Iowa Code ch. 486A contains no periodic-report provision (486A.1001(5): LLP status 'remains effective, regardless of changes in the partnership, until the statement is canceled'); Iowa Admin. Code r. 721-40.7 imposes biennial-report fees only under chapters 488, 489, and 490 · source↗ (opens the official source)
Every fee datum on this page is verified against the agency's own published schedule or statute (independent re-verification, 2026-09-04); the origin of each value is kept in its record as evidence.
Values were first corroborated across independent internal records; verified cells now also carry the agency's own published schedule or statute as their authority, which is what promotion to verified requires.
Cost position
Ranked 10 of 54 on first-year state
filing cost, at $80.00 against a national median
of $181.50.
Recurring annual cost $30.
See the full ranking.
Where Iowa sits among its neighbours in the first-year cost ranking (USD)Show all 54 jurisdictionsThe full ranking with Iowa highlighted (USD)
Registered-agent statutes, quoted verbatim
The one section on this page that clears the publication gate in full. 10 citations, verified, quoted from the official code with every elision marked.
Iowa Code § 490.501
◎Verified
Iowa Code Chapter 490 - Business Corporations · applies to
corporations
Registered office and agent of domestic and registered foreign corporations.1. Each corporation shall continuously maintain in this state all of the following: a. A registered office that may be the same as any of its places of business. b. A registered agent, which may be any of the following: (1) An individual who resides in this state and whose business office is identical with the registered office. (2) A domestic or foreign corporation or eligible entity whose business office is identical with the registered office and, in the case of a foreign corporation or foreign eligible entity, is registered to do business in this state.
Iowa Code Chapter 489 - Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Registered agent.1. Each limited liability company and each registered foreign limited liability company shall designate and maintain a registered agent in this state. The designation of a registered agent is an affirmation of fact by the limited liability company or registered foreign limited liability company that the agent has consented to serve. 2. A registered agent for a limited liability company or registered foreign limited liability company must have a place of business in this state.
Iowa Code Chapter 490 - Business Corporations · applies to
corp
Articles of incorporation.1. The articles of incorporation must set forth all of the following: a. A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the requirements of section 490.401. b. The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue. c. The street and mailing addresses of the corporation's initial registered office and the name of its initial registered agent at that office. d. The name and address of each incorporator.
Iowa Code Chapter 489 - Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Formation of limited liability company - certificate of organization.1. One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by delivering to the secretary of state for filing a certificate of organization. 2. A certificate of organization must state all of the following: a. The name of the limited liability company, which must comply with section 489.112. b. The street and mailing addresses of the limited liability company's principal office. c. The name and street and mailing addresses in this state of the limited liability company's registered agent. [...] 4. A limited liability company is formed when the certificate of organization becomes effective.
Iowa Code Chapter 490 - Business Corporations · applies to
corp
Biennial report for secretary of state.1. Each domestic corporation shall deliver to the secretary of state for filing a biennial report that sets forth all of the following: a. The name of the corporation. [...] 4. The first biennial report shall be delivered to the secretary of state between January 1 and April 1 of the first even-numbered year following the calendar year in which a domestic corporation was incorporated or a foreign corporation was registered to do business in this state. Subsequent biennial reports must be delivered to the secretary of state between January 1 and April 1 of the following even-numbered calendar years.
Iowa Code Chapter 489 - Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Biennial report for secretary of state.1. A limited liability company or a foreign limited liability company registered to do business in this state shall deliver to the secretary of state for filing a biennial report that states all of the following: a. The name of the company. [...] 3. The first biennial report in this state must be delivered to the secretary of state between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year following the calendar year in which a limited liability company was formed or a foreign limited liability company was registered to do business. A subsequent biennial report must be delivered to the secretary of state between January 1 and April 1 of each following odd-numbered calendar year.
Iowa Code Chapter 490 - Business Corporations · applies to
corp
Grounds for administrative dissolution.The secretary of state may commence a proceeding under section 490.1421 to dissolve a corporation administratively, if any of the following apply: 1. The corporation does not pay within sixty days after they are due any fees, taxes, interest, or penalties imposed by this chapter or other laws of this state. 2. The corporation does not deliver its biennial report required by section 490.1621 to the secretary of state within sixty days after it is due. 3. The corporation is without a registered agent or registered office in this state for sixty days or more. [...]
