Filed with
Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services
Document
Certificate of Organization
Recurring filing
Every two years
- 01
Choose a name for your Iowa LLC
Iowa LLC name checker →The name must contain "limited liability company", "limited company", "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC" ("Limited" may be abbreviated "Ltd." and "Company" "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Iowa register.
Check it against Iowa's naming rules with our name checker before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Iowa LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Iowa, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Certificate of Organization
Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services →The Certificate of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Iowa operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Iowa business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Iowa requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Iowa sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Iowa LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →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.
Worth knowing in Iowa
- 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.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services and pay the state fee, act as your Iowa registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
Nearby states
Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Iowa?
Choose an available 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, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?
Iowa charges a filing fee for 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. See our Iowa LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Iowa LLC have to 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. The first one is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year the LLC is formed.
What is the Certificate of Organization?
The document filed with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Iowa, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Iowa?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Iowa and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
