Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Fort Wayne, IN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a wedding planner in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.

Verified 2026-09-03 5 stops $100–$600 est. 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees, operate as an LLC/corporation, or file certain business tax returns. Free from the IRS. Sole proprietors with no employees may use their SSN instead.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

State of Indiana

2 stops

  1. Indiana Business Tax Application (BT-1)

    Required for businesses collecting sales tax or withholding income tax in Indiana. Register online via INBiz (Indiana's one-stop business registration portal), which processes the Business Tax Application (historically paper Form BT-1) and issues your Registered Retail Merchant Certificate.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate to 2 weeks

  2. General Liability Insurance (recommended, not legally required)

    Indiana does not require a wedding planner to carry general liability insurance, but most venues require proof of $1 million to $2 million in general liability coverage before allowing a planner to work on site, and many clients require it in the contract. The Indiana Department of Insurance regulates insurers and producers in the state and is where to confirm that an agent or company is licensed before you buy a policy.

    Official government source

    Not a government fee. Premiums are set by insurers and vary with coverage limits, revenue, services offered, and claims history; no official source publishes a rate, so get quotes from licensed carriers rather than relying on a stated range.Coverage can often be bound the same day through an online quote. There is no government approval or waiting period.

City of Fort Wayne / Allen County

2 stops

  1. Fort Wayne — No General Business License

    Fort Wayne does not require a general business licence of wedding planners or any other trade. The city's official Starting a Business guide states: "The City of Fort Wayne does not currently require a general business license." If the name of the business does not include the owner's last name, file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the Allen County Recorder. If you lease or build out a commercial space, the Allen County Building Department issues the Certificate of Occupancy after final inspection.

    Official government source

    Not applicable (no general business licence exists)Not applicable

  2. Certificate of Assumed Business Name (DBA) — Allen County Recorder

    If you operate under a trade name that does not include the owner's last name (e.g. "Perfect Day Events"), a sole proprietorship or general partnership must record a Certificate of Assumed Business Name with the County Recorder where the business is located — in Fort Wayne, the Allen County Recorder's Office, 1 E. Main Street, Room 100. The certificate registers the name only within Allen County; it is not a license and provides no trademark or copyright protection. A corporation or LLC operating under a different name instead files a State Certificate of Assumed Business Name (State Form 30353) with the Indiana Secretary of State.

    Official government source

    $25 (Allen County Recorder recording fee for a Certificate of Assumed Business Name).Recorded while you wait at the Recorder's office during business hours (8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.), or by mail if you enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Terminus

Open for business — est. $100–$600 · 1–3 weeks to obtain all required licenses

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