Iowa Code Chapter 489 - Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Grounds for administrative dissolution.The secretary of state may commence a proceeding under section 489.709 to dissolve a limited liability company administratively, if any of the following apply: 1. The limited liability company does not pay within sixty days after they are due any fees, taxes, interest, or penalties imposed by this chapter or other laws of this state. 2. The limited liability company does not deliver its biennial report required by section 489.212 to the secretary of state within sixty days after it is due. 3. The limited liability company is without a registered agent or the registered agent does not have a place of business in this state for sixty days or more. [...]
Iowa Code Chapter 490 - Business Corporations · applies to
corp
Corporate name.1. A corporate name is subject to all of the following: a. It must contain the word "corporation", "incorporated", "company", or "limited", or the abbreviation "corp.", "inc.", "co.", or "ltd.", or words or abbreviations of like import in another language. [...] 2. Except as authorized by subsections 3 and 4, a corporate name must be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from all of the following: a. The corporate name of a corporation incorporated in this state which is not administratively dissolved, or if such corporation has been administratively dissolved, within five years after the effective date of dissolution. [...]
Iowa Code Chapter 489 - Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act · applies to
LLCs
Permitted names.1. The name of a limited liability company must contain the phrase "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C.", or "LC". "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd.", and "company" may be abbreviated as "Co.". 2. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 3, the name of a limited liability company, and the name under which a foreign limited liability company may register to do business in this state, must be distinguishable on the records of the secretary of state from any of the following: a. The name of an existing person whose formation required the filing of a record by the secretary of state [...]
If a corporation has no registered agent or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, service is by registered or certified mail addressed to the secretary at the corporation's principal office; if service still cannot be perfected (or the foreign registration was withdrawn or terminated), the Secretary of State becomes the corporation's agent for service, with a $5 fee (Iowa Code § 490.122(2)). The LLC Act (Iowa Code § 489.119(2)-(3)) uses mail to the principal office and then hand delivery to the individual in charge of a regular place of business, with no SOS-as-agent step.
Administrative Dissolution. The LLC Act carries the same grounds: an LLC without a registered agent (or whose agent has no Iowa place of business) for 60 days or more, or that fails to give 60-day notice of agent changes, may be administratively dissolved.
Revocation Foreign. A registered foreign corporation's registration may be administratively terminated for being without a registered agent or registered office for 60 days or more, or for failing to give 60-day notice of agent changes; the LLC parallel is Iowa Code § 489.911(1)(c)-(d).
No Court Access. A foreign corporation doing business in Iowa cannot maintain a proceeding in any Iowa court until registered - the downstream consequence once registration is terminated for registered agent failure. The LLC parallel is Iowa Code § 489.902(2).
Reinstatement Fee. Reinstatement may be sought at any time after administrative dissolution for a $5 application fee (corporation and LLC alike); a name change is required if more than 5 years have passed and the old name is no longer available.
Dollar amounts named in the registered-agent statutes
What
Amount
Status
Fee collected each time process is served on the Secretary of State under the corporation chapter (recoverable as costs by a prevailing party)
$5
○Pending review
Fee collected each time process is served on the Secretary of State under the LLC chapter (recoverable as costs by a prevailing party)
$5
○Pending review
Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution (corporation)
$5
○Pending review
Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution (LLC)
$5
○Pending review
Corporation's statement of change of registered agent or registered office, agent's statement of change, and agent's statement of resignation
No fee
○Pending review
LLC statement of change of registered agent or address, registered agent's statement of change, and registered agent's statement of resignation
No fee
○Pending review
Biennial report filing fee (corporation) - failure to file within 60 days of due date is an administrative dissolution ground
$60
○Pending review
15 statutory citations and their supporting verbatim quotations sit behind this section in the record and are withheld from public display until the review pass lands, because a citation presented as authority is a verification claimed. Statutory references appearing inside the summaries above are part of the recorded text rather than an authority claim, and they are not rendered as citations, linked, or emitted in this page's structured data. How the gate works.
