Iowa LLC Costs (2026): Official Fees and the 3 Best LLC Services
Short answer for Iowa in 2026: Mainstay Filing ($199), Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199) and IA Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. State fees: $50 at formation, $30 every two years for the biennial report. That is 7th of 50 states, counting from the least expensive.
Deadline: April 1 of odd-numbered years. Source help.sos.iowa.gov (October 2026)
Three-year state fees
$80
Filing fee and two years of upkeep
Iowa picks
Weights: 35% three-year service fees, 30% filings covered, 30% the rest (methodology).
Our first choice
1. Mainstay Filing: best for hands-off yearly filings
$199/yr plus the $50 state fee
First choice, Mainstay Filing: its $199 yearly price takes care of the Iowa filing, the registered agent and the biennial report, and it renews at $199.
It costs $200 more than Iowa Registered Agent.co over three years; on our method the extra filings it covers outweigh that.
The biennial report is filed for you; Iowa's own $30 fee still applies, at cost.
What you pay for
Formation prepared and filed
Registered agent, all year
Biennial report prepared and filed
EIN application
State fee billed at cost
For
Gets your EIN application done
$199/yr, all in
Renews at $199
Against
Renews $100 above Iowa Registered Agent.co
Iowa focus
2. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for a low-cost start
$199 + state fee · agent $99/yr after
Second on our list, Iowa Registered Agent.co: a $199 formation fee and a $99 yearly agent renewal.
The biennial report is not part of its price.
What you pay for
Formation filing done for you
First year of agent service
For
Formation fee $199
First agent year included
Agent renews at $99
Against
You file the biennial report
EIN application not included ($99)
Iowa focus
3. IA Registered Agent.org: best for a low agent renewal
$199 + state fee · agent $99/yr after
Third on our list, IA Registered Agent.org: a $199 formation fee and a $99 yearly agent renewal.
The biennial report is not part of its price.
Prices match Iowa Registered Agent.co exactly; either works.
To form the LLC you file the Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State and pay $50. All listed services pass it through at cost.
Biennial report: what it costs
Iowa expects the biennial report every two years (deadline April 1 of odd-numbered years) with a $30 fee.
What decided the order
Of our five criteria, state filings covered (30%) settled first place in Iowa.
Having the biennial report filed inside the price outweighed Iowa Registered Agent.co's lower three-year fees.
Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Iowa?
$50 to the state. A filing service adds $199.
How much is the Iowa biennial report?
$30, every two years, due April 1 of odd-numbered years.
Where does Iowa rank on LLC costs?
7th of 50 on three-year state fees, at $80, counting from the least expensive state.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which LLC services are on this page?
Mainstay Filing ($199), Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199) and IA Registered Agent.org ($199), as ranked.
Which LLC service would you use?
We'd use Mainstay Filing: one $199 charge a year covers formation, registered agent service and filing the biennial report. Iowa Registered Agent.co and IA Registered Agent.org follow.