Start an LLC in Iowa
Start an Iowa LLC by filing a Certificate of Organization with the Iowa Secretary of State for $50. Use our free tool to fill out the paperwork right here. Or, hire Northwest to get filing with Privacy by Default® for just $39. We include a year of registered agent service, plus a free domain, web hosting, email, phone, and brand protection, so you can build a strong business identity.
Iowa Certificate of Organization
Use our free tool to fill out your Iowa Certificate of Organization. Submitting this form to the Iowa Secretary of State officially creates your LLC. Save your progress, download, and print at any time. Or, hire us to prepare and submit your Certificate for you.
How to Start an LLC in Iowa
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a permanent public record. Starting an LLC requires sharing personal information with the government, banks, landlords, vendors, and of course, customers. Our LLC formation service includes a free domain name, web hosting, phone line, email address, and brand protection, so you can start building your business identity on day one. Protect your privacy and stay in control of your intellectual property with Northwest.
1. Name Your LLC
To register your LLC, you’ll need to know what you’re calling it. At risk of hyperbole, choosing a name for your LLC is almost as important as picking a name for your child.
Your name must follow Iowa LLC naming rules, but there are also marketing aspects to consider. You may want to make sure that you can get a domain name that’s similar to your business name. You can also check that the name you want hasn’t already been trademarked by another business (and is available for you to trademark in the future) using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database.
Iowa LLC naming rules
- Include the words limited liability company, limited company, or LLC
- Don’t include any terms that require approval from the government if you don’t have that approval
- Make sure the name you want hasn’t already been claimed by someone else by checking availability using the Iowa Business Entity Search
Reserve a business name in Iowa
Not ready to file your formation documents but already know what name you want to use?
In Iowa, the Secretary of State allows you to reserve a business name for 120 days.
Simply file an Application for Reservation of Name and pay the $10 fee.
2. Register Your Domain Name
After choosing a name, a good next step is locking down a domain name for your business website. Your domain name is the address for your website.
A good domain name should:
- Be easy for your customers to remember
- If possible, match or complement your business name
When you register your domain name early, you’re more likely to get a name that meets those standards and helps you maintain brand consistency across channels.
You’ll need to claim a business domain name through a registrar, but Northwest makes the process easy. We include a free domain, web hosting, and email with LLC formation, so you can get your LLC online fast.
3. Appoint an Iowa Registered Agent
All LLCs in the state are required to appoint an Iowa registered agent. A registered agent is an individual or a company (like Northwest) designated to receive legal and state mail on behalf of your business.
Your Iowa registered agent must:
- Have a physical address in Iowa (no P.O. Boxes)
- Be present at that address during regular business hours (9 AM to 5 PM)
- Agree to accept service of process on behalf of your LLC
Because your registered agent’s information must be listed on your formation paperwork, it becomes publicly accessible. For that reason, your registered agent is a key part of your business identity. To avoid listing your personal information and home address, use a registered agent service like Northwest.
4. Submit Certificate of Organization
Iowa is an unusual state because it has no official Certificate of Organization to submit to form your LLC. You’ll need to create a document that will serve as your Certificate. This document is what you’ll submit, plus a $50 filing fee.
You can make a Certificate of Organization on your own, or start from our Articles of Organization/Certificate of Organization template. Here’s what you need to include:
- Iowa limited liability company name: Your LLC’s name, which must comply with state naming laws.
- Principal office street and mailing address(es): The primary address(es) where people can reach your business.
- Iowa registered agent and address: Your registered agent’s name and address. The address must be a physical address, not a P.O. Box.
Make sure to have all of the above information squared away before you fill out your Certificate of Organization.
How do you submit a Certificate of Organization in Iowa?
You can submit your Iowa Certificate of Organization by mail or in person, but online is the fastest option. Once your Certificate of Organization has been processed, your LLC is in business!
Secretary of State
Business Services Division
Lucas Building, 1st Floor
Des Moines, Iowa 50319
Go to:
5. Create an Operating Agreement
Your LLC’s operating agreement lays out the essential rules and procedures of how your business will run. An operating agreement usually covers things like:
- Member interest percentages
- Profit distribution
- Dissolution plans
- Member removals or additions
As long as your operating agreement doesn’t go against anything in your Certificate or Iowa law, you have a lot of flexibility to tailor the agreement to the needs of your business.
LLCs in Iowa are not required to make an operating agreement, but the benefits of having one are significant. A strong operating agreement can help uphold your limited liability status in court and protect the interests of your members in case of a dispute.
If you find the task of coming up with an operating agreement intimidating, don’t sweat it! Our attorneys have already written up an initial Iowa operating agreement that you can personalize for free.
6. Get an EIN
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a 9-digit number issued by the IRS and used to identify your business on tax filings.
Not every LLC in Iowa is required to get an EIN. Owners of single-member LLCs with no employees can file taxes using their Social Security numbers.
All multi-member LLCs, all LLCs with employees, and all LLCs filing as either C corp or S corp are required to get an EIN. Many banks also require an EIN to open a business bank account, so it’s a good idea to have one even if you own a single-member LLC.
You can apply for an EIN with the IRS or hire us to get one for you.
7. File Your Iowa Biennial Report
After forming an LLC in Iowa, you’re required to file a Biennial Report for your LLC every two years. This report allows you to confirm your LLC’s name and registered agent with the state. It also allows you to verify and, if necessary, change your business address and contact information.
Filing your Biennial Report on time is essential. Even though there’s no late fee if you miss the deadline, if you fail to file within the first 60 days following your due date, your business may be administratively dissolved by the Iowa Secretary of State. Then, you have to get your LLC reinstated so you can start doing business again.
The Biennial Report is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after your LLC was formed. So if your LLC was formed in 2025 or 2026, your first report would be due on April 1, 2027.
The filing fee for the Biennial Report is $30 online or $45 by mail or in person.
If dealing with paperwork isn’t your cup of tea, you can have us file your Iowa Biennial Report for you. In fact, we include enrollment in our Annual Renewal Filing Service with LLC formation to prevent you from missing this important filing.
8. Pay Your Taxes
By default, LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities. This means that the business itself isn’t taxed; instead, profits are passed through to the owners.
Your LLC’s owners report the business profits as income on their own individual tax returns and then pay federal self-employment tax on their net earnings from the business. They also pay Iowa income tax on that income. The federal self-employment tax rate is 15.3%, and Iowa’s personal income tax rate is a flat 3.8%.
LLCs in Iowa have the option to elect to be taxed as a C or S corp. Learn more in our guide to Iowa LLC taxes.
Start Your Iowa LLC
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