After administrative dissolution or revocation: the registered agent's appointment
What Iowa's own statutes do to the registered agent's appointment and authority for service of processService of processFormal delivery of lawsuits and legal notices.Read the full entry → once the state administratively dissolves a domestic entity or revokes a foreign one's authority. Continues: the statute keeps the agent of record after the state's action. Ends: a section terminates the appointment by operation of law. Statute is silent: no section speaks to it, and the nearest provision is stated instead. What any provider does about such an appointment is its own policy, not a fact recorded here. All jurisdictions side by side.
Iowa - the registered agent's appointment after the state's administrative action, by entity class
Entity class
The appointment
What the statute provides
The state's own status words
Domestic corporation
continues
490.1421(4) - administrative dissolution 'does not terminate the authority of its registered agent'
administratively dissolved; instrument is a 'certificate of dissolution' reciting the grounds and effective date (490.1421(2)); fee schedule line 'Certificate of administrative dissolution' (490.122(1)(r))
Domestic LLC
continues
489.709(4) - same sentence for a limited liability company
administratively dissolved; 'certificate of dissolution' (489.709(2)); fee schedule line 'Declaration of administrative dissolution' (489.122(1)(p))
Foreign corporation
statute is silent
statute silent; 490.1511(4)-(5) says the registration 'ceases' on the effective date in the certificate of termination and that service of process on a post-termination cause of action 'may be made as provided in section 490.504', under which the secretary of state is an agent for a foreign corporation whose registration has been terminated
registration terminated; instrument is a 'certificate of termination' (490.1511(2)(a)); fee schedule line 'Notice of termination of registration' (490.122(1)(z))
Foreign LLC
statute is silent
statute silent; 489.911(4)-(5) says the registration to do business 'ceases' and post-termination service 'may be made as provided in section 489.119'
registration terminated; 'certificate of termination' (489.911(2)(a)); fee schedule also carries 'Certificate of revocation of authority to transact business' (489.122(1)(v))
Nonprofit corporation
continues
504.1422(4); 504.1422(5) also appoints the secretary of state as agent for causes of action arising while the corporation was authorized, 'This subsection does not preclude service on the corporation's registered agent, if any.'
Administratively dissolved - the secretary of state signs a certificate of dissolution that recites the ground or grounds for dissolution and its effective date, files the original and serves a copy on the entity (490.1421(2)).
at any time after the effective date of dissolution; an application received more than five years after that date must state a name that satisfies section 490.401 (490.1422(1)(c)), and name protection runs only five years
How the agent comes off the record
The registered agent comes off the record by delivering a statement of resignation to the secretary of state, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the thirty-first day after filing or on designation of a new agent, whichever is earlier, and the agent must promptly notify the entity; the statute expressly allows resignation whether or not the entity is in good standingGood standingThe state's verdict that an entity exists and is current on required filings and fees.Read the full entry →. Form: Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent - Iowa Secretary of State form 635_0987 (chapters 489, 490 and 504); form 6.
Whether an entity formed in another state may become a Iowa entity by domestication or conversion, and whether a Iowa entity may leave the same way, as Iowa's own statutes and filing officeFiling officeThe agency that keeps the business register.Read the full entry → state it: the instrument by its exact title, the order of filings, the state fee, the filing method, whether a registered agent must be named on the inbound filing, and what the record here shows after an exit. Yes: the statute provides for the move. No: the act has no such provision. Limited: some entity types or conditions only. A cell that has not cleared independent verification reads not yet established. What any provider charges or recommends is not recorded here. All jurisdictions side by side, with the most-asked moves.
Moving the entity - Iowa◎Verified
Into Iowa (domestication in)
yes by Articles of domestication. A foreign corporation that has approved a domestication as required under its organic law signs articles of domestication stating both corporations' names and jurisdictions of formation and that the domestication was approved under its organic law, attaches articles of incorporationArticles of incorporationThe document filed with the state to create a corporation.Read the full entry → satisfying Iowa Code 490.202, and delivers them to the secretary of state; the domestication is effective when the articles are ... By entity type: corporation yes; nonprofit corporation not established; LLC yes; LP limited; LLP not established; LLLP limited.
