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LLC cost guide · Iowa

Iowa LLC Cost (2026): State Fees on File and the 3 Best LLC Services

Desk ranking for forming an LLC in Iowa, 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199). File for $50, then pay $30 every two years to file the biennial report; three-year state cost ranks 7th of 50.

Desk note by LLC Data Desk ·

Iowa: data sheet

7thof fifty, three-year state costSmall number, small bill. Full 50-state sheet
Fee to file
$50Pulled October 2026 from legis.iowa.gov
Biennial report
$30 / 2 yrsDate set by the state: April 1 of odd-numbered years. Pulled October 2026 from help.sos.iowa.gov
Total owed to the state, 3 yrs
$80Year-1 filing, then years 2 and 3

Iowa ranking

Order of criteria: three-year fees, coverage, renewal, Iowa fit, fee transparency (method).

1. Mainstay Filing: best for owners who want the biennial report off their plate

Rank 1$199/yr plus the $50 state fee

We rank Mainstay Filing first. Reason: $199 a year buys the Iowa formation, registered agent service and the biennial report; renewal is $199.

IA Registered Agent.org is $200 cheaper across three years; coverage is the reason this one still ranks higher.

Mainstay submits the biennial report, and Iowa's $30 comes through at cost.

What the fee covers

  • Formation filed on your behalf
  • Registered agent for the full year
  • Biennial report prepared and submitted
  • EIN application included
  • State fee at face value

Pros

  • No renewal jump ($199)
  • $199/yr, all in
  • No separate EIN fee

Cons

  • Yearly bill $100 larger than IA Registered Agent.org's
Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for a lean first year

One stateYr 1 $199; each later year $99

#2 is IA Registered Agent.org: $199 to start, year-one agent covered; $99 yearly after that.

The biennial report is not in the fee; you file it every two years.

What the fee covers

  • Iowa formation filed
  • First year of agent service

Pros

  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Free first agent year
  • $199 plus state fee

Cons

  • Owner keeps the biennial report to file
  • EIN not in the fee ($99)
Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for Iowa-only LLCs

One stateYr 1 $199; each later year $99

#3 is Iowa Registered Agent.co: $199 to start, year-one agent covered; $99 yearly after that.

The biennial report is not in the fee; you file it every two years.

Price for price, equal to IA Registered Agent.org.

What the fee covers

  • Iowa formation filed
  • First year of agent service

Pros

  • Free first agent year
  • $99 yearly from year two
  • $199 plus state fee

Cons

  • Owner keeps the biennial report to file
  • EIN not in the fee ($99)
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$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.
Posted fees, November 12, 2026. Each row needs the $50 state fee on top.

State and service fees by year

Pick years and a service. State side follows the official schedule: $50 to form, then the biennial report from year two.
Total, 3 years, Mainstay Filing: $677. State $80; service $597.

Iowa next to nearby ranks

RkStateThree-year state fees
5thMontana$75
6thHawaii$76
7thIowa$80
8thUtah$95
9thOhio$99
The full ranking uses one method for all fifty states.

Iowa filing fee, 2026

Fee: $50. File the Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State. Authority: Iowa Code § 489.201. Each service below bills it at cost.

Iowa biennial report: fee, deadline and late penalty

Report on file: biennial report, once per cycle, $30, April 1 of odd-numbered years.

How the Iowa order was set

Scope of the price (29%) is where Mainstay Filing beat IA Registered Agent.org in Iowa.

IA Registered Agent.org is cheaper, yet you still file the biennial report.

Iowa LLC service questions

State fee to form an LLC in Iowa?

Official fee: $50. The picks bill $199 above the state fee.

What fee comes with the Iowa biennial report?

Due April 1 of odd-numbered years; fee $30, every two years.

Iowa rank on LLC fees?

7th of 50 on three-year state fees: $80. Rank 1 is the smallest total.

Is a registered agent required in Iowa?

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

Which LLC services are ranked here?

Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199), in the desk's rank order.

Which LLC service do you pick?

Pick Mainstay Filing: one fee, $199 a year, pays for formation, a registered agent and the biennial report. Next: IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co.

Related files

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 (Mont): mca.legmt.gov, pulled August 2026.
  8. Desk file (Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source): sosmt.gov, pulled October 2026.
  9. Desk file (Montana formation fee: Filing fee, official source): sosmt.gov, pulled October 2026.
  10. Desk file (Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source): sosmt.gov, pulled October 2026.
  11. Desk file (Montana yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source): sosmt.gov, pulled October 2026.
  12. Desk file (Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source): cca.hawaii.gov, pulled October 2026.
  13. Desk file (Hawaii formation fee: Filing fee, official source): cca.hawaii.gov, pulled October 2026.
  14. Desk file (Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division release of July): cca.hawaii.gov, pulled October 2026.
  15. Desk file (Hawaii yearly filing: Annual report: fee, official source): files.hawaii.gov, pulled October 2026.
  16. Desk file (Utah Code § 48-3a-201): le.utah.gov, pulled August 2026.
  17. Desk file (Utah formation fee: Filing fee, official source): commerce.utah.gov, pulled October 2026.
  18. Desk file (Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code): corporations.utah.gov, pulled August 2026.
  19. Desk file (Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code): corporations.utah.gov, pulled August 2026.
  20. Desk file (Ohio Rev): codes.ohio.gov, pulled August 2026.
  21. Desk file (Ohio formation fee: Filing fee, official source): codes.ohio.gov, pulled October 2026.
  22. Mainstay Filing: Iowa service page on file as of November 12, 2026
  23. IA Registered Agent.org: pricing page on file as of November 12, 2026
  24. Iowa Registered Agent.co: pricing page on file as of November 12, 2026