Iowa state charges, charted
11th
out of 50, foreign LLC state charges
Charge to register
$100
Recurring report
$30
Biennial report
Proof of good standing
90 days
Oldest the certificate can be
State total, years 1 to 3
$130
Registration fee, then reports for years 2 and 3
Providers for Iowa, ranked
The
method page lists all five criteria. The two heaviest are three-year charges and what the price covers.
Our pick
1. Mainstay Filing: best for filings in several states
$199 plus $100 to the state; $149/yr later
Start with Mainstay Filing, where $199 on top of Iowa's fee, then the agent at $149 each year from year two.
Expect to pay $100 more than IA Registered Agent.org across three years, with more of the work off your plate.
From the second year on, expect $149 per year for the agent.
Price covers
- Registration papers drawn up and filed for you
- First-year registered agent service carries no fee
- Same fee wherever you file
Upside
- $199 over the state charge
- Handles your next state too
- No agent charge in year one
Downside
- A bigger agent renewal ($149)
One state only
2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for a single extra state
$199 plus $100 to the state; $99/yr later
Next on the chart is IA Registered Agent.org, since registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.
Price covers
- The state filing for foreign LLCs
- A year of agent service
Upside
- $99 yearly from year two
- Year-one agent duty is included
- $199 over the state fee
Downside
- Nothing beyond this state
One state only
3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for another route for Iowa
$199 plus $100 to the state; $99/yr later
Next on the chart is Iowa Registered Agent.co, since registering costs $199 plus state fees, and the agent is covered in year one.
Price for price it equals IA Registered Agent.org.
Price covers
- The state filing for foreign LLCs
- A year of agent service
Upside
- $199 over the state fee
- $99 yearly from year two
- Year-one agent duty is included
Downside
- Nothing beyond this state
Iowa providers on one chart
All prices here are as the companies showed them on November 12, 2026. Every row still needs Iowa's $100 registration fee.
Registration and upkeep, year by year
The registration fee is $100, with the $30 report from year two; each provider's prices go on top.
Iowa and the states beside it on the chart
Bringing a foreign LLC into Iowa
The fee to register is $100, paid when the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010) is filed with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services. The filing must carry certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, at most 90 days.
It then keeps filing the biennial report ($30), January 1 to April 1 of each odd-numbered year.
What to bring
- Certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, issued within 90 days.
- The LLC's legal name plus the day it was formed.
- A registered agent inside the state, included with each pick.
- Means of paying the $100 registration fee.
Consequences of staying unregistered
A suit brought before registration is blocked until the filing is made (Iowa Code 489.902). Its contracts stay valid (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).
What put the first pick first
Requirements handled (24%) is the criterion on which Mainstay Filing outscored IA Registered Agent.org here.
A foreign LLC lives in two states, and coverage settled the order.
Iowa foreign registration service questions
What does Iowa charge a foreign LLC to register?
$100 as the official fee. Provider fees: $199.
Which form does a foreign LLC file with Iowa?
The form is the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010), and it goes to the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services.
Does the filing need a certificate from the home state?
Yes: certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, dated within 90 days of filing.
Does a foreign LLC have a yearly obligation?
A yearly filing applies, namely the biennial report, which costs $30.
What happens if the LLC does business there without registering?
A suit brought before registration is blocked until the filing is made (Iowa Code 489.902). Its contracts stay valid (Iowa Code 489.902(3)).
Must a foreign LLC name a registered agent for Iowa?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Which provider should register my foreign LLC?
Rank Mainstay Filing first and IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co after it; the deciding factor is requirements handled.
Where each number comes from
- Seen August 2026 regarding Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division: help.sos.iowa.gov
- Seen August 2026 regarding Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services Division: help.sos.iowa.gov
- Seen August 2026 regarding Iowa report due date: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen August 2026 regarding Iowa Code § 489.201: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa formation fee: Filing fee, official source: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa registered agent statute: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and: sos.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010: sos.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence: sos.iowa.gov
- Seen November 2026 regarding Iowa Code 489.902, registration to do business: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen November 2026 regarding Iowa Code 490.1502, registration of a foreign corporation: legis.iowa.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding South Carolina Business Entities Online: businessfilings.sc.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding SC Secretary of State, business entity FAQs: sos.sc.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding South Carolina Code, Title 33, Chapter 44: scstatehouse.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding SC Department of Revenue, corporate FAQs: dor.sc.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Nebraska Secretary of State, forms and fee information: sos.nebraska.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Application for Certificate of Authority, foreign LLC: sos.nebraska.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Neb: nebraskalegislature.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Nebraska Secretary of State, annual and biennial reporting: sos.nebraska.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Indiana Secretary of State business forms: in.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Indiana Code 23-0.5-5, registration of foreign entities: iga.in.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Indiana Code 23-0.5-9, fees: iga.in.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Indiana Code 23-0.5-4, registered agents: iga.in.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding INBiz Business Entity Report: inbiz.in.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Alabama Secretary of State, LLC filings: sos.alabama.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Foreign LLC Application for Registration: sos.alabama.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Secretary of State fee schedule: sos.alabama.gov
- Seen October 2026 regarding Secretary of State Online Services: alabamainteractive.org
- Seen October 2026 regarding Code of Alabama, section 10A-1-7.01: alison.legislature.state.al.us
- Seen October 2026 regarding Department of Revenue, business privilege tax notice: revenue.alabama.gov
- Mainstay Filing: Iowa service page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
- IA Registered Agent.org: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026
- Iowa Registered Agent.co: pricing page as the company showed it on November 12, 2026