Out of Iowa (domestication out)
yes by Articles of domestication. After a plan of domestication of a domestic corporation has been adopted and approved as required by chapter 490, articles of domestication are signed and delivered to the secretary of state, and where the domesticated corporation is a foreign corporation the domestication becomes effective on the later of the date provided by the organic law of the domesticated corporation or the effectiveness of the articles; for ... By entity type: corporation yes; nonprofit corporation not established; LLC yes; LP limited; LLP not established; LLLP limited.
Order of filings
The statute and form set no order. The arriving entity first approves the move under the law of its home jurisdiction (a plan of domestication or conversion approved as its organic law requires), then signs and delivers to the Iowa secretary of state the Iowa instrument - articles of domestication for a corporation, a statement of domestication or statement of conversion for an LLC, or articles of conversion plus a certificate of limited partnership for a limited partnership - which must state the names, jurisdictions of formation and types of both the old and the new entity, state that the transaction was approved in ...
After an exit, what Iowa's record shows
Iowa's statutes treat the departing entity as the same entity continuing under the new jurisdiction's law - the outbound articles or statement of domestication themselves end its domestic status, no winding up or dissolution occurs, and any Iowa registration of a formerly foreign participant is canceled automatically - but the exact status wording the secretary of state prints on the departed entity's public record is not published on any page loaded. No separate withdrawal or termination filing is owed here.
yes - corp: the articles of domestication 'must attach articles of incorporation of the domesticated corporation that satisfy the requirements of section 490.202' (Iowa Code 490.922(2)) | llc: the ...
Conversion between entity types within Iowa
Iowa allows in-state conversion between entity types: an LLC or another domestic or foreign entity converts by statement of conversion with the converted entity's public organic record attached, a domestic corporation may convert to a domestic or foreign eligible entity under chapter 490 by articles of conversion, an organization other than a limited partnership may convert into an Iowa limited partnership and an Iowa limited partnership into another organization, and ...
7 governance rules are recorded for Iowa - the organizational and annual meetings, action by written consent, and whether bylaws or an operating agreement are mandatory. Each verified rule links to the statutory text it was verified against, quoted verbatim below.
Organizational meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the directors, to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting bylaws
Annual meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
a corporation shall hold a meeting of shareholders annually, at a time stated in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws, at which directors shall be elected.
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
corporations ·
yes
signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than ninety percent of the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted
Operating agreement required · applies to
LLCs ·
no
"Operating agreement" means the agreement, whether or not referred to as an operating agreement and whether oral, implied, in a record, or in any combination thereof, of all the members
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
LLCs ·
yes
A difference arising among members as to a matter in the ordinary course of the activities and affairs of the limited liability company may be decided by a majority of the members.
Perpetual - no expiration stated; effective until changed/cancelled
Renewal
None required. Iowa Code 490.401(5): a corporation using a fictitious name simply delivers a certified board resolution adopting the name to the SOS for filing; no renewal provision
Publication
Not required. None
Online filing
Available
The regime
Iowa requires any person conducting business under a trade name or assumed name that is not the true surname of each person with an interest in the business to first record a verified statement with the county recorder of the county where the business is to be conducted (Iowa Code § 547.1). Registered entities of the listed types (LPs, LLCs, corporations, professional corporations, cooperatives, nonprofits) are exempt from the county filing; instead, the entity statutes require a corporation or LLC that uses a fictitious name to deliver a certified resolution adopting the name to the Secretary of State (e.g., Iowa Code §§ 490.401(5), 489.112(8)).
Where it is filed
County recorder of the county in which the business is to be conducted (for persons subject to chapter 547); Secretary of State for the entity-side fictitious-name resolution filings under the entity chapters.
Violating the chapter is a simple misdemeanor. Each day of violation is a separate and distinct offense. When ownership changes, the original owners remain liable for all obligations until the certificate of change is recorded.
