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Foreign LLC guide · Iowa

Iowa Foreign LLC Fees (2026): Data on File and the 3 Best Services

Desk ranking for a foreign LLC registration in Iowa, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199). Iowa takes $100 from a foreign LLC and then $30 on every report; that is 11th of 50 across three years.

Desk note by LLC Data Desk ·

Iowa, the numbers

11thof 50 on registration plus reportsSmallest total ranks first. Full 50-state sheet
Fee to register
$100sos.iowa.gov [October 2026]
Report
$30Biennial report
Home-state certificate
90 daysIssued no earlier than
Total owed to the state, 3 yrs
$130Three-year view, foreign LLC

Iowa ranking

Criteria and weights: method.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for a later third or fourth state

Top ranked$199 plus the $100 state fee; $149/yr after

We rank Mainstay Filing first. Reason: registration is $199 plus state fees, and the registered agent is free for year one.

Net of IA Registered Agent.org, the three-year bill is $100 higher, with more filings covered.

Year two on, the agent costs $149 a year in every state.

What the fee covers

  • Registration filed on your behalf
  • Registered agent: no fee in year one
  • One fee, any state

Pros

  • $199 over the state fee
  • One fee anywhere
  • Registered agent free in year one

Cons

  • Renewal $50 above IA Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for one extra state

Iowa specialist$199 plus the $100 state fee; $99/yr after

#2 is IA Registered Agent.org: $199 service fee, $99 agent renewal.

What the fee covers

  • Registration filing prepared for you
  • A year of agent service

Pros

  • Agent covered in year one
  • $199 plus state fee
  • $99 a year for the agent after

Cons

  • Iowa alone
Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for registering only in Iowa

Iowa specialist$199 plus the $100 state fee; $99/yr after

#3 is Iowa Registered Agent.co: $199 service fee, $99 agent renewal.

Ties with IA Registered Agent.org on price.

What the fee covers

  • Registration filing prepared for you
  • A year of agent service

Pros

  • $199 plus state fee
  • Agent covered in year one
  • $99 a year for the agent after

Cons

  • Iowa alone
Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Iowa picks, one table

#ServiceYr 1Yr 2+Service fees, 3 yrs
1Mainstay Filing$199$149/yr$497Visit 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.
Posted fees, November 12, 2026. The $100 state fee is not in any row.

Run the numbers

Registration fee $100, report $30 from year two; service fees are added.
$130 state plus $497 service (Mainstay Filing) gives $627 over 3 years.

Iowa next to nearby ranks

RkStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
9thSouth Carolina$110
10thNebraska$125
11thIowa$130
12thIndiana$137
13thAlabama$150
Other states: Foreign LLC fees by state.

How Iowa registers foreign LLCs (2026)

The Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services accepts the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010) and $100 from LLCs formed elsewhere. Attach certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, issued no more than 90 days.

After registration it files the biennial report ($30), January 1 to April 1 of each odd-numbered year.

Filing checklist

  • Certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, issued within 90 days.
  • The LLC's legal name and the day it was formed.
  • A registered agent with a street address here; each service on this page supplies one.
  • A budget for the $100 state fee.

Operating unregistered: risks

Unregistered, the LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Iowa Code 489.902). Contracts stay valid (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

How the Iowa order was set

Scope of the price settled first place in Iowa. It carries 29% of the score; the other criteria are service bill over three years, renewal step, state rule match, fee transparency.

Reach across states outweighed IA Registered Agent.org's smaller renewal.

Iowa: questions

Fee for a foreign LLC to register in Iowa?

$100 as the official fee. Service fees: $199.

Foreign registration form for Iowa?

Use the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010); it goes to the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services.

Home-state certificate required?

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

Anything due yearly from a foreign LLC?

Yes, the biennial report, fee $30.

What if the LLC works there unregistered?

Unregistered, the LLC cannot sue in the state's courts (Iowa Code 489.902). Contracts stay valid (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

Iowa: a registered agent for a foreign LLC?

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

Which service do you pick for foreign registration?

Rank Mainstay Filing first ($199 over the state fee, registered agent free in year one, then $149 a year), then IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co.

More from this state

Basis for this page

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