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Foreign LLC guide · Iowa

Iowa Foreign LLC Registration Fees (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best Services

In 2026, for registering an out-of-state LLC in Iowa, our order is IA Registered Agent.org ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199). The fee is $100 up front and $30 on every report; Iowa sits at number 11th of 50 for foreign LLCs.

Facts compiled by State Fee Facts

Facts for Iowa

11th on a 50-state list of foreign LLC state cost
1 means the lowest total. The whole 50-state list

State registration fee

$100
From sos.iowa.gov, October 2026

Recurring report

$30
Biennial report

Certificate from home state

90 days
Newest age allowed

State charges over 3 years

$130
The first filing and two years of upkeep

Ranked services for Iowa

Five weighted criteria set the order (method): provider fees over three years 34%, filings covered 28%, then renewal terms, fit with Iowa rules and a clear state fee.
First place

1. IA Registered Agent.org: best for an affordable Iowa filing

$199 plus $100 to the state, then $99 yearly

IA Registered Agent.org comes first because $199 on top of the state fee for the registration, then $99 per year.

It beats Mainstay Filing on three-year cost, and cost is 34% of the score.

What the price takes in

  • Prepares and submits the registration
  • A year of agent service

In its favor

  • A provider fee of $199
  • The agent renews at $99
  • Agent covered in year 1

Against it

  • The home state needs a separate agent
Broadest reach

2. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in many states

$199 plus $100 to the state, then $149 yearly

We put Mainstay Filing second since $199 plus state fees pays for the registration, and the registered agent is free in year 1.

IA Registered Agent.org comes out $100 ahead on three-year provider fees.

After year 1, agent service runs $149 yearly everywhere.

What the price takes in

  • Files the registration for you
  • Registered agent costs nothing in the first year
  • Works in all fifty states

In its favor

  • Agent service is included for year 1
  • Your next state is covered too
  • Provider fee of $199

Against it

  • A renewal $50 above IA Registered Agent.org's
Home-state choice

3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for a business that only registers in Iowa

$199 plus $100 to the state, then $99 yearly

In third place sits Iowa Registered Agent.co: $199 on top of the state fee for the registration, then $99 per year.

It ties with IA Registered Agent.org on price.

What the price takes in

  • Prepares and submits the registration
  • A year of agent service

In its favor

  • The agent renews at $99
  • A provider fee of $199
  • Agent covered in year 1

Against it

  • The home state needs a separate agent

Iowa ranking in one table

No.ProviderFirst yearLater yearsProvider fees over 3 years
1 IA Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Iowa Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
We read each company's price page on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $100 state fee.

Registration and upkeep, year by year

The registration fee is $100, with a $30 report from year 2; provider fees are added.
Add $130 for the state and $397 for IA Registered Agent.org and 3 years come to $527.

Iowa and the states around it in the ranking

PlaceStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
9thSouth Carolina$110
10thNebraska$125
11thIowa$130
12thIndiana$137
13thAlabama$150
For the other states, see Foreign LLC fees by state.

Iowa foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)

The registration is made with the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010), which goes to the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services along with $100. The application requires certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, no older than 90 days.

Upkeep in this state means the biennial report ($30), January 1 to April 1 of each odd-numbered year.

What to have in hand

  • Certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, not older than 90 days.
  • The LLC's legal name and the day it was formed.
  • A registered agent with a street address in this state; every provider on this page supplies one.
  • A method of paying the $100 filing fee.

What happens if you skip registration in Iowa

Until the LLC registers, a suit it files is blocked (Iowa Code 489.902). Contracts already signed stay in force (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

Why the first pick is first

IA Registered Agent.org moved ahead of Mainstay Filing on service bill, years one to three, which is weighted 34%.

Over three years IA Registered Agent.org charges $397 in provider fees, which is $100 under Mainstay Filing.

Iowa questions and answers

How much does it cost a foreign LLC to register in Iowa?

$100 to the state in fees. Our picks add $199.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in Iowa?

The Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010), which is sent to the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services.

Does the state want a certificate from the home state?

Yes, it wants certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, dated within 90 days of the filing.

Does a foreign LLC file anything every year?

Yes, it files the biennial report for $30.

What are the consequences of working there without registering?

Until the LLC registers, a suit it files is blocked (Iowa Code 489.902). Contracts already signed stay in force (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

Does a foreign LLC in Iowa need a registered agent?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

Which service would you choose to register a foreign LLC?

IA Registered Agent.org leads and Mainstay Filing and Iowa Registered Agent.co follow. The deciding factor is service bill, years one to three.

Where these facts come from

  1. Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division against help.sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
  2. Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division against help.sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
  3. Check our statements on Iowa report due date against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
  4. Check our statements on Iowa Code § 489.201 against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
  5. Check our statements on Iowa formation fee: Filing fee, official source against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  6. Check our statements on Iowa registered agent statute against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  7. Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  8. Check our statements on LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010 against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  9. Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  10. Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  11. Check our statements on Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence against sos.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  12. Check our statements on Iowa Code 489.902, registration to do business against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in November 2026.
  13. Check our statements on Iowa Code 490.1502, registration of a foreign corporation against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in November 2026.
  14. Check our statements on South Carolina Business Entities Online against businessfilings.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  15. Check our statements on SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs against sos.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  16. Check our statements on South Carolina Code, Title 33, Chapter 44 against scstatehouse.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  17. Check our statements on SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs against dor.sc.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  18. Check our statements on Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  19. Check our statements on Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  20. Check our statements on Neb against nebraskalegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  21. Check our statements on Neb against nebraskalegislature.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  22. Check our statements on Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting against sos.nebraska.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  23. Check our statements on Indiana Secretary of State business forms against in.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  24. Check our statements on Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of foreign entities against iga.in.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  25. Check our statements on Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees against iga.in.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  26. Check our statements on Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents against iga.in.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  27. Check our statements on INBiz Business Entity Report against inbiz.in.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  28. Check our statements on Alabama Secretary of State, LLC filings against sos.alabama.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  29. Check our statements on Foreign LLC Application for Registration against sos.alabama.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  30. Check our statements on Secretary of State fee schedule against sos.alabama.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  31. Check our statements on Secretary of State Online Services against alabamainteractive.org, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  32. Check our statements on Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.01 against alison.legislature.state.al.us, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  33. Check our statements on Department of Revenue, business privilege tax notice against revenue.alabama.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
  34. As read November 13, 2026, IA Registered Agent.org shows pricing page on its site
  35. As read November 13, 2026, Mainstay Filing shows Iowa service page on its site
  36. As read November 13, 2026, Iowa Registered Agent.co shows pricing page on its site