Term: ch. 547 states no duration, expiration, or renewal for the verified statement (full chapter reviewed)
Exclusiverights: ch. 547 is silent on whether recording grants exclusive rights to the name
Namerestrictions: ch. 547 contains no name-content restrictions beyond the true-surname trigger for filing
County filing offices and fees
99 county records held for Iowa
County
Fee
Detail
Status
Adair
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page (general non-conveyance recording fee; trade name form listed on the Recorder Forms page, no separate trade-
◎Verified
Adams
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Allamakee
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 per page + $1.00 record management fee per transaction + $1.00 e-commerce fee per transaction (= $7 first page, $5 each additional); schedule effective Ju
◎Verified
Appanoose
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Audubon
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page ($5.00 plus $1.00 record management fee per transaction plus $1.00 E-Commerce fee per transaction) and $5 per additional page; schedule ef
◎Verified
Benton
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Trade Names: $7.00 first page, $5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Black Hawk
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page (includes fees for recording, preservation, and electronic commerce), and $5 for each additional page
◎Verified
Boone
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Trade Names: $7.00 first page, $5.00 each additional page; documents with more than one transaction charged an additional $7.00 per transaction; non-conforming
◎Verified
Bremer
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page; documents not to exceed 8 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches; certification $5.00 + $.50/page copies
◎Verified
Buchanan
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Buena Vista
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Butler
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Calhoun
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Recording Fees $7.00 for 1st page, $5.00 for each additional page (list includes Trade Names); $10 additional fee for documents not meeting formatting standards
◎Verified
Carroll
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Cass
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Cedar
7 first page + 5 per additional page
First Page $7.00, Each Add'l Page $5.00 (fee table applies to trade names and other recorded documents)
◎Verified
Cerro Gordo
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page (non-conveyance documents; no separate trade-name line)
◎Verified
Cherokee
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Trade Names: $7.00 first page, $5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Chickasaw
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 for the first page and $5.00 each additional page (all non-conveyance documents); extra $7.00 per additional transaction; certification $5.00 + $0.50/page
◎Verified
Clarke
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Clay
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Clayton
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Clinton
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 for the first page and $5.00 for each additional page
◎Verified
Crawford
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Dallas
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page; form must be notarized; sole proprietorships / co-partnerships only
◎Verified
Davis
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 first, $5.00 each additional page; transfer documents $5.00 per section or block
◎Verified
Decatur
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page (Trade Names listed under Land and Records Management)
◎Verified
Delaware
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Des Moines
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Trade Names: $7.00 first page, $5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Dickinson
7 first page + 5 per additional page
Trade Name: First page or fraction thereof $7.00, Each Add'l Page $5.00; certified copies $5 + $1/page; schedule updated 9.1.2020
◎Verified
Dubuque
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page and $5 for each additional page
◎Verified
Emmet
7 first page + 5 per additional page
First page $7.00 (All Others); $5.00 for each additional page (All); Trade Names listed among recorded documents
◎Verified
Fayette
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Floyd
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Franklin
7 first page + 5 per additional page
First page $7.00; each additional page $5.00; Auditor's transfer fee $5.00 per Section or Block for conveyances; Trade Names must print as legal size docum
◎Verified
Fremont
7 first page + 5 per additional page
TRADE NAME $7 first page, $5 each additional page; $10.00 non-standard document fee; certification $5.00 + .50/page
◎Verified
Greene
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Grundy
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 for the first page and $5.00 for every page thereafter (standard recording fee; Trade Names listed under Lands and Records Management on the Recorder page
◎Verified
Guthrie
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Hamilton
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Hancock
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Hardin
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Harrison
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Henry
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7 for the first page ($5.00 plus $1.00 record management fee per transaction plus $1.00 E-Commerce fee per transaction), $5 per additional page; plus $5.00 Aud
◎Verified
Howard
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$7.00 for 1st page, plus $5.00 for each additional page; copies $.50/page; certified copies $5.00 + $.50/page
