[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in Indiana in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, IN Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Indiana Registered Agent.co. Maya: Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. Indiana. Any special rule for agents? Dan: A firm one. A business can't serve as its own registered agent there. But changing your agent carries no state filing fee, which makes switching painless. [0:33] What Indiana requires Maya: Start with the basics. Dan: Indiana law says a filing entity must designate and maintain a registered agent in the state, along with a registered office. The state's FAQ says PO boxes are not acceptable. Maya: Who can be the agent? Dan: An individual, a general partnership, a domestic filing entity or a registered foreign entity. We found no residency or age rule in the chapter, but the address has to be a street address in Indiana. Maya: What if I live out of state? Dan: The Business Entity Report page says if you don't have an Indiana address, you can hire a service company or a law firm to be your agent. Maya: Does the agent consent? Dan: A registered agent filing must state the agent's consent, or a representation that the agent has consented. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Let's go through the five. [1:28] Mainstay Filing Maya: Number one? Dan: Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the same $149 at renewal. Maya: What's inside? Dan: It puts its own name on the Indiana public record as your agent, instead of yours. Papers served on the company are scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and your first three government mailings a year are scanned free. Maya: Switching from another agent? Dan: Mainstay files the change. Indiana charges no filing fee for it. Maya: And the downside? Dan: Two services below it cost $99, so Mainstay can't win on price alone. [2:09] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Number two? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. It says it hasn't raised the price in 20 years, and it scans up to 10 pieces of regular mail a year for free. Maya: The catch? Dan: You're automatically enrolled in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel. Maya: Indiana's report is every two years, right? Dan: Right, so that service would come around less often, but at $100 plus the state's $32 online fee it's still $132 for something you can file yourself. [2:47] IN Registered Agent.org Maya: Three? Dan: IN Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. The address used on filings, same-day scanning of legal mail and reminders for state deadlines. Maya: To switch? Dan: No state filing fee. The catch is that report filing is a separate service. Maya: Versus Mainstay? Dan: $50 a year less, so $150 over three years. [3:12] Bizee Maya: Four? Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. The agent is free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a year. Maya: What are the strings? Dan: The free year needs a formation order, and the $149 renewal is automatic. Maya: If I formed my Indiana company elsewhere? Dan: Then it's $149 from day one, which is $298 for two years. [3:38] Indiana Registered Agent.co Maya: And five? Dan: Indiana Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. The registered office address, same-day scanning of legal documents and state-deadline alerts. Maya: Different from number three? Dan: Not on the listings. Same price, same catch. [3:55] Commercial agents Maya: Does Indiana treat professional agents differently? Dan: Yes. A commercial registered agent files a listing statement with the state. After that, a company's filing needs only the agent's name, with no address. Maya: And a regular person? Dan: A noncommercial agent's filing gives the name and a street address. The form says a P.O. box isn't acceptable unless it comes with a Rural Route number. Maya: Can I add an email? Dan: Yes, there's an optional spot for an email where the agent will accept electronic service of process. [4:30] What the agent actually does Maya: What are the agent's duties? Dan: Fewer than people assume. By statute, the agent forwards any process, notice or demand to the company at the address most recently supplied. Maya: So I have to keep that address current. Dan: And you must give the agent a communications contact: a name, a business address and a phone number. If you don't, the agent may resign. Maya: Does the agent also get the state's reminders? Dan: Yes. The state emails reminders 90 and 30 days before a report is due, to the business email and the agent's email. [5:07] Changing the agent Maya: How do I change an agent? Dan: State Form 56367, the Statement of Change of Registered Agent. The form says no filing fee. Maya: Online? Dan: In INBiz, under Change of Registered Agent or Office. A payment processing fee can show at checkout, a minimum of $1 and no more than 2.15 percent. Maya: Do members approve it? Dan: No. Interest holders and governing persons need not approve the filing. Maya: And naming the first agent? Dan: Article II of the Articles of Organization, State Form 49459. It's $95 online or $100 on paper. [5:48] If the agent resigns Maya: What if my agent resigns? Dan: State Form 26285, the Statement of Resignation, also no filing fee, signed by the agent. Maya: Timing? Dan: It takes effect on the earlier of the 31st day after filing or a new agent being designated. The agent must promptly tell the company the date. Maya: Can an agent say they never agreed? Dan: Yes. The form lets a person state that they never consented and ask to be removed from the record. [6:18] When there's no agent Maya: What if there's no agent at all? Dan: Papers can be mailed to the company at its principal office, as shown on its most recent biennial report. Maya: And the risk to the company? Dan: Administrative dissolution can start if there's no agent for 60 consecutive days, or if the state isn't told within 60 days of a change or resignation. The state sends written notice first, then the company has 60 days to cure. Maya: Anything else that triggers it? Dan: INBiz says businesses that fail to file their Business Entity Report or maintain a registered agent will be administratively dissolved. [6:53] The Business Entity Report Maya: How often does Indiana want a report? Dan: Every other year, in your anniversary month. It's $32 on INBiz and $50 on paper, and there's no late fee. Maya: So the real yearly cost? Dan: With Mainstay, $149 a year plus $32 every second year. With a $99 agent, $99 a year plus the same. Maya: And past-due notices? Dan: They go to the business email and the agent's email. Paper notices go to the principal office, the agent's address or a governing person's address, depending on what's on record. [7:29] Doing it yourself Maya: Can I be my own agent in Indiana? Dan: If you're an individual with an Indiana street address, yes. The business itself can't, though. Maya: What's the tradeoff? Dan: Your name and street address are on the public filing, and you need to be reachable at that address. Maya: And if I travel? Dan: A service that scans the same business day means you don't have to be at the door. [7:49] Picking one Maya: How would an Indianapolis owner choose? Dan: Three things. Does the price hold, is there a real Indiana street address, and who files the change. Maya: And your answer? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Indiana, at $149 a year. [8:06] The five in a row Maya: Let's hear all five once more. Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, IN Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Indiana Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.