How to Form an LLC in Iowa
Iowa charges $50 to create an LLC, one of the smallest formation fees in the country, and the ongoing upkeep is lighter still. The formation document is a Certificate of Organization, filed with the Iowa Secretary of State's Business Services Division under Iowa Code § 489.201; the $50 fee comes from § 489.122(1)(c). Two things to know before you start: the statute says Certificate of Organization, not Articles of Organization, and the state publishes no fill-in form for it.
One Document, No Template
Iowa expects you to either draft the certificate yourself, covering the items § 489.201(2) requires, or answer the questions in Fast Track Filing, the Secretary of State's online portal, which assembles the filing from your responses. Most filers use the portal. There is no form number to hunt for because no official form exists.
The Fee Picture
- Certificate of Organization: $50, flat
- Biennial report: $30 through Fast Track Filing or $45 on paper, due only in odd-numbered years
- Changing your registered agent later: no fee for LLCs
From Name Search to Filed Certificate
Ready to get started?
Get Started- Check the name. It must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from existing entities. Search the Secretary of State's business database before committing.
- Designate a registered agent. Under Iowa Code § 489.115, the agent can be an individual or an entity, and must have a place of business in Iowa. Your filing affirms the agent consented to the appointment.
- Prepare the Certificate of Organization. Draft your own document meeting § 489.201(2), or let Fast Track Filing generate it from your answers.
- File it and pay $50. Submit through Fast Track Filing, or deliver the paperwork to the Business Services Division on paper.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Iowa does not collect it, but it is the contract that decides ownership shares, votes, distributions, and what happens when a member leaves. Put it in writing while everyone still agrees.
- Request an EIN. Free and immediate at IRS.gov. It unlocks the business bank account and payroll.
- Circle the biennial calendar. Iowa LLCs report in odd-numbered years only, in a window from January 1 to April 1. Form in 2026 and your first report is due by April 1, 2027. Full details on our biennial report page.
Filing Through Us
Our formation service is $199 on top of the $50 state fee. The price includes drafting, filing, and a full first year of registered agent service; the agent then renews at $99 per year.