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State packet

Indiana Contractor Packet

What you need to start and run a trade business in Indiana, in one printable PDF: a first 30 days checklist, everyday forms, the rules in plain English, and a calendar of what’s due.

$17

Instant PDF download · 43 pages · Digital product, all sales final (policy)

What’s inside

Getting set up

  • First-30-days checklist
  • Which trades need a state license, and who to call
  • The workers’ comp decision, and what you have to file

Pricing and taxes

  • Who pays sales tax on your materials, and on your labor
  • A yearly calendar of filings and due dates

Forms and checklists

  • Business setup sheet and a before-your-first-job checklist
  • New job sheet, estimate, invoice and change order forms
  • Sub information sheet and a home contract checklist

If a customer doesn’t pay

  • What to collect on day one of every job
  • Your lien rights and deadlines, for when you need them
  • Printable job tracker

Where to check

  • The agencies and statutes behind the rules, with links
  • Checked November 3, 2026

What you won’t get from a quick search

  • A first 30 days checklist for Indiana, in the order to do it
  • Everyday forms you can copy and use: a new job sheet, estimate, invoice, change order and sub information sheet
  • What the state licenses, and why the answer for most trades comes from your city or county
  • Everything Indiana law says a home improvement contract over $150 must contain, as a checklist, with the 3-day cancel notice in the statute’s own words
  • Why the way you write your contract decides whether you collect sales tax or pay it at the supply house
  • When you can end up paying comp for a sub’s injured worker, and the paper to collect before work starts
  • The 60-day and 90-day lien filing deadlines and the home notices that start on day one, worked out on real dates

What this packet doesn’t cover

We only state rules we could confirm. All sales are final, so here’s what’s not in it. The packet tells you who to ask.

  • The fee for filing Indiana’s Business Entity Report online. The state’s form gives $50 for paper, and online may differ. Check INBiz when you file.
  • The exact total for forming an LLC online. State law sets a $75 filing fee and the Secretary of State adds an access fee, and its published figures point to $95 or $96. INBiz shows the amount at checkout.
  • What a late or missed Business Entity Report leads to, and how long you have to fix it. Ask the Secretary of State’s Business Services Division.
  • State licensing outside plumbing rests on an undated state business guide, and local license, bond and registration rules vary by town. Confirm with the Professional Licensing Agency and each local building department before you bid.
  • The comp law’s definitions of employer, employee, casual laborer and independent contractor. Ask the Worker’s Compensation Board or your insurance agent how they apply to a particular worker.
  • Exactly which paper proves a sub is covered. One section says a certificate from the Worker’s Compensation Board and another calls it a certificate of insurance. Ask the Board or your insurance agent what they accept.
  • Due dates for quarterly estimated income tax, your county’s income tax rate and the exact unemployment rate for a new construction company. Ask your CPA, the Department of Revenue or the Department of Workforce Development.
  • What happens when a lien deadline lands on a weekend or holiday, and whether the 60 or 90 days run from your first or last work. The lien chapter doesn’t say. File early and ask your Indiana construction attorney.

Informational only. This packet should not be considered legal, financial, tax or business advice. Check with a licensed professional in your state before you rely on it.