Foreign LLC Services › Iowa
Foreign LLC services in Iowa, compared
In Iowa a filing service costs $199 on top of the $100 state fee. Mainstay Filing is our first pick.
Best 3 Foreign Registration Services in Iowa (2026)
Ranked for Iowa.
| # | Service | Service fee | Iowa fee | Agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $100 | Year one included, then $149/yr |
| 2 | IA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $100 | Year one included, then $99/yr |
| 3 | Iowa Registered Agent.co | $199 | $100 | Year one included, then $99/yr |
Service prices read from each provider’s Iowa page on October 28, 2026. The state fee is the official figure below and is paid to the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services.
Side by side with doing it yourself
| Route | Service fee | Agent, year one | Agent after | Year one, before any agent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | Included | $149 a year | $299 |
| IA Registered Agent.org | $199 | Included | $99 a year | $299 |
| Iowa Registered Agent.co | $199 | Included | $99 a year | $299 |
| Do it yourself | $0 | You arrange one | Your cost | $100 |
A registered agent must have a street address in Iowa. Doing it yourself means you arrange and pay for one.
What the state requires either way
- Application
- Form 635_0010, Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement
- Good-standing certificate
- Certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation, no older than 90 days
- Yearly filing
- Biennial report (Iowa Secretary of State), $30 (due: january 1 to April 1 of each odd-numbered year)
Iowa service questions
Which service is best for a foreign LLC in Iowa?
We rank Mainstay Filing first for Iowa: $199 plus the $100 state fee, with the agent free for the first year.
What does a Iowa service include?
The application, the filing with the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, payment of the state fee and a registered agent for the first year.
Is it cheaper to file in Iowa myself?
On paper, yes by $199: the state fee is $100. You would also need to find a registered agent and prepare Form 635_0010, Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement.
Sources
- Iowa Secretary of State, business entity forms and fees: sos.iowa.gov/businesses/business-entity-forms-and-fees, checked October 8, 2026
- LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form 635_0010: sos.iowa.gov/business/pdf/635_0010.pdf, checked October 8, 2026
- Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement: www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.902.pdf, checked October 8, 2026
- Iowa Code 489.905, activities that do not count: www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.905.pdf, checked October 8, 2026
- Iowa Code 489.212, biennial report: www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.212.pdf, checked October 8, 2026
- Iowa Secretary of State, certificate of existence: sos.iowa.gov/businesses/certificate-existence, checked October 8, 2026