Register an Indiana Foreign LLC
An Indiana Foreign LLC is a limited liability company that was formed in another state or jurisdiction but is registered to do business in Indiana. You can register a foreign LLC in Indiana by submitting a Foreign Registration Statement to Indiana's Secretary of State, Business Services Division and paying the state filing fee of $108 for online filings, or $125 for mail filings.
Northwest can register your foreign LLC in Indiana for just $225 + state fees. This includes the paperwork, registered agent service for a year, and a free trial of our identity services that take your business online.
We’ll give you a custom domain name free for a year, plus 90 days free of our web hosting and security, local phone number and email address, and a local Indiana business address. Plus you’ll get forever access to our attorney-drafted legal document templates, personal help from our Corporate Guides®, and Privacy By Default®.
Ready to Register A Foreign LLC in Indiana?
GET STARTEDHow to Register a Foreign LLC in Indiana
The process of registering a foreign LLC in Indiana—also known as Foreign Qualification—is similar to registering a domestic Indiana LLC. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Appoint an Indiana registered agent
You must appoint an Indiana registered agent before you can lawfully do business in the state. (See: IN Code § 23-0.5-4-3.) Your registered agent needs to have a physical address in Indiana and be able to receive legal notices on behalf of your company, as well as forward them to you in a timely fashion.
You can be your own registered agent if you live in Indiana, or you can can appoint a local family member, friend, or employee to serve as your Indiana registered agent. However, most business owners hire a professional registered agent service when doing business outside their home state.
Hiring a registered agent service offers a slew of benefits—most notably that they’ll allow you to list their business address on your registration documents, which helps you protect your personal information.
2. Obtain a Certificate of Existence
A Certificate of Existence (also known as a Certificate of Good Standing) proves your business is up-to-date with taxes and fees in its home state. Indiana requires that your Certificate of Existence is no older than 60 days.
The process for requesting a Certificate of Existence is different in every state, but in a majority of states, you can request one online and receive it immediately.
3. Launch Your Business Identity
Once your business is up and running in the new state, you’ll want to be able to connect with the new market of consumers. Having a robust and localized digital presence can help build your business’ identity, which in turn will make your business seem more trustworthy and professional, even if you’ve only just started offering services/products. We can help you build a custom website that is securely hosted with an unique domain, plus give you a local phone number and up to ten email addresses to help establish your business in Indiana.
Learn more about how to launch your business identity in a new state.
4. Complete the Foreign Registration Statement
To officially file as a foreign LLC in Indiana, you’ll need to submit a Foreign Registration Statement to the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Here’s what you’ll need to include:
- LLC’s legal name in Indiana (or alternate name if your original name is taken in Indiana)
- entity type
- management structure (select yes if manager-managed, no if member-managed, or single-member LLC if your LLC only has one member)
- jurisdiction of formation
- date of formation in home jurisdiction
- street address in Indiana
- confirmation of commercial or noncommercial registered agent (If commercial, provide the name of your registered agent service. If noncommercial, provide name, Indiana address, and if you want, email)
- confirmation that registered agent has consented to service
- authorized signature
You’ll also need to fill out a cover letter that includes contact information for your LLC: name, email address, telephone number, and return address. This information you provide in this cover letter will NOT be part of the public record.
All set? Northwest can help you Register Your Foreign LLC in Indiana .
Indiana charges $108 to file your Foreign Registration Statement online, or $125 to file by regular mail.
You can file your Foreign Registration Statement online, by mail, or in person.
Online:
INBiz
By Mail or In Person:
Secretary of State
Business Services Division
302 West Washington Street, Room E018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
No. Indiana Articles of Organization are only used by LLCs that were initially formed in Indiana.
5. Receive your Certificate of Authority
After submitting your completed application for foreign LLC registration in Indiana, the state will mail you a stamped copy of your application.
Indiana processes online filings in about one business day. Mailed applications can take up to 7 business days to be processed and approved.
Indiana Foreign LLC FAQ
To amend your foreign LLC filing in Indiana, you’ll have to submit a Foreign Registration Amendment. The filing fee is $30.
According to information provided by the Indiana Secretary of State’s online business portal, the following activities are considered doing business in the state:
- selling goods, services, or labor
- doing construction
- hiring employees who work in Indiana
- maintaining a physical presence in the state (including owning or renting property)
- owning warehouses that ship to Indiana customers
Indiana’s statutes do not specify what it means to do business. Rather, IN Code § 23-0.5-5-5 lists activities that do NOT constitute doing business. These activities include, but are not limited to: arbitration, holding meetings, or selling through independent contractors.
To learn more, check out: What Exactly Does “Doing Business” in Another State Mean?
Yes. You will have to file an Indiana Business Entity Report biennially (every other year). The report costs $30 to file and will be due every two years by the end of the anniversary month of the date you filed your foreign registration. So if you file your Foreign Registration Statement on June 5th, 2022, your first Business Entity Report will be due by June 30th, 2024.
Your foreign Indiana LLC will be subject to Indiana taxes, just like any other for-profit LLC in the state.
To withdraw your foreign LLC from Indiana, you’ll have to complete a Statement of Withdrawal of a Foreign Entity, which costs $30.
