Form a Iowa LLC with StartGlobal
$399 state fee included
EIN, operating agreement and first-year agent service included. Nothing else to buy.
Iowa LLC costs at a glance
| Cost | When | Applies in Iowa | With StartGlobal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization filing fee | Once, to form | Yes | Included in $399 |
| Registered agent | Every year | Yes, or be your own | Year one included, then $99/yr |
| Biennial Report | Every two years | Yes | Optional filing service, $299/yr |
| EIN | Once | For a bank account or staff | Included in $399 |
| Operating agreement | Once | Recommended | Included in $399 |
| Local business licences | Varies | Depends on city, county and trade | Paid to the issuer |
Forming the LLC
Iowa LLCs are formed by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, which accepts filings online. The state charges a one-time fee to accept it; the fee is the same whether you file yourself or use a service, and StartGlobal includes it in the $399.
Keeping it active
Iowa LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year. The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year the LLC is formed.
You also need a registered agent in Iowa every year. Ours is included for the first year and $99 a year after; you can act as your own if you have a Iowa address and are there in business hours.
- 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.
What a "$0" Iowa LLC costs over three years
Formation, a registered agent every year and an EIN, at each provider's published prices. The Iowa filing fee is added on top of theirs and included in ours.
| Three years | |
|---|---|
| ZenBusiness Starter Registered agent is a $199/yr add-on from day one. | $696 + Iowa filing fee |
| LegalZoom Basic Registered agent is $249/yr. | $826 + Iowa filing fee |
| Bizee Basic Registered agent free for year one, then $149/yr. | $368 + Iowa filing fee |
| StartGlobal State fee, first-year agent and EIN included. Agent $99/yr after. | $597, all in |
Over three years our price is lower than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom in every state. Bizee's first agent year is free, which can make it cheaper depending on the state fee. Filing yourself costs only the state fee.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does an LLC cost in Iowa?
Iowa charges a one-time fee to file the Certificate of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399 with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. After that: Iowa LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year.
What are the yearly costs of a Iowa LLC?
Iowa LLCs file a Biennial Report every two years. It is due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year. You also need a registered agent in Iowa every year, unless you act as your own.
Is there a cheaper way to form a Iowa LLC?
Yes: file the Certificate of Organization yourself with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, act as your own registered agent and get your EIN from the IRS for free. It costs only the state fee and your time.
Does a $0 LLC service cost nothing in Iowa?
No. The Iowa filing fee is charged on top of a "$0" formation, and registered agent service and the EIN are usually add-ons. Over three years our $399 all-in is lower than ZenBusiness or LegalZoom at their published prices.
