What does 'Administratively Dissolved' mean in an Indiana search?

It means the Secretary of State dissolved the entity, usually for failing to file its biennial Business Entity Report or maintain a registered agent. The entity generally must file the overdue reports and Articles of Reinstatement to return to active status.

Indiana Business Entity Search: Look Up a Business Free (2026)

Q: How do I find an Indiana LLC's registered agent?

Search the entity in the Secretary of State Business Search and open its detail page, which lists the current registered agent and registered office. The agent is filed on the Articles of Organization (State Form 49459) and updated by a Statement of Change.

Q: How do I check if an Indiana business name is available?

Search existing names in the Secretary of State Business Search or INBiz. A new name must be distinguishable from names already on record. A clear search is not a guarantee; the Secretary of State makes the final determination when you file.

Q: Can I get a certified copy of an Indiana filing online?

Yes. INBiz lets you order certified copies of formation documents and a Certificate of Existence for a fee. These certified records are what banks, lenders, and courts typically require.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You can look up any Indiana business for $0 - free through the Indiana Secretary of State Business Search at bsd.sos.in.gov, or through INBiz, the state's official business portal. Both confirm the entity's exact legal name, business ID, entity type, status, registered agent, and principal office at no cost. Use the search to verify a company before you sign a contract, to check name availability before you file, or to find the registered agent for service of process.

Quick Answer

Free search: Indiana SOS Business Search - bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch
Also on: INBiz, the state's official business portal (inbiz.in.gov)
Cost: $0 - the search itself is free
Shows: Legal name, business ID, status, registered agent, principal office
Agency: Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division
Certified copies: Ordered through INBiz for a separate fee

Where Indiana Business Records Live

Indiana keeps its corporate registry with the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. That office records every domestic and foreign LLC, corporation, limited partnership, and nonprofit, along with each entity's Articles of Organization, registered agent, and biennial Business Entity Report. Unlike Texas, which charges per search, Indiana makes its lookup free through two front doors to the same underlying data: the standalone Secretary of State Business Search and the INBiz portal, which is also where you file. For the national overview of how these lookups work, see our business entity search hub.

The Secretary of State's database is not the same as the tax or trademark record. The Business Services Division tracks the entity's legal existence and its public filings; the Indiana Department of Revenue tracks tax accounts separately through its INTIME system. Your federal EIN is issued by the IRS and does not appear in the state system. And a name that is clear in Indiana records may still conflict with a registered trademark owned by a business elsewhere, so an entity search is one layer of diligence, not the whole picture.

Free Search: Indiana Secretary of State Business Search

The primary tool is the Indiana Secretary of State Business Search at bsd.sos.in.gov. You can search by business name or by the state-assigned business ID. Results confirm the entity's exact legal name, its business ID number, its entity type (LLC, corporation, LP, or nonprofit), its status (Active, Administratively Dissolved, Revoked, or Withdrawn), the creation date, the registered agent and registered office, the principal office, and the due date of the next Business Entity Report. The search is free and requires no account, which makes it ideal for confirming that a vendor, customer, or prospective partner is a real entity in good standing before you commit. From the entity detail page you can proceed into INBiz to order certified documents when you need them.

What a Search Reveals

An Indiana entity search returns almost everything a lender, court, or counterparty needs to confirm a company's identity and standing. The table below shows the common data points and where they appear.

Data point	Shown in the free search?
Exact legal name	Yes
Business ID number	Yes
Entity type (LLC, corporation, LP)	Yes
Status (Active / Administratively Dissolved / Revoked)	Yes
Creation / registration date	Yes
Registered agent and registered office	Yes
Principal office address	Yes
Business Entity Report due date	Yes
Certified copies / Certificate of Existence	Order via INBiz (fee)

Certified copy and Certificate of Existence fees are set by the Secretary of State and change over time, so confirm the current amount in INBiz before ordering.

How to Search, Step by Step

Open the Business Search. Go to the Indiana Secretary of State Business Search at bsd.sos.in.gov and enter the business name or business ID.
Open the entity record. Select the matching result to view the status, entity type, creation date, and the current registered agent and registered office.
Check the report status. Note the Business Entity Report due date and whether the entity is Active or Administratively Dissolved.
Order certified records if needed. Log in to INBiz to request a certified copy of the Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Existence for financing, litigation, or a bank account opening.

Checking Name Availability Before You File

If you are forming a new company, an entity search doubles as a name-availability check. Indiana requires a new entity name to be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of State from existing names and reservations. Searching for close matches tells you whether your preferred name is likely available, but only the Secretary of State makes the final call when you file. A clear search is not a guarantee, and a name that is available in state records can still infringe a federal trademark. If you are ready to reserve a name, you can hold it for 120 days through INBiz. See how to form an LLC in Indiana for the full formation arc, the Articles of Organization for the formation document itself, and what is an LLC for entity basics.

