How long does it take to get an LLC in Iowa?

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Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee)
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Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.

You can get an LLC in Iowa in 1 business day if you file online (or 4 weeks if you file by mail).

Iowa LLC Processing Times

Normal LLC processing time:Expedited LLC:
Iowa LLC by mail: 7-10 business days (plus mail time)Not available
Iowa LLC online: 1 business dayNot available

What is LLC processing time? This is the time it takes for the state of Iowa to review your LLC filing and enter it in their system. After your LLC is approved, the state sends back your approved documents electronically or by mail.

Iowa LLC Approval Times

How long does it take to get an LLC in IowaMail filings: In total, mail filing approvals for Iowa LLCs take 4 weeks. This accounts for the 7-10 business day processing time (said another way, it usually takes 1 1/2 to 2 weeks), plus the time your documents are in the mail.

Online filings: Online filings for Iowa LLCs are approved within 1 business day. If you file in the early morning on a business day, your LLC might even be approved the same day. Since you can download your documents as soon as they’re approved by the Secretary of State, there is no extra transit time.

What is LLC approval time? This is the total turnaround time to get your LLC approved from start to finish. It includes the processing time plus any transit time to and from the state.

Iowa expedited LLC

Since online LLC filings in Iowa are approved within 1 business day, there is no expedited filing option for online filings.

Iowa doesn’t offer expedited filings for LLCs by mail. It’s going to take about 4 weeks if you file by mail. Unfortunately, you can’t form an LLC any faster in Iowa if you file by mail.

What’s the fastest way to get an LLC in Iowa?

The fastest way to get an LLC in Iowa is to file it yourself online. This option has the fastest approval time.

Should I hire an LLC filing service in Iowa?

Hiring an LLC filing service isn’t going to get your LLC approved any faster. Filing companies still have to wait for the state to approve your LLC.

However, the benefit of hiring a filing company isn’t to reduce LLC approval time. It’s to have someone else take care of the paperwork for you (and make sure it’s filed correctly).

Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)

(Learn why Northwest is #1 in Northwest vs LegalZoom)

Why we recommend Northwest? Northwest Registered Agent has been in business for over 20 years and they have the best customer support. Our favorite thing about Northwest is that you can use their address throughout your LLC filing. This can provide you with additional privacy by keeping your address off public records. No other filing company offers this.

Even though Northwest is our favorite company, you may want to look at other companies and compare your options. Check out Best LLC Services in Iowa for additional recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an LLC cost?

The one-time cost to start an LLC varies by state. There are also LLC Annual Fees to maintain your business that vary by state.

Here are the costs for an Iowa LLC:

RequirementCost
LLC Name$0
Registered Agent$0 or $125 per year
Certificate of Organization$50
Operating Agreement$0 (free on our site)
EIN Number$0 (free through IRS)
Biennial Report$30 (every 2 years)
Taxesvaries (filed and/or paid every year)

How to start an LLC in Iowa?

Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Iowa:

  1. Search your Iowa LLC name
  2. Choose your Iowa Registered Agent
  3. File Iowa Certificate of Organization with the state
  4. Sign your Iowa LLC Operating Agreement
  5. Get an EIN for your Iowa LLC
  6. Open an LLC bank account
How long does it take to get an LLC in every state?

Important: Just because one state is faster than another doesn’t mean you should form your LLC there. If you form your LLC out-of-state, you’ll need to register it as a foreign LLC in your home state. For more information, please see the best state to form an LLC.

 
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz is the leading expert on LLC education, and has been teaching for 15 years. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.

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