Place1
Our top pickMainstay Filing
1. Mainstay Filing: best for formation, agent and biennial report in one price
$199 yearly plus Iowa's fee, $249 at checkout
Our mark9.4out of 10
We put Mainstay Filing first: $199 a year buys the formation, a year of registered agent service and the biennial report filed for you.
The renewal includes filing the biennial report ($30 state fee, every two years, due April 1 of odd-numbered years), so a missed deadline is less likely.
You pay $200 more over three years than with IA Registered Agent.org, for more in the price.
What you get
- Formation prepared and filed
- Your registered agent, all year
- Your biennial report prepared and filed
- EIN application
Why pick it
- Renews at $199 with no add-ons
- Iowa's fee charged at cost
- One $199 yearly price with your biennial report filed
- EIN application included
Less good
- Higher renewal than IA Registered Agent.org (by $100)
Place2
Lower renewal than MainstayIA Registered Agent.org
2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for Iowa LLCs that file their own reports
$199 up front, $99 a year from year two
Our mark8.9out of 10
In second place, IA Registered Agent.org: Iowa formation at $199 plus state fees, with a $99 agent renewal.
The plan covers an in-state street address for your registered office, with legal documents scanned and sent to you online.
Budget time to file the biennial report yourself every two years.
What you get
- Iowa formation filed for you
- First year of registered agent service
Why pick it
- Then $99 a year
- $199 + state fee
- First year of registered agent service included
Less good
- You file the biennial report
- EIN costs $99 more
Place3
Low renewalIowa Registered Agent.co
3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for Iowa-only LLCs
$199 up front, $99 a year from year two
Our mark8.6out of 10
Iowa Registered Agent.co comes third with Iowa formation at $199 plus state fees, with a $99 agent renewal.
The plan covers an in-state street address for your registered office, with legal documents scanned and sent to you online.
Budget time to file the biennial report yourself every two years.
Prices and features match IA Registered Agent.org exactly, so the two are close to interchangeable.
What you get
- Iowa formation filed for you
- First year of registered agent service
Why pick it
- First year of registered agent service included
- $199 + state fee
- Then $99 a year
Less good
- You file the biennial report
- EIN costs $99 more
The 3 picks side by side
| Rank | Service | Our score | Service fee | Year two | Best for | Link |
|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | 9.4 | $199 | $199/yr | Formation, agent and biennial report in one price | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 2 | IA Registered Agent.org | 8.9 | $199 | $99/yr | An Iowa-only LLC on a budget | Visit IA Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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| 3 | Iowa Registered Agent.co | 8.6 | $199 | $99/yr | An Iowa-only LLC on a budget | Visit Iowa Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
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Editorial scores out of 10 from The Founders Review, using the criteria explained on How we rank. No customer ratings are involved.
2026 prices: year one, renewal and three-year total cost
| Service | Year one | Year two | Year three | Three-year total | Biennial report filed for you |
|---|
| Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199 | $199 | $597 | Yes |
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| IA Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
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| Iowa Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99 | $99 | $397 | No |
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Published prices, read November 12, 2026 on each company's site. Every service adds Iowa's $50 fee, so it is left out above.
Why this order
Our method scores three-year cost (30%) and what one price covers (30%) most heavily, then renewal terms, fit for the state and price clarity. Here the order came down to what one price covers.
Coverage wins here: the price includes the biennial report ($30 state fee), which IA Registered Agent.org leaves to you.
Read the full criteria on our How we rank page.
What forming an LLC in Iowa costs (2026)
The state fee is $50, paid to the Iowa Secretary of State with the Certificate of Organization (Iowa Code § 489.201). Each service adds it at cost.
Keeping an Iowa LLC in good standing
A $30 biennial report is due every two years by April 1 of odd-numbered years. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
Iowa LLC service questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?
Budget $50 for the state and $199 for the service.
What form creates the LLC?
The Certificate of Organization, filed with the Iowa Secretary of State.
Do I need a registered agent for an Iowa LLC?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What yearly filings does an Iowa LLC have?
The biennial report, every two years, due April 1 of odd-numbered years, with a $30 state fee.
Is the EIN application included?
Mainstay Filing's yearly price includes it. IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co charge $99 for it. The IRS itself charges no fee for an EIN.
Which LLC service is best in Iowa?
We rank Mainstay Filing first for the Iowa formation, your registered agent and the biennial report all sit under one $199 yearly price.