Iowa LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Iowa amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $50 |
| Biennial report | $30 online or $45 on paper, every two years |
| When it is due | 1 January to 1 April of odd-numbered years |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax or minimum tax |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $50 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $15 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Iowa Secretary of State and other official Iowa sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?
The Iowa Secretary of State charges $50 to file a Certificate of Organization for an LLC. That is half the $100 national median.
Expedited service is sold per document: $15 for five business days, $50 for two business days, $125 for same day and $200 for one hour. A name reservation costs $10.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Iowa covers the form field by field.
How much does an Iowa LLC cost every year?
Iowa LLCs file a biennial report instead of an annual report, between 1 January and 1 April of each odd-numbered year. The report costs $30 online or $45 on paper.
Every Iowa LLC files in the same odd-year window, whatever month it was formed, so an LLC formed in December 2026 files its first report in the first months of 2027. Spread over two years, the online report works out to $15 a year, less than Indiana’s $16 average.
What does an Iowa LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees an Iowa LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Iowa charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $50 | $50 |
| Year 2 | $30 | $177 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $147 |
| Three-year total | $80 | $374 |
Iowa’s biennial report falls in odd-numbered years only, starting with the first odd year after the year of formation. An LLC formed in 2026 files its first $30 report between 1 January and 1 April 2027 and its next in 2029. Averaged out, that is $15 a year, which is the figure used for yearly fees on this page.
Does Iowa charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Iowa charges no franchise tax and no minimum tax on LLCs. An LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity pays no state income tax itself, and profit passes to the members.
Members pay Iowa individual income tax on their share of profit at a flat 3.8% for 2026.
How much does a registered agent cost in Iowa?
Every Iowa LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Iowa. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our Iowa registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does an Iowa LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. An Iowa LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Iowa LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Iowa state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $10 | Reservation of name |
| Expedited filing | $15 to $200 | Per document surcharge: $15 five business days, $50 two business days, $125 same day, $200 one hour |
| Certificate of good standing | $5 | Certificate of existence purchased online from the business summary page |
| Amending the articles | $50 | Amendment to Certificate of Organization |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $5 | Fictitious name (trade name) filing |
| Changing registered agent | $0 | Statement of change of registered office or agent: no fee |
| Foreign LLC registration | $100 | Foreign Registration Statement |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $5 | Application for reinstatement; may be filed any time after dissolution, but after 5 years a new compliant name may be required (Iowa Code 489.710) |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Iowa, and Iowa does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss an Iowa LLC deadline?
Iowa charges no late fee for the biennial report, but a report still missing 60 days after the 1 April deadline gives the Secretary of State grounds for administrative dissolution. The LLC then has 60 days after notice to cure.
Reinstatement costs $5 and can be filed at any time after dissolution, though an LLC dissolved for more than five years may need to adopt a new name that meets current rules.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Iowa sets out the steps.
How does Iowa compare with other states?
Iowa is one of the cheapest states to form and keep an LLC. Its $50 formation fee is half the national median, and its $30 report every two years costs less over time than Illinois’ $75 annual report or Wisconsin’s $25 annual report.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $50 | $15 | $50 to form, $30 report every two years |
| Illinois LLC cost | $150 | $75 | $150 to form, $75 annual report |
| Missouri LLC cost | $50 | $0 | $50 online to form, no annual report |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | Free annual renewal, $155 online formation |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 | $130 online to form, $25 annual report |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form an Iowa LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Iowa LLC for $0 plus the $50 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Iowa filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Iowa deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Iowa first.
Iowa LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Iowa?
An Iowa LLC costs $50 to form. After that it pays $30 every two years for the online biennial report, or $45 on paper.
When is the Iowa LLC biennial report due?
Between 1 January and 1 April of each odd-numbered year, starting with the first odd year after formation.
Is there a late fee for the Iowa biennial report?
No. Iowa charges no late fee, but a report still missing 60 days after the deadline gives grounds for administrative dissolution.
How much does it cost to reinstate an Iowa LLC?
$5. Iowa allows reinstatement at any time after administrative dissolution.
Does Iowa charge franchise tax on LLCs?
No. Iowa has no franchise tax or minimum tax on LLCs. Members pay a flat 3.8% state income tax for 2026.
How much does an Iowa LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $80 in state fees: $50 to form and one $30 biennial report. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $374.
Sources
- Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and fees
- Iowa Code 489.212 (biennial report)
- Iowa Code 489.708 (administrative dissolution)
- Iowa Secretary of State, preclearance and expedited services
- Iowa Department of Revenue, 2026 individual income tax rate
- Official Iowa source: Certificate of good standing fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Iowa Secretary of State before you file.