$5.00 each additional page; certified copies $5 + $1/page
◎Verified
Osceola
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Page
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Palo Alto
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; certified copies $5.00 + $1.00/page
◎Verified
Plymouth
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; first-page fee includes $1.00 record management fee and $1.00 e-commerce fee; copies $.50/page; certification $5.00
◎Verified
Pocahontas
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Polk
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; must be notarized before filing
◎Verified
Pottawattamie
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; must be notarized before submitting
◎Verified
Poweshiek
7 first page + 5 per additional page
stated as $5 per page + $1 record management fee + $1 e-commerce fee per transaction (= $7 first page, $5 each additional); $10 non-standard document fee
◎Verified
Ringgold
7 first page + 5 per additional page
stated as $5 per page + $1 record management fee per transaction + $1 e-commerce fee per transaction (= $7 first page, $5 each additional); certification $5 + c
◎Verified
Sac
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Scott
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Shelby
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; +$7.00 per additional transaction; certification $6.00 + $1.00/page
◎Verified
Sioux
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Story
7 first page + 5 per additional page
stated as $5 per page + $1 record management fee + $1 e-commerce fee per transaction (= $7 first page, $5 each additional); certification $5
◎Verified
Tama
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; +$7.00 per additional transaction; certification $5.00 + $.50/page
◎Verified
Taylor
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Union
7 first page + 5 per additional page
stated as $5 per page + $1 record management fee per transaction + $1 e-commerce fee per transaction (= $7 first page, $5 each additional); certification $5
◎Verified
Van Buren
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Wapello
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Warren
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page
◎Verified
Washington
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; verified statement per Iowa Code 547.1
◎Verified
Wayne
7 first page + 5 per additional page
○Pending review
Webster
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; fillable PDF Trade Name Form must be printed on legal sized paper
◎Verified
Winnebago
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5 each additional page; certified copies $5 per document
◎Verified
Winneshiek
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; $7.00 = $5.00 per page + $1.00 recorder management fee + $1.00 e-commerce fee per transaction
◎Verified
Woodbury
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page (2 pages = $12.00 ...); certified copy $5.00/document + $.50/page; fees paid in advance
◎Verified
Worth
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 every additional page; $7.00 includes $1.00 E-Commerce Fee and $1.00 Record Management Fee; certified copy $5.00 + copy cost
◎Verified
Wright
7 first page + 5 per additional page
$5.00 each additional page; $10.00 non-standard document fee
◎Verified
Common questions
Where is an Iowa trade name (DBA) filed?
For individuals and partnerships, Iowa Code § 547.1 requires a verified statement to be recorded with the county recorder of the county in which the business is to be conducted, before engaging in business. The statement must show the name, post office address, and residence address of each person owning or having an interest in the business, and the address where the business is to be conducted.
Do Iowa corporations and LLCs file under chapter 547?
No. Iowa Code § 547.1 expressly exempts limited partnerships (ch. 488), LLCs (ch. 489), corporations (ch. 490), professional corporations (ch. 496C), cooperatives, and nonprofits (ch. 504). Instead, the entity statutes require a corporation or LLC that uses a fictitious name in Iowa to deliver a certified copy of the resolution adopting the fictitious name to the Secretary of State for filing (Iowa Code §§ 490.401(5), 489.112(8)).
What is the penalty for using an unregistered trade name in Iowa?
Under Iowa Code § 547.4, violating the chapter is a simple misdemeanor, and under § 547.5 each day of violation is deemed a separate and distinct offense.
What happens if the ownership of an Iowa business with a recorded trade name changes?
Iowa Code § 547.2 requires a like verified statement to be recorded for any change in ownership or in the persons interested in the business, and the original owners remain liable for all obligations until the certificate of change is recorded.
Recurring entity-level tax
No franchise or privilege tax in this jurisdiction
Stored as a delta against the federal baseline:
1 day this state closes that the
federal government does not, and 3 federal
holidays its filing office works through.
Iowa 2026 closure delta
Date
Day
Filing office
2026-02-16
Washington's Birthday (Presidents Day)
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-06-19
Juneteenth
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-10-12
Columbus Day
OPEN - federal holiday not observed
2026-11-27
Day after Thanksgiving
Filing office closed
Provenance - Iowa 2026 closures◎Verified
Citation withheld: this record did not clear the publication gate.
5 restricted entity-name word entries
are recorded for Iowa,
the rest requiring an agency's consent or licensure before the word may appear in a name.
Governing law: Iowa Code 490.401 (corporations) / 489.108 (LLCs) - generic name rules with no word list; word restrictions in Iowa Code 524.107(2) (bank words), 533.212(2) (credit union), 524.310(1) (trust, state banks).
