Iowa LLC cost
Forming an LLC in Iowa costs $50 in state fees in year one, then about $22.50 a year to stay in good standing.
Forming a Iowa LLC
You file Certificate of Organization (Iowa Code 489.201) with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division. The state fee is $50. See the official fee.
Every year after
- Biennial Report: $45, filed every two years. Due: Every odd-numbered year, filed between January 1 and April 1; $30 if filed online through Fast Track Filing, $45 on paper.
- First one: By April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year of formation.
- If you're late: No late fee listed; failure to file leads to administrative dissolution (reinstatement application $5).
- Official report page
Worth knowing
- Formation costs $50 for an LLC or corporation and $20 for a nonprofit.
- Reports are biennial: LLCs and nonprofits file in odd years, for-profit corporations in even years, by April 1.
- The LLC biennial report is $30 online or $45 on paper; the corporation report is $60; nonprofits pay nothing.
- Iowa has no franchise or minimum tax for ordinary LLCs or corporations; its franchise tax applies only to financial institutions.
Registered agent
Iowa requires a registered agent. Every entity must keep a registered agent with an Iowa registered office; the agent receives the biennial report notice in January of the filing year. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.
| Other filings | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 | |
| DBA / assumed name (state) | $5 | Fictitious name resolution filed with the Secretary of State for LLCs and corporations ($5); sole proprietors file a trade name with the county recorder, with county-specific forms and fees |
| Expedited processing | $0 | Same-day preclearance is available for documents delivered by fax or in person; no expedite fee is stated in the rules |
| Foreign LLC registration | $100 | Foreign Registration Statement (Iowa Code 489.903) |
Fees last checked 2026-10-20 against Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division. States change fees — confirm on the linked page before you file.
Thinking about forming somewhere else?
If you operate in Iowa, an out-of-state LLC also has to register here as a foreign entity. See both costs side by side: