CHECKING NAME AVAILABILITY FOR A CORPORATION IN Indiana

The State of Indiana maintains a web site where you can check to determine whether the corporate name that you desire is available. CLICK HERE

You can also use the alternative search form where you can find online documents from other businesses with names that may be similar to the one you wish to choose. This may help you determine whether you meet Indiana's "similarity" requirement (a name cannot be similar to another name in use. CLICK HERE

Indiana will give you a preliminary name availability determination over the telephone . Call (317) 232-6576

These determinations are non-binding and a final determination cannot be made until the documents are received and processed.

Indiana permits you to reserve a corporate name for up to 120 days in advance of filing. The fee is $20.00 If you wish to reserve a corporate name in advance, review this material and complete the state provided forms. CLICK HERE

It is suggested that you search in a few different ways depending upon what name you select. You should search for the entire name that you wish to secure. Print out the results of this search and keep it for your records. You should also do a partial name search to determine what names may be close, but not exactly like the name you wish to obtain.

For example, if the name that you have chosen is ABC Vending Supplies, Inc., you should search ABC Vending Supplies, ABC Vending, and perhaps ABC Ven so you will get a picture of what names may be similar to the one you have selected.

Checking the corporate name in advance is necessary and will save you a lot of time. If you do not check first, your incorporation papers will be returned to you if there is a conflicting name and you will need to start over again from scratch.

We suggest that you do not make any expenditures in reliance on the name you choose until after your documents have been accepted by the Indiana corporations office.

To view the Indiana Name Availability Guidelines, CLICK HERE

Main Indiana Resource Page