Start a Iowa LLC
How to start an LLC in Iowa →
Name, registered agent, Certificate of Organization and bank account, step by step.
Iowa LLC cost →
What it costs to form and to keep, and a three-year comparison.
Iowa LLC name check →
Check a name against Iowa naming rules before you file.
Iowa operating agreement →
Not required by law, but every LLC needs one. Create yours free.
Run a Iowa LLC
Iowa Biennial Report →
Every two years. Due dates, first filing, and what happens if you miss it.
Iowa registered agent →
Every Iowa LLC needs one. Ours is included in year one.
Compliance deadline tracker →
Every federal and Iowa deadline for your LLC.
Changing or closing it: add or remove a member, change your registered agent, move to another state, dissolve the LLC.
Iowa LLC at a glance
Formed with
Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services
Formation document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Biennial Report, every two years
Online filing
Yes
Iowa LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year.
Must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" "Co."), and it must be distinguishable from names already on the Iowa register.
- All Iowa LLCs file in odd-numbered years, regardless of the year they were formed.
- An LLC that misses the April 1 deadline receives a delinquency notice and is administratively dissolved if it still has not filed by August.
- The Certificate of Organization is filed online through Fast Track Filing, which asks whether the LLC holds an interest in Iowa agricultural land.
Forming a Iowa LLC from outside the US?
The steps above are written for people who live in the US. If you live abroad, the bank account and tax filings work differently.
Iowa LLC for non-residents →Sources
Nearby states
All states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Iowa?
Choose a name, appoint a registered agent in Iowa, and file a Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services. Then write an operating agreement and open a business bank account. Our step-by-step guide covers each one.
How much does a Iowa LLC cost?
Iowa charges a one-time filing fee to form an LLC. With StartGlobal it is $399 in total, with that fee, your operating agreement and first-year registered agent included.
Does a Iowa LLC file an annual report?
Iowa LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year.
Is an operating agreement required in Iowa?
No, but every Iowa LLC should have one.
