How Much Does It Cost to Form an Iowa LLC?
Iowa is one of the lowest LLC filing fees in the country. But the state filing fee is only part of the picture. This page breaks down every cost you'll encounter — formation, ongoing compliance, and optional services — so there are no surprises.
State Filing Fee
The Iowa Secretary of State charges $50 to file your Articles of Organization. This is a one-time fee paid when you form the LLC. At $50, Iowa is one of the cheapest states to file in.
Annual / Recurring State Fees
Iowa charges $30 for the biennial report (filed every two years). Miss it, and you risk late fees and eventually administrative dissolution.
Iowa tax note: Biennial report: $30 online, $45 by mail. Due between January 1 and April 1 in odd or even years based on formation year. Filed via Fast Track Filing system.
Registered Agent Cost
Every Iowa LLC is required to maintain a registered agent. With our formation package, the first year of registered agent service is included. After that, ongoing service is $99/year.
Expedited Processing
Iowa doesn't offer a widely used expedited option. Standard processing runs 5-10 business days, which is the timeline most filers work with.
Full Cost Table
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| State filing fee | $50 | One-time, paid to the Iowa Secretary of State |
| Annual report | $30 | Filed every two years with the Iowa Secretary of State |
| Registered Agent service | $99/year | First year included with formation |
| Expedited processing | N/A | Not offered or not widely used |
First-Year Cost Summary
If you form through us, your first-year cost is $199 — that covers our formation service, the $50 state fee, first-year registered agent service, operating agreement, and EIN assistance. There's nothing hidden.
Ongoing Annual Costs
After year one, your ongoing costs are: $99/year for registered agent + $30 every two years for the biennial report.
How We Compare
Many LLC formation services charge $199-level fees but then tack on upsells: compliance packages, rush fees, unnecessary add-ons. Our fee is straightforward — $199 covers everything you need to get your Iowa LLC filed and operational.