How to File a DBA in Indiana

What is a DBA (doing business as)?

The legal name of a business depends on its structure and differs from business to business. The legal name for LLCs is the name of the company. In contrast, the legal name for sole proprietors defaults to the owner’s personal name.

A DBA name is any name a business registers that is not its legal name. The acronym DBA means ‘doing business as’, and can be referred to as a fictitious name, trade name, or assumed name. In Indiana, a DBA is most commonly called an assumed business name.

A DBA doesn’t change anything about your business structure. It only changes the name of the business.

For example, when you open a business, it defaults to your legal name (e.g., Jan Williams). Jan Williams is opening a nail salon. She doesn’t want her business name to default to Jan Williams. So, she files a DBA to change the business name to Jan’s Hands. The new name, Jan’s Hands, becomes the name of the business. If she did not register a DBA name, the name of the nail salon would be her own name, Jan Williams.

How to set up a DBA in Indiana for sole proprietorship or general partnership

Step 1 – Indiana assumed business name search

In Indiana, DBA names must be unique and meet state requirements.

To check the availability of an assumed business name, search the Indiana Secretary of State’s website.

Step 2 – Filing a DBA in Indiana with the county recorder

Sole proprietors and partnerships in Indiana must file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the county recorder’s office in the county in which they primarily do business.

You can find a complete list of county recorders by visiting the  Indiana Secretary of State’s list of county recorders.

Example – Marion County 

First, you will search DBA name availability on the Indiana Secretary of State’s website. Also, search the county assumed name records with the county recorder’s office. You will then need to complete the Certificate of Assumed Business Name and submit it to the Marion County Recorder. You can submit it either in person or by mail. Indiana allows you to submit an electronic DBA filing through a third-party service with a registered agent.

Filing address:

Marion County Recorder’s Office

200 E. Washington Street

Suite T-741

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Step 3 – Pay Indiana filing fees

The DBA cost in Indiana is $35 and is a one-time fee. DBAs in Indiana do not expire. You can pay the filing fees by cash or credit card.

How to file an Indiana business DBA for an LLC or corporation

LLCs and corporations must file their Certificate of Assumed Name with the Indiana Secretary of State. It applies to the following business entities:

• For-profit Corporations
• Non-profit Corporations
• Limited Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Limited Liability Companies
• All Foreign Filing Entities

Step 1 – Indiana business entity search

All DBA names must be unique and meet Indiana state requirements.

The first step is to check the Indiana Secretary of State’s website for DBA name availability.

Step 2 – Filing an Indiana Certificate of Assumed Business Name

If your business is incorporated, Indiana requires that you register your DBA name on the state level with the Secretary of State.

You can file the Indiana Certificate of Assumed Business Name online, by mail, or in person.

Filing address:

Indiana Secretary of State

Business Services Division

302 West Washington St. Room E018

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Indiana Secretary of State Business Services Division – (317) 232-6576

Step 3 – Pay Indiana filing fees

The DBA filing cost for LLCs, corporations, LPs, and LLPs is $30 if by mail or in person. The DBA cost if you file online is $20. For non-profits, the filing fee for a DBA is $26 if by mail or in-person and $10 if filed online.

The DBA filing fees for incorporated businesses are a one-time fee because DBAs in Indiana do not expire.

Indiana DBA name restrictions

Indiana restrictions on assumed business names. A DBA name cannot include:

• Any words that confuse the business with a governmental agency (FBI, CIA, Treasury)
• The word bank or any variation unless approved by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions.
• The word medical or any variation unless it is a professional corporation that has a licensed physician as a shareholder.

Forms needed to file a DBA in Indiana

• Indiana Secretary of State Business Search
• Indiana Secretary of State’s list of county recorders
• County of Marion Certificate of Assumed Business Name
• Dissolution of Doing Business As (DBA)
• File Indiana DBA Online With INBiz  
• Certificate of Assumed Business Name (Form 30353)
•  Cancellation of Assumed Business Name form

Indiana DBA tax considerations

• The only aspect of a business that a DBA changes is the name. So, there are no tax implications when you file a DBA in Indiana.
• A DBA is not a legal business entity.
• Also, the IRS doesn’t require that you have a separate employer identification number or tax ID for a DBA name.

How much does a DBA filing cost in Indiana?

