Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
An Iowa business license gives your Limited Liability Company (LLC) permission to operate in a certain location or within a specific industry.
While we can’t walk you through any applicable license applications step-by-step, we do provide helpful resources like:
- information about state licensing rules
- instructions for researching municipal licenses
And if you want to just hire a company to do the research for you, we have a recommendation below.
Iowa Business License Requirements
After you form an Iowa LLC, you may need to obtain a business license or permit.
Your requirements are determined by the industry you are in and where your Iowa Limited Liability Company is located.
Because of the large number of industries and all of the municipalities in Iowa, it’s not possible for us to explain them all. However, you can use the search tools below, call your local municipality, or hire a company for help.
Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks (for $99) to handle the business license research for you.
How to get a Business License in Iowa
You can obtain a business license in Iowa by applying with the relevant licensing or regulatory agency. The agency you apply with will depend on where your business is located and what business activities it engages in.
The business license application typically requires basic information, such as your LLC name, EIN Number, business address, and contact information. Many also include a questionnaire that asks about your business activity.
There are three main licensing jurisdictions:
- State licensing
- Local licensing, such as county, city, township, etc.
- Federal licensing
Does Iowa Require a Business License?
That depends on where your business is located, and what it does.
There are two types of state-level business licenses:
- a general business license
- and an occupational license
Iowa General Business License
Some states have a general license requirement, which means all businesses operating in those states must have the license, regardless of what they do.
But good news: Iowa doesn’t require a general license to do business in the state.
Meaning, your Iowa LLC doesn’t need a general state business license. But depending on what type of business you run, your LLC might need an occupational license (aka “industry-specific” license).
Iowa Occupational License
Most states have occupational business license requirements. This means a license or permit may be required depending on what your business does or what your occupation is. For example, if you sell used cars, or run a hair salon, you may need an occupational business license. But a license may not be required for other types of businesses.
The Iowa Economic Development Authority and the University of Northern Iowa created a website called IASourceLink, which has lots of great resources for new business owners.
IASourceLink has page on how to Apply for Licensing & Permits that can explain the licensing process and connect you to other helpful organizations.
The IASourceLink Business License Navigator page can help you determine if your Iowa business needs an occupational license or permit, and which agency to contact about applying for the license. You can use the search feature on the left, or just scroll through the list of license types.
You can also contact IASourceLink with questions.
Note: Iowa business licenses are not issued by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is responsible for business entity administration, for example Limited Liability Company formation.
How much is an Iowa Business License?
Iowa doesn’t have a general business license at the state level, so there are no fees there.
However, your business may need a state-level occupational license or municipal-level license or permit to operate. The filing fee for these licenses will vary depending on where you’re doing business and what industry you’re in. To be honest, we can’t predict your specific Iowa business license cost.
For example, licenses issued by a county that contains a large city are usually more expensive than licenses in less populated, rural counties. And licenses for regulated industries, like child care facilities, are usually more expensive than generic business licenses.
But your LLC might not need a license or permit at all. So your Iowa business license cost could be $0.
See LLC Cost in Iowa to learn about all the possible LLC fees.
Municipal Business License
Municipal business licenses can be issued by the city, town, county, parish, township, borough, etc. We refer to all of these as a “municipality” to keep things simple.
There are two types of municipal business licenses:
- general business license
- industry-specific license
For example, if a municipality has a general business license requirement, all businesses operating in that municipality must have the license, regardless of what they do.
And if a municipality has industry-specific business licenses, a license or permit may be required depending on what your business does. For example, if you operate a food truck, or run a daycare, you may need an industry-specific municipal business license. Or if you’re purchasing or leasing real estate, you may need a zoning permit.
But a license may not be required for other types of businesses, like making wedding invitation templates or offering marketing consulting.
You can contact your municipality to check on their local licensing requirements:
- Iowa.gov: Local Government Directories
- Iowa League of Cities: Cities in Iowa
- Iowa State Association of County Auditors: County Directory
The Iowa State Association of County Auditors also has a list of permit types, and which county official to contact for each type: Permits.
Iowa Sales Tax License
If you sell products to consumers in Iowa, you may need to collect sales tax and file a Sales and Use Tax Return.
If your business activities are subject to sales and use tax, your LLC must register with the Department of Revenue.
Note: This requirement will apply whether you sell products online or in a physical location in Iowa. Learn more about Remote Sellers rules in Iowa.
You can register for business tax with the Department of Revenue. Learn more in the IASourceLink Register for State and Local Taxes guide.
For additional information about the Sales Tax License, check out the Iowa Department of Revenue Iowa Sales and Use Tax Guide.
You should also review the Department of Revenue’s Permits and Filing Requirements page to determine whether your LLC needs tax permits in Iowa.
Tip: Save time by hