- Filing fee
- $50
- Biennial Report
- $30
- First-year gov. cost
- $50
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Iowa will accept
Must contain Limited Liability Company or abbreviations like L.L.C. or LLC.
Search existing Iowa business names before you commit. Iowa naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Physical Iowa street address must be continuously maintained.
You can serve as your own agent, but your address will be public. Compare Iowa registered agent options.
File the Certificate of Organization
Submit it to the Iowa Secretary of State through the official filing portal and pay $50. Applicable to both online and paper submissions. No blank fill-in PDF provided.
Processing: online 1 to 3 business days; by mail 1 to 3 business days. Expedite: 5 days for $15, 2 days for $50, same-day for $125, 1-hour for $200.
Write an operating agreement
Not legally required by statute to be in writing, never filed with the state.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
File the Biennial Report ($30), due January 1 to April 1 of every odd-numbered year. No statutory late monetary fee Iowa report deadlines.
Every Iowa LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | $50 | Applicable to both online and paper submissions. No blank fill-in PDF provided. |
| Biennial Report | $30 | biennial, January 1 to April 1 of every odd-numbered year |
| Name reservation (optional) | $10 | 120 days |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | Entirely free of charge |
| Amendment | $50 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $5 | |
| Foreign Registration Statement | $100 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Statement of Dissolution | $5 |
How Iowa compares nationally
- Iowa's filing fee of $50 is the 4th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Iowa's first-year government cost of $50 is the 4th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Iowa's yearly cost after that of $15 is the 15th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Iowa Secretary of State costs $50 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Iowa street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Iowa's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Iowa fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $50 | $0 |
| Northwest | $89 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $50 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
No minimum franchise tax or annual LLC tax. Pass-through income taxed at flat personal income tax rate of 3.8%.
What's different about Iowa
- Odd-year biennial reporting cycle
- Total lack of a franchise tax
- No blank fill-in PDF form for formation
More Iowa LLC guides
Iowa LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?
The Iowa Secretary of State charges $50 to file the Certificate of Organization. Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $50 in government fees (Formation fee).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Iowa?
Online: 1 to 3 business days. By mail: 1 to 3 business days. Expedited: 5 days for $15, 2 days for $50, same-day for $125, 1-hour for $200.
Does an Iowa LLC have to file an annual report?
Yes. Iowa requires the Biennial Report, which costs $30, filed biennial. Due: January 1 to April 1 of every odd-numbered year. No statutory late monetary fee
Can I be my own registered agent in Iowa?
Yes. Physical Iowa street address must be continuously maintained. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Iowa require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Iowa has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Iowa?
Not legally required by statute to be in writing, never filed with the state.
What taxes does an Iowa LLC pay to the state?
No minimum franchise tax or annual LLC tax. Pass-through income taxed at flat personal income tax rate of 3.8%.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: dba.fee.