Iowa restricted entity-name words
Treatment
Word or phrase
Authority
Citation
Status
License required
credit union
Iowa Division of Credit Unions (organization/authorization under Iowa Code ch. 533)
Iowa Code 533.212(2)(a): 'A person other than a credit union shall not use a name or title containing the words credit union, or any derivation, and shall not represent in advertising or otherwise that the person is conducting business as a credit union'; exceptions in 533.212(3) for state/foreign/federal credit unions, the Iowa credit union league, joint service centers, and educational credit unions
◎Verified
Restricted
Bank
Iowa Code 524.107(2): 'A person doing business in this state shall not use the words bank or use any derivative, plural, or compound of the words bank, banking, or bankers in any manner which would tend to create the impression that the person is authorized to engage in the business of banking or to act in a fiduciary capacity', except authorized state banks, out-of-state banks, national banks, bank/S&L holding companies, and federal savings associations
◎Verified
Restricted
Bankers
Iowa Code 524.107(2)
◎Verified
Restricted
Banking
Iowa Code 524.107(2)
◎Verified
Restricted
Trust
Iowa Superintendent of Banking (fiduciary authorization under Iowa Code ch. 524)
Iowa Code 524.310(1): 'A state bank using the word trust in its name must be authorized under this chapter to act in a fiduciary capacity'
● accepted · ○ not accepted · ? unknown or conditional (hover for the recorded condition). Channel data covers 54 jurisdictions (2026-08-15 wave). Source links render on verified rows only.
Contact the filing office
Verified against the agency's own contact page
2026-08-13.
Source links render on verified rows only.
Secretary of State, Business Services Division, First Floor, Lucas Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319
Courier / walk-in
Same - 321 E. 12th Street is a street address (Lucas State Office Building), so mail and courier converge
The Business Services direct line and dedicated mailbox, not the Secretary's capitol administration office or the elections line; the Lucas Building street address covers mail and overnight alike. Most filings should go through Fast Track Filing online.
Iowa Secretary of State - Administration (general)
UCC
pending review
UCC records
Where to search Iowa's UCC (Article 9) financing statements, on what terms, and what the office charges to file one. Verified against the filing office's own pages 2026-09-11. UCC division contacts are listed with the other filing-office contacts above.
UCC records - Iowa◎Verified
Filing office
Iowa Secretary of State - Business Services Division
Filing-office statute
Iowa Code 554.9501(1)(b): 'the office of the secretary of state in all other cases' (read from https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/554.9501.pdf, Iowa Code 2026)
$5 per filing online through Fast Track Filing; $10 on paper for 1 to 2 pages, $20 for 3 or more pages.
Searching the UCC index, as the office states the fee
Lien search $5 per debtor, UCC Copies $1 per page, and UCC Certified Copies $3 plus copy charge per page (Federal Lien search $6 per debtor, Federal Lien copies $5 per page).
Search fee amounts
certified search $5.00 per debtor name; copies $1.00 per page; certification $3.00
Filing channels
online or paper; Online through the Secretary of State's own Fast Track Filing portal (https://filings.sos.iowa.gov); paper accepted (one copy; national UCC forms required) at $10/$20 - Business Services, First Floor,
Expedited service is not available for UCC filings; the office directs UCC filers to file directly online through Fast Track Filing.
UCC-3 amendments, as the office states the fees
UCC3 amendment (any action, including assignment, continuation and termination): $5 online through Fast Track Filing; $10 on paper for 1 to 2 pages, $20 for 3 or more pages. Terminations are not free. Information Statement (UCC5) same schedule; Affidavit of Wrongful Filing no fee.
Effective for
5 years from filing - Iowa Code 554.9515(1)
Bulk data
no bulk-data product - No published UCC bulk program at any price. Official UCC page lists only retail services: lien search $5/debtor, UCC copies $1/page, certified $3 + copies, federal lien search $6/debtor, federal lien
Whether Iowa requires a general state-level business license, and on what terms. A "None" is a verified finding cited to the agency's own pages, not a gap. Which of the state's filings ask for an industry code is in the next section.
State business license - Iowa◎Verified
General state license
None - the state issues no general business license; licensing is occupation-specific and local
Which of Iowa's business filings ask the filer for an industry classification, and in what form. "No industry information" is a positive finding cited to the form. Where the state uses its own category list and the list was captured, it is expandable below. The NAICS and SIC reference lists are on their own page.
