity type for which the assumed business name is being filed." — Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-4(f); Ind. Code § 23-0.5-3-1(e)

Entities and assumed names

Filing entities register assumed business names with the Secretary of State under IC 23-0.5-3-4(e). Separately, a foreign entity whose true name does not comply with Indiana's name standards must adopt an alternate name to register to do business; an entity that registers under an alternate name need not also comply with the assumed-name statute, and it thereafter does business under the alternate name or a name authorized under IC 23-0.5-3-4.

"A foreign entity whose name does not comply with IC 23-0.5-3-1 for an entity of its type may not register to do business in Indiana until it adopts, for the purpose of doing business in Indiana, an alternate name that complies with IC 23-0.5-3-1. A registered foreign entity that registers under an alternate name under this subsection need not comply with IC 23-0.5-3-4. After registering to do business in Indiana with an alternate name, a registered foreign entity shall do business in Indiana under: (1) the alternate name; or (2) a name the entity is authorized to use under IC 23-0.5-3-4." — Ind. Code § 23-0.5-5-6(a)