Registered Agent and Business Entity Report in the Record

Two of the most useful fields in an Indiana search are the registered agent and the Business Entity Report status. Every Indiana LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical Indiana address, and that agent - the person to serve with a lawsuit or official notice - appears directly on the entity record. Attorneys routinely run the search to find the current agent before filing suit. The record also shows whether the entity's biennial Business Entity Report is current; Indiana requires this report every two years, not annually, and a missed report is the most common reason an entity slips into Administratively Dissolved status. If you are the owner, a quick self-search each year is the easiest way to confirm your agent and report are current before a financing or a bid.

Reading Indiana Entity Status Codes

The status field is the single most important result of a search. An entity in good standing reads Active. Common problem statuses include Administratively Dissolved, which means the Secretary of State dissolved the entity - usually for failing to file its Business Entity Report or maintain a registered agent under IC 23-0.5-6-3; Revoked, typically for a foreign entity; and Withdrawn or Dissolved, meaning the owners closed it. An administratively dissolved entity generally must file its overdue reports and Articles of Reinstatement to return to active status. If you are dealing with a company in a dissolved status, treat contracts cautiously - the entity may not be authorized to carry on business except to wind up its affairs. See how to dissolve an LLC in Indiana for how a proper close differs from an involuntary one.

Common Uses for an Indiana Entity Search

An Indiana entity search supports several everyday tasks. Vendors and lenders run one for due diligence before extending credit. Attorneys use it to find the current registered agent so they can properly serve a lawsuit. New founders check name availability before filing Articles of Organization or an Indiana assumed business name. Buyers confirm an entity's good standing during an acquisition, and banks require a Certificate of Existence to open accounts or process loans. Whatever the purpose, the free Secretary of State Business Search confirms that the entity exists and is active; INBiz is where you order the certified document that a bank or court will accept as proof.

The search is also the first step before you form or rename a company, and a smart annual habit for owners. Founders confirm a name is distinguishable before filing; existing owners verify the registered agent and biennial report are current before a financing or a bid. If you are winding a company down instead, the record will eventually show a dissolved status once you complete dissolution in Indiana. Leaving an entity active but unfiled is what produces the Administratively Dissolved status that later blocks clean reinstatement, so treat the entity search as routine maintenance, not a one-time check at formation. Compare approaches in other states, such as the Florida business entity search, to see how Indiana's free model differs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Indiana business entity search free?

Yes. The Indiana Secretary of State Business Search at bsd.sos.in.gov is free and shows the legal name, business ID, entity type, status, registered agent, and principal office. INBiz offers the same underlying data at no charge.

Where do I search for an Indiana business?

Use the Indiana Secretary of State Business Search at bsd.sos.in.gov, or search through INBiz. Both draw on the Business Services Division records maintained by the Secretary of State.

How do I find an Indiana LLC's registered agent?

Search the entity and open its detail page, which lists the current registered agent and registered office. The agent is filed on the Articles of Organization (State Form 49459) and updated by a Statement of Change.

How do I check if an Indiana business name is available?

Search existing names in the Business Search or INBiz. A new name must be distinguishable from names already on record. A clear search is not a guarantee - the Secretary of State makes the final call when you file.

What does "Administratively Dissolved" mean?

It means the Secretary of State dissolved the entity, usually for a missed Business Entity Report or a lapsed registered agent. The entity must generally file the overdue reports and Articles of Reinstatement to return to active status.

Can I get a certified copy of an Indiana filing online?

Yes. INBiz lets you order certified copies and a Certificate of Existence for a fee. These are the records banks, lenders, and courts typically require.

Sources

Indiana Secretary of State - Business Search (free public entity search: name, status, registered agent).
Indiana Secretary of State - Business Services Division (registry overview).
INBiz (Indiana's official business portal) - Business Filings (online filing and name search).
INBiz - Fee Calculator (certified copy and Certificate of Existence fees).
Indiana Secretary of State - Business Forms (Articles of Organization, State Form 49459; Statement of Change).
Indiana Code - IC 23-0.5-4-1 (registered agent requirement).
Indiana Code - IC 23-0.5-2-13 (biennial Business Entity Report).
Indiana Code - IC 23-0.5-6-3 (administrative dissolution).
Indiana Code - IC 23-0.5-2 (entity names; distinguishability and reservation).
Indiana Code - Title 23, Article 18 (Indiana Business Flexibility Act - LLCs).
Indiana Department of Revenue - Business Tax (separate tax registration and accounts).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Cornell Legal Information Institute - Registered agent.

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Search results, fees, and status codes change; verify current requirements with the Indiana Secretary of State and INBiz before acting.