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Statewise Business The state fee almanac for LLCs, sourced line by line.

LLC cost guide · Iowa

Iowa LLC Fees (2026): the State Schedule and the 3 Best LLC Services

Almanac pick for forming an LLC in Iowa, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199), ranked first to last. The schedule reads $50 for the filing, then $30 every two years for the biennial report; Iowa lands 7th of 50 on that basis.

Entry by the Statewise Business almanac desk ·

The Iowa schedule

7thacross 50 states, three-year state feesSmaller number, smaller state bill. Open the full table
Filing fee charged by the state
$50legis.iowa.gov, read October 2026
Biennial report
$30 / 2 yrsFalls due: April 1 of odd-numbered years. help.sos.iowa.gov, read October 2026
State fees over three years
$80Year-one filing plus years two and three

The services we would hire in Iowa

Order from the five weighted criteria on the methodology page: three-year service fees at 32%, filings covered at 28%, then renewal price, fit with Iowa rules and clarity of fees.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for the biennial report filed on your behalf

Almanac first pickYear one $199, renewal $199, state fee extra

Rank one, Mainstay Filing: a single yearly $199 pays for formation, a registered agent and the biennial report, and it renews at $199.

IA Registered Agent.org comes in $200 lower across three years, yet coverage counts ahead of that gap in our method.

The biennial report is handled too, and the $30 state fee is not marked up.

In the price

  • The formation filing, done for you
  • Registered agent service for the year
  • The biennial report, prepared and submitted
  • EIN application included
  • State fee billed at cost

Strengths

  • The EIN application is part of the price
  • $199 on renewal, no increase
  • A $199 yearly bundle

Weak points

  • IA Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for Iowa LLCs on a budget

In-state option$199 to form, then $99 a year

Listed second: IA Registered Agent.org, because a $199 formation fee and a $99 agent renewal.

Its price leaves out the biennial report.

In the price

  • Articles prepared and submitted
  • First year of agent service

Strengths

  • Agent renews at $99
  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 and the state fee

Weak points

  • No biennial report service offered
  • EIN application not in the price ($99)
Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for formation close to home

In-state option$199 to form, then $99 a year

Listed third: Iowa Registered Agent.co, because a $199 formation fee and a $99 agent renewal.

Its price leaves out the biennial report.

The prices are the same as IA Registered Agent.org's.

In the price

  • Articles prepared and submitted
  • First year of agent service

Strengths

  • Agent renews at $99
  • $199 and the state fee
  • Agent covered in year one

Weak points

  • No biennial report service offered
  • EIN application not in the price ($99)
Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The shortlist as numbers

#EntryYear-one priceYears two onService fees over three years
1Mainstay Filing$199$199/yr$597Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2IA Registered Agent.org$199$99/yr$397Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3Iowa Registered Agent.co$199$99/yr$397Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Company price pages, recorded November 12, 2026. Add Iowa's $50 filing fee to each row.

The LLC cost calculator

Choose years and a service. The state side uses the official schedule: $50 at formation, then the biennial report from year two.
3 years with Mainstay Filing comes to $677: $80 in state fees and $597 in service fees.

Iowa among its neighbors in the rank

PositionStateThree-year state fees
5thMontana$75
6thHawaii$76
7thIowa$80
8thUtah$95
9thOhio$99
All fifty rows: LLC costs by state.

Iowa LLC filing fee and form (official source)

The Iowa Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Organization for a $50 fee (Iowa Code § 489.201). Every service listed here adds that fee on top at cost.

Iowa's recurring filing

Budget $30 for the biennial report every two years, due April 1 of odd-numbered years.

Why Mainstay Filing is listed first

The deciding criterion in Iowa was requirements covered, weighted 28%.

IA Registered Agent.org costs less, but the biennial report stays with you.

Iowa LLC service questions

What will it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?

Iowa charges $50 to file. Our picks charge $199 on top.

What does the Iowa biennial report cost?

The state charges $30 every two years and expects the filing April 1 of odd-numbered years.

How does Iowa compare on LLC state fees?

Position 7th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $80, counting up from the least expensive state.

Is a registered agent mandatory in Iowa?

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

Which LLC services does this entry list?

Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199), by almanac rank, first entry first.

Which LLC service should I hire?

Mainstay Filing leads, then IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co. The lead comes down to requirements covered.

See also

Citations for this entry

  1. Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Source: help.sos.iowa.gov. Last read August 2026.
  2. Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Source: help.sos.iowa.gov. Last read August 2026.
  3. Iowa report due date. Source: legis.iowa.gov. Last read August 2026.
  4. Iowa Code § 489.201. Source: legis.iowa.gov. Last read August 2026.
  5. Iowa formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: legis.iowa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  6. Iowa registered agent statute. Source: legis.iowa.gov. Last read October 2026.
  7. Mont. Source: mca.legmt.gov. Last read August 2026.
  8. Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: sosmt.gov. Last read October 2026.
  9. Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: sosmt.gov. Last read October 2026.
  10. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source. Source: sosmt.gov. Last read October 2026.
  11. Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source. Source: sosmt.gov. Last read October 2026.
  12. Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: cca.hawaii.gov. Last read October 2026.
  13. Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: cca.hawaii.gov. Last read October 2026.
  14. Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July. Source: cca.hawaii.gov. Last read October 2026.
  15. Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source. Source: files.hawaii.gov. Last read October 2026.
  16. Utah Code § 48-3a-201. Source: le.utah.gov. Last read August 2026.
  17. Utah formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: commerce.utah.gov. Last read October 2026.
  18. Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Source: corporations.utah.gov. Last read August 2026.
  19. Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Source: corporations.utah.gov. Last read August 2026.
  20. Ohio Rev. Source: codes.ohio.gov. Last read August 2026.
  21. Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source. Source: codes.ohio.gov. Last read October 2026.
  22. Mainstay Filing Iowa service page, taken November 12, 2026
  23. IA Registered Agent.org pricing page, taken November 12, 2026
  24. Iowa Registered Agent.co pricing page, taken November 12, 2026