Industry code on Iowa filings, 8 of 8 rows verified
Filing
Entity scope
Asks for
Required
Where on the form
Source
Formation
corporation
no industry information
not asked
Fast Track Filing 'Articles of Incorporation - Profit'
corporation (biennial report; LLC biennial governed by Iowa Code 489.212, not read)
no industry information
not asked
Fast Track Filing Biennial Report (name, registered agent/office, principal office, officers; LLC version adds agricultural-land and family-farm questions)
Iowa has 99 county-equivalents: 99 countyies. Names and codes are the U.S. Census Bureau's (2020 national county codes); county seats and official sites are not yet published here.
All 99 county-equivalents
Iowa county-equivalents
Name
Type
FIPS
Note
Adair County
county
19001
Adams County
county
19003
Allamakee County
county
19005
Appanoose County
county
19007
Audubon County
county
19009
Benton County
county
19011
Black Hawk County
county
19013
Boone County
county
19015
Bremer County
county
19017
Buchanan County
county
19019
Buena Vista County
county
19021
Butler County
county
19023
Calhoun County
county
19025
Carroll County
county
19027
Cass County
county
19029
Cedar County
county
19031
Cerro Gordo County
county
19033
Cherokee County
county
19035
Chickasaw County
county
19037
Clarke County
county
19039
Clay County
county
19041
Clayton County
county
19043
Clinton County
county
19045
Crawford County
county
19047
Dallas County
county
19049
Davis County
county
19051
Decatur County
county
19053
Delaware County
county
19055
Des Moines County
county
19057
Dickinson County
county
19059
Dubuque County
county
19061
Emmet County
county
19063
Fayette County
county
19065
Floyd County
county
19067
Franklin County
county
19069
Fremont County
county
19071
Greene County
county
19073
Grundy County
county
19075
Guthrie County
county
19077
Hamilton County
county
19079
Hancock County
county
19081
Hardin County
county
19083
Harrison County
county
19085
Henry County
county
19087
Howard County
county
19089
Humboldt County
county
19091
Ida County
county
19093
Iowa County
county
19095
Jackson County
county
19097
Jasper County
county
19099
Jefferson County
county
19101
Johnson County
county
19103
Jones County
county
19105
Keokuk County
county
19107
Kossuth County
county
19109
Lee County
county
19111
Linn County
county
19113
Louisa County
county
19115
Lucas County
county
19117
Lyon County
county
19119
Madison County
county
19121
Mahaska County
county
19123
Marion County
county
19125
Marshall County
county
19127
Mills County
county
19129
Mitchell County
county
19131
Monona County
county
19133
Monroe County
county
19135
Montgomery County
county
19137
Muscatine County
county
19139
O'Brien County
county
19141
Osceola County
county
19143
Page County
county
19145
Palo Alto County
county
19147
Plymouth County
county
19149
Pocahontas County
county
19151
Polk County
county
19153
Pottawattamie County
county
19155
Poweshiek County
county
19157
Ringgold County
county
19159
Sac County
county
19161
Scott County
county
19163
Shelby County
county
19165
Sioux County
county
19167
Story County
county
19169
Tama County
county
19171
Taylor County
county
19173
Union County
county
19175
Van Buren County
county
19177
Wapello County
county
19179
Warren County
county
19181
Washington County
county
19183
Wayne County
county
19185
Webster County
county
19187
Winnebago County
county
19189
Winneshiek County
county
19191
Woodbury County
county
19193
Worth County
county
19195
Wright County
county
19197
Other records held
Other records held for Iowa
Record
Value
Status
Change of registered agent
$0
○Pending review
Who must be named in public filings
LLC: excellent privacy - the certificate of organization (Iowa Code 489.201(2), verified in corpus PDF) requires only the company name, principal office street/mailing address, and registered agent name/address; the LLC biennial report (489.212(1), verified in corpus PDF) requires only name, RA name/address + new-agent
○Pending review
These come from a research pass its own author graded CANDIDATES. They are shown because they are useful and withheld from every ranking on this site because they are not ratified.