• The DBA one-time filing fee for sole proprietors is $35.
• The Indiana DBA one-time filing fee for LLCs, for-profit corporations, LPs, and LLPs is $30 by mail or in person, or $20 online.
• The one-time DBA filing fees for non-profits are $26 by mail or in person or $10 online.

DBA vs assumed business name

• In Indiana, a DBA is most commonly referred to as an assumed business name.
• A DBA name is how companies operate under a specific name that is not their legal name.
• A DBA name and an assumed business name are the same things.
• In Indiana, sole proprietors and general partnerships must file their DBA with the county recorder in the county they do business primarily in order to use a registered name.
• Incorporated businesses in Indiana file a DBA with the Secretary of State.

Who needs a DBA?

Sole proprietors and partnerships need DBAs to sign legal documents and open business bank accounts in Indiana.

Incorporated companies must set up their DBA name with the Secretary of State.

It is an ideal plan of action to have a DBA for various other reasons, and it will depend on your needs, the needs of your company, and state and local requirements.

• New businesses. New businesses and startups have to sign legal documents and open business bank accounts. A DBA in Indiana simplifies those processes and allows you to use an assumed business name rather than your personal legal name.
• Sole proprietors. A sole proprietor and their business share the same legal entity. Unless an owner files a DBA, they also share a name.
• LLCs. The state of Indiana requires DBAs for LLCs that expand and operate businesses that don’t use the name of the LLC. Without a DBA, each business that an LLC operates would have to use the company’s legal name.
• Corporations. Corporations regularly utilize DBAs in order to operate companies in different industries. A corporation has to register a DBA name to do business under an assumed business name instead of the corporation name.
• Franchises. Franchises use DBAs every day. An example is if you purchase a Smoothie King franchise. Smoothie King is an LLC, so the new franchise would be listed as “908 Business LLC”. You must file a DBA to change the franchise from its numerical listing to just Smoothie King. The DBA also alerts Indiana that you’re ‘doing business as’ the franchise you’ve bought into.

A DBA gives small business owners and startups the creative freedom they need to name their businesses. Also, a DBA helps startups avoid the cost-heavy and complicated process of forming an LLC or corporation only to choose a different name.

Why do you need a DBA?

• DBAs keep things simple for small businesses and startups. A DBA only changes the company name. However, they do accomplish more than that. DBA registration is a straightforward and affordable way for sole proprietorships to use an assumed business name without forming a separate LLC.
• Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations benefit from DBAs. LLCs have to file separate DBAs for every type of business they manage if they don’t want it to be the name of the LLC. For example, Tammy’s Produce LLC wants to open a salad food truck named Sassy Salads. The LLC must file a DBA to change the name, even though Tammy’s Produce LLC owns the food truck. Indiana requires corporations and LLCs to file for an assumed business name.
• A DBA will address privacy concerns. Sole proprietors and co-partnerships have to use their own names on public-facing material if they choose not to register a DBA name.
• Business banking is made simpler with a DBA. DBAs offer no legal liability protection or legal protection; however, opening a separate business bank account goes a long way to protecting your personal assets and credit scores. Most banks, lenders, and banking institutions require that new businesses register a DBA name before opening a business bank account.
•  A DBA is your brand name. What you decide to name your business is how new customers will know what you do or what you sell. The assumed business name on signage and business cards explains to your audience who you are. For instance, if Jan Williams hadn’t filed a DBA, no one would know she operates a nail salon.

FAQs

How long does it take to process a DBA in Indiana?

It takes the state of Indiana around 15 days to process a DBA filing. However, it can take longer depending on the county recorder’s workload in the jurisdiction you file within. Indiana doesn’t offer expedited services.

How do I withdraw a DBA in Indiana?

Sole proprietors can withdraw a DBA name by filing the  Dissolution of Doing Business As (DBA) form with the county in which your DBA is registered. The document must be notarized by a public notary, and the cost will vary.

LLCs and corporations use the  Cancellation of Assumed Business Name form to withdraw a DBA name. The cancellation form can be filed online, too. Indiana does not charge for withdrawing or canceling your DBA name.

Can I make changes to my DBA in Indiana?

In order to make changes to your Indiana DBA, you must complete and re-submit the Certification of Assumed Business Name form. You will pay the same fees you did initially when you filed the paperwork.

Can I have more than one DBA in Indiana?

In Indiana, you can have as many DBAs as you can afford and keep up with. You have to follow the same steps and processes for each DBA you wish to acquire.