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State Filing Data LLC fees by state, read from the source.

Foreign LLC guide · Iowa

Iowa Foreign LLC Registration (2026): Fees and the 3 Best Services

In 2026 we'd hire Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Mainstay Filing ($199) for foreign LLC registration in Iowa, in that order. Iowa charges $100 to register a foreign LLC and $30 for its yearly report, which ranks 11th of 50.
State Filing Data research desk

Iowa at a glance

of 50 states for foreign LLCs

1st = least expensive. All states

Registration fee

$100

October 2026: sos.iowa.gov

Yearly report

$30

Biennial report

Home-state certificate

90 days

Issued within this window

Three-year state fees

$130

Model: register plus two years of reports

Iowa picks

Weights: 35% three-year service fees, 30% filings covered, 30% the rest (methodology).

We would start here

1. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for adding only Iowa

$199 plus the $100 state fee, then $99 a year

Iowa Registered Agent.co gets our first slot: the Iowa registration for $199 with a year of agent service and $99 yearly after.

Lower three-year service fees than Mainstay Filing put it on top; cost carries 35% of our method.

What you pay for

  • Registration filed for you
  • A year of agent service

For

  • Service fee $199
  • Then $99 a year
  • A year of agent service included

Against

  • Iowa only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit Iowa Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Local option

2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for a second Iowa option

$199 plus the $100 state fee, then $99 a year

In second place, IA Registered Agent.org: the Iowa registration for $199 with a year of agent service and $99 yearly after.

Same published prices as Iowa Registered Agent.co.

What you pay for

  • Registration filed for you
  • A year of agent service

For

  • Service fee $199
  • Then $99 a year
  • A year of agent service included

Against

  • Iowa only; your home state needs its own agent
Visit IA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Any state

3. Mainstay Filing: best for one price in any state

$199 plus the $100 state fee, then $149 a year

In third place, Mainstay Filing: $199 plus Iowa's fee, then $149 a year for the agent from year two.

On three-year service fees it trails Iowa Registered Agent.co by $100.

After the free first year the agent runs $149 a year in any state.

What you pay for

  • Registration prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, free for the first year
  • Same service fee in every state

For

  • Year one agent at no charge
  • $199 + state fee
  • One price for any state

Against

  • Higher agent renewal ($149)
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Iowa picks compared

#ServiceYear oneFrom year twoThree-year service fees
1 Iowa Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397
Visit Iowa Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 IA Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397
Visit IA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Service prices from each company's own pages, read November 12, 2026. Iowa's $100 registration fee comes on top.

Registration cost calculator

Pick years and a service. The state side is the $100 registration and each yearly report.

$527 over 3 years with Iowa Registered Agent.co (state $130, service $397).

Iowa and its neighbors in the rank

RankStateThree-year foreign LLC fees
9th South Carolina$110
10th Nebraska$125
11th Iowa$130
12th Indiana$137
13th Alabama$150

Five rows of fifty; the rest are in Foreign LLC fees by state.

The Iowa filing for out-of-state LLCs

An LLC formed elsewhere files the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010) with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services and pays $100. Include certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, dated within 90 days.

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

Checklist

  • Certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, dated within 90 days.
  • Legal name plus the date the LLC was formed.
  • A registered agent in the state (included with each pick).
  • A way to pay the $100 official fee.

Penalties for not registering in Iowa

Registration has to come before any lawsuit the LLC wants to file there (Iowa Code 489.902). Existing contracts stay enforceable (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

Why Iowa Registered Agent.co is first

Service fees over three years is worth 35% of the score, and it put Iowa Registered Agent.co ahead of IA Registered Agent.org here.

Over three years Iowa Registered Agent.co charges $397 in service fees, $100 less than Mainstay Filing.

FAQ

How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC in Iowa?

$100 to the state. A service adds $199.

Which form registers a foreign LLC in Iowa?

File Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010) with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

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

What does a foreign LLC file after registering?

The biennial report, $30.

What if the LLC does business there without registering?

Registration has to come before any lawsuit the LLC wants to file there (Iowa Code 489.902). Existing contracts stay enforceable (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).

Is a registered agent needed there?

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

Who should file the registration?

Iowa Registered Agent.co, IA Registered Agent.org and Mainstay Filing, in that order.

More for this state

Official sources and price pages

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