Wedding Planner Permit Requirements in Indianapolis, IN

Complete permit and license guide for starting a wedding planner in Indianapolis, Marion 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 Indianapolis / Marion County

2 stops

  1. Indianapolis — No General Business License

    Indianapolis does not require a general business license for all businesses. The city licenses only specific business types by ordinance (e.g., adult entertainment, alarm companies, hotels/motels, kennels, taxis, vendor carts) through the Dept. of Business and Neighborhood Services (BNS) Licensing Division — not the City Clerk's Office. Wedding planning is not among the licensed categories, so wedding planners operating as sole proprietors, LLCs, or corporations do not need a city business license.

    Official government source

    Not applicable (no general license exists)Not applicable

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

    If you operate under a trade name, record a Certificate of Assumed Business Name (DBA) with the Marion County Recorder's Office before accepting payments or jobs under that name; many banks and lenders require it. The document must be notarized, meet the county's recording requirements, and include the correct fee. You can record it in person, by mail, or electronically through the county's third-party e-recording portal. An LLC or corporation operating under a different name registers that name with the Indiana Secretary of State instead.

    Official government source

    $35 — the Marion County Recorder's flat fee for "deeds and all other documents", which explicitly includes a DBA, plus $5 for each additional page exceeding 8.5" x 14". Recording fees are set by the Indiana General Assembly under IC 36-2-7-10 and differ by county.No processing time is published. In-person filings are recorded at the counter; mail and e-recording are also accepted, and the e-recording provider charges its own service fee.

Terminus

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

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