Cost summary
Forming an LLC in Iowa costs $50 in state fees[2]. After that the Biennial Report costs $30 every two years[3].
Mainstay Filing will file it for you for $199 a year plus Iowa's $50 fee, with the Iowa registered agent and the Biennial Report included[1].
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
Every Iowa LLC state fee
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Certificate of Organization) | $50 | Once | [2] legis.iowa.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Biennial Report | $30 | Every two years | [3] help.sos.iowa.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of registered agent | $0 | When filed | [4] legis.iowa.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to Iowa agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
In the formation year the state bill is $50. After that, $30 comes due every second year, about $15 a year averaged.
Iowa against nearby states
Averaged per year, Iowa's ongoing state cost is $15. Against a 50-state median of $30, 15 states charge less and 33 charge more. Next door, Minnesota, Missouri, and Nebraska cost less per year.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $50 | $30 / 2 yrs | $15 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 / yr | $75 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 / yr | $0 |
| Missouri | $50 | None | $0 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $25 / 2 yrs | $12.50 |
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 / yr | $55 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 / yr | $25 |
Filing-office fees only, per each state's own fee schedule as of August 12, 2026; biennial fees are shown halved in the last column.
Service costs on top of state fees
The state does not charge for naming a registered agent, but a commercial agent charges every year. An owner who lives in Iowa can serve personally, as an individual, if the address and hours rules are met.
At Mainstay Filing, Iowa registered agent service alone is $149 a year[1]. The $199 package covers formation, the EIN application and the $30 Biennial Report filing (state fee at cost) as well. Neither price rises at renewal.
5 other agent services published Iowa prices on October 20, 2026. They started at $99 and went up to $249 for year one, with renewals of $125 to $249.
Iowa's small businesses
Iowa had 63,956 employer firms and 228,133 nonemployer businesses in the Census Bureau's 2022 counts. Of the business locations that opened in Iowa between April 2019 and March 2020, 53.7% were still open in March 2025.
The Biennial Report
The Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division handles the Iowa Biennial Report. Its timing, method and cost:
- Filing: Biennial Report
- Filed with: Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division
- Fee: $30, every two years[3]
- Deadline: April 1 of odd-numbered years[5]
- How to file: online or on paper
The fee stays $30 whether or not the filing is late. Skip it long enough and the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division can dissolve the company[5].
Questions
How much is the Iowa LLC Biennial Report?
$30, every two years[3]. It is due april 1 of odd-numbered years.
What happens if an Iowa LLC misses the deadline?
The LLC loses good standing with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division, and continued non-filing can end in administrative dissolution or revocation.
Can a service handle these Iowa filings?
Mainstay Filing does: $199 a year covers forming the Iowa LLC, the registered agent and the EIN application[1]. The $30 Biennial Report fee is passed through when it is filed.
Is Iowa an expensive state for an LLC?
Iowa's formation fee is $50: 3 states charge less and 40 charge more. The yearly cost of keeping it, $15 on average, compares like this: 15 states charge less and 33 charge more.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Iowa Code § 489.201. www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.201.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division: Biennial Report rules and fee. help.sos.iowa.gov/how-do-i-file-biennial-report. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Statement of Change of Registered Office and/or Registered Agent fee. www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.122.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Iowa Code § 489.209; Iowa Code § 489.212. www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.212.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.