| Articles of Organization (state fee) | $50 |
| Biennial Report | $60 |
| Registered Agent (1st year, included in bundle) | Included |
| EIN (IRS — included in bundle) | Included |
| TrueFormed formation service fee | $89 |
| Total Year 1 with TrueFormed | $199 |
Year 2+: Registered Agent renewal is $99/yr. Compare: ZenBusiness Year 1 runs about $448 (Pro formation $199 + RA $199 + state fee) for the same services. We publish our full cost breakdown.
Your LLC name must be unique in Iowaand include "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company." Search the Secretary of State database at Secretary of State website to check availability.
Iowa requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state. A registered agent receives legal and tax documents on behalf of your business. You can serve as your own registered agent if you have a Iowa address, or use a service like TrueFormed. Our $89 formation bundle includes the first year; renewal is $99/year.
File your Articles of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State. You can file online at sos.iowa.gov. The filing fee is $50 and processing typically takes 5-7 business days.
Or let TrueFormed handle it — our $89 bundle includes this filing plus EIN, Operating Agreement, and your first year of Registered Agent service. You pay the $50 state fee on top.
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is your business's tax ID. It's free from the IRS and takes about 5 minutes online. You'll need it to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire employees.
Iowa doesn't legally require an operating agreement, but every LLC should have one. It defines ownership percentages, management structure, and what happens if a member leaves. Banks often require it to open a business account.
Iowa requires a biennial report filed with the Secretary of State. Deadline: By April 1, every odd year. The fee is $60.
Miss the deadline and your LLC can be administratively dissolved. If you keep our $99/yr Registered Agent service active we track this deadline automatically; filing the report is a $99 + state-fee add-on when it comes due.
See our annual reports guide →
3.9% flat income tax rate.
Our $89 bundle covers formation, EIN, Operating Agreement, and your first year of Registered Agent service. State fee ($50) is paid to Iowa at cost.