You can find your Indiana business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, through the Indiana Secretary of State's business search portal. This free online database, part of the INBiz system, provides immediate access to the details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

In this article, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the Indiana database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Indiana's system.

Summary table: Finding your Indiana entity information

How to search for Indiana business entities

Navigate to the Indiana Business Search portal and select your search criteria from the dropdown menu (business name is most common). While Indiana's system supports partial matches, using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results.

Choose your match type carefully: "Contains" finds businesses where your search term appears anywhere in the name, "Starts With" returns names beginning with your input, and "Exact Match" provides only businesses with the exact name you enter. 

Click the Business ID in the search results to access comprehensive entity information, including formation documents, filing history, and governance details. Indiana's system provides exceptional document access, often including scanned PDFs of all state-filed documents.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)

• Entity type (LLC, Domestic Corporation, PLLC, LLP, Non-profit Corporation, etc.)

• Business ID (Indiana's unique identifier)

• Current status (Active, Inactive, Admin Dissolved, etc.)

• Principal office address

• Registered agent name

How to find your entity number in Indiana

Your Indiana entity number, officially called your "Business ID," is typically 10 digits and was assigned by the Indiana Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Indiana Business ID

1. Indiana business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results as a clickable blue link

• Labeled as: "Business ID"

• Format: 2025123456

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document

• Generally labeled as "Business ID"

• Stamped or printed by the Indiana Secretary of State

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Indiana Secretary of State documents

• Used as your account identifier for Business Entity Report filings

• Referenced in all state filing confirmations

Indiana entity number format

• Format: Typically 10 digits

• Example: 2025123456

• Pattern note: Recent entities often do not have Business IDs that begin with the year of formation; Business ID numbers in Indiana do not typically reflect the year of formation.

How to find your entity type in Indiana

Indiana recognizes numerous business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Indiana entity type

1. Indiana business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under the "Entity Type" column

• Listed as: "LLC," "Corporation," "Non-profit," "Limited Partnership," etc.

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document

• May state "Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company" or similar formal language

• Uses the complete legal designation rather than abbreviations

3. Annual reports (Business Entity Reports)

• Listed in the entity information section

• Cannot be changed without formal amendment and state filing

How to find your formation date in Indiana

Your formation date (when the Indiana Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Indiana business search results and on your Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation.

Where your Indiana formation date appears

1. Indiana business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Creation Date" in search results

• Location: Displayed in the main results table and detailed entity profile

• Always shows the date the state processed your filing

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document, typically with an official state filing stamp

• May say "Filed on [date]" or include a stamped date with the Indiana Secretary of State seal

• Sometimes includes both the filing date and the effective date if different

3. Annual report confirmations (Business Entity Reports)

• References original filing date

• Used to calculate biennial report due dates (every two years)

Formation date vs. effective date

Indiana allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When the Indiana Secretary of State processed your paperwork

• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

For most Indiana entities, the formation date and effective date are identical, as delayed effective dates are less common.

Onboard your entity to Discern

You've got what you need from Indiana's system: business name, entity type, Business ID, and formation date. Now get those details into Discern and let our platform handle biennial reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Book a demo to get started.