An Indiana certificate of good standing verifies that a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation was legally formed and has been properly maintained.
In our Certificate of Good Standing Indiana guide, we will discuss the requirements for good standing and exactly how to get a certificate of good standing in Indiana.
Or use a professional service:
You can obtain your certificate of good standing, known as a certificate of existence in Indiana, by requesting it from the Secretary of State.
There are two main steps for getting your certificate of good standing:
What is a certificate of good standing? A certificate of good standing is a state document that verifies your business was legally formed and has been properly maintained.
To qualify for an Indiana certificate of existence, your business must stay up-to-date with state compliance requirements:
To operate your business in Indiana, you must follow federal, state, and local licensing guidelines. This can include regulations like health permits and building permits.
You can find out more about state licensing requirements with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency website.
Depending on your business activity, you will have to register for different forms of Indiana state tax. This can include sales tax, withholding tax, or Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax.
All Indiana LLCs and corporations must file a biennial report. This report verifies the business’s basic information including its principal office address and registered agent information.
The report is filed with the Secretary of State online or by mail. It is due every other year by the end of the month in which the business was formed. The fee is $31 for online and $50 by mail.
Once your business remains compliant with the state, you can request an Indiana certificate of existence from the Secretary of State. This can be done online or by mail.
OPTION 1: Order Online With Indiana INBiz
OPTION 2: Order by Mail
Filing Cost: $26 online, $30 by mail
Mailing Address:
Indiana Secretary of State
Attn: Certification Clerk
203 W. Washington St., Room E-018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Use a trusted service to help you order your Indiana Certificate of Existence
Our favorite choice is ZenBusiness ($100 + state fee)
While you don’t necessarily need a certificate of existence to run your business in Indiana, there are several instances where you may need to get one. These include:
A certificate of good standing is a legal document that confirms that your business is compliant with state regulations.
In Indiana, a certificate of good standing is known as a certificate of existence.
Certificates of good standing are also known as certificates of status or certificates of compliance.
You can get an Indiana certificate of existence by remaining compliant with state regulations and ordering a certificate online or by mail.
In Indiana, ordering a certificate of existence costs $26 online and $30 by mail.
Because many banks and insurance companies will want a business’s certificate of good standing in order to do business, we recommend getting one as soon as possible.
An Indiana certificate of existence does not have a set expiration date. However, requesters — such as banks, creditors, and foreign business states — often have their own guidelines for a certificate's validity.
Obtaining an Indiana certificate of existence means that the state recognizes your business as both active and compliant.
Indiana businesses often need a certificate of existence in order to do business outside of Indiana, obtain business loans, open business bank accounts, or purchase business insurance.
Indiana businesses are not legally required to obtain a certificate of existence. However, your business may choose to get one if you decide to do business outside of Indiana or get a business bank account.
After ordering your Indiana certificate of existence online, it will be available immediately online to print. If you order a certificate by mail, the Secretary of State will mail it to you.
Empowering people with accessible and actionable information to help them succeed.
How To Guides
FREE Small Business Startup Course
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Business Center
When readers purchase services discussed on our site, we often earn affiliate commissions that support our work. Find out more about TRUiC.
