State filing fee
$50
legis.iowa.gov (read October 2026)
LLC cost guide · Iowa
Iowa LLC Fees and Costs (2026): the Official Numbers and the 3 Best LLC Services
In 2026, for setting up an LLC in Iowa, our order is Mainstay Filing ($199), Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199) and IA Registered Agent.org ($199). State cost in Iowa is $50 to form plus $30 every two years for the biennial report, which lands at number 7th of 50 over three years.
Iowa: the facts
Biennial report
$30 / 2 yrs
Due date, in the state's own words: April 1 of odd-numbered years. help.sos.iowa.gov (read October 2026)
State charges over 3 years
$80
Year 1 filing, years 2 and 3 reports
Ranked services for Iowa
The method page lists every criterion and weight.
1. Mainstay Filing: best for one price for filing and yearly upkeep
Year 1 $199; later years $199; state fee separate
We put Mainstay Filing at number one since a single yearly price of $199 pays for formation, a registered agent and the biennial report.
Over three years the provider fees are $200 above Iowa Registered Agent.co's, and in exchange the state paperwork it handles is wider.
Filing the biennial report is part of the price, and the state's $30 is added at cost.
What the price takes in
- Files the formation papers for you
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Prepares and files the biennial report
- Takes care of the EIN application
- The state fee comes at its listed amount
In its favor
- The price holds at $199 on renewal
- It files the EIN application for you
- A $199 yearly bundle
Against it
- $100 more each year from year 2
2. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for Iowa LLCs working to a budget
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
Iowa Registered Agent.co comes second because starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
The biennial report is not part of the price, so you file it every two years.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- A formation price of $199
- The first agent year is included
- $99 a year from year 2
Against it
- The owner files the biennial report personally
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
3. IA Registered Agent.org: best for a cheaper agent renewal
$199 plus the state fee; agent $99 per year from year 2
IA Registered Agent.org comes third because starting costs $199 with the agent covered the first year; each year after is $99.
The biennial report is not part of the price, so you file it every two years.
It ties with Iowa Registered Agent.co on price.
What the price takes in
- Prepares the formation filing
- First year of agent service
In its favor
- $99 a year from year 2
- The first agent year is included
- A formation price of $199
Against it
- The owner files the biennial report personally
- The EIN is not in the price ($99)
Compare the 3 picks
| No. | Provider | First year | Later years | Provider fees over 3 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Iowa Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | IA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
We read each company's price page on November 13, 2026. No row includes the $50 state fee.
Iowa LLC cost calculator
Choose a number of years and a provider. The state part follows the official fee schedule: $50 to form, then the biennial report from year 2.
Iowa and the states around it in the ranking
The full table is at LLC costs by state, lowest bills first.
What Iowa charges to file, 2026
To form the LLC, send the Certificate of Organization and $50 to the Iowa Secretary of State (Iowa Code § 489.201). Each provider below adds this fee at cost.
The biennial report in Iowa, 2026
Under Iowa rules the biennial report gets filed every two years, April 1 of odd-numbered years, and the state's fee for it is $30.
Why the first pick is first
Mainstay Filing wins on paperwork inside the price, which counts for 28%, and Iowa Registered Agent.co follows.
Taking over the biennial report tipped the score toward the bundle.
Questions about Iowa
How much does Iowa charge to form an LLC?
The state fee is $50. Provider fees come to $199.
What will filing the biennial report cost in Iowa?
It costs $30 and is due every two years, April 1 of odd-numbered years.
Where does Iowa stand on LLC costs?
Iowa is number 7th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $80. The lowest total takes number 1.
Does Iowa require a registered agent?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC services does this page rank?
Mainstay Filing ($199), Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199) and IA Registered Agent.org ($199), listed from strongest to weakest.
Which LLC service would you choose?
The order is Mainstay Filing, Iowa Registered Agent.co and IA Registered Agent.org.
Where these facts come from
- 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.
- 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.
- Check our statements on Iowa report due date against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Iowa Code § 489.201 against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- 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.
- Check our statements on Iowa registered agent statute against legis.iowa.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Mont against mca.legmt.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sosmt.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source against sosmt.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source against sosmt.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source against sosmt.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source against cca.hawaii.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source against cca.hawaii.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July against cca.hawaii.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source against files.hawaii.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Utah Code § 48-3a-201 against le.utah.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Utah formation fee: Filing fee, official source against commerce.utah.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Check our statements on Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code against corporations.utah.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code against corporations.utah.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Ohio Rev against codes.ohio.gov, the official page, which we last read in August 2026.
- Check our statements on Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source against codes.ohio.gov, the official page, which we last read in October 2026.
- Mainstay Filing posted Iowa service page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- Iowa Registered Agent.co posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026
- IA Registered Agent.org posted pricing page; we read the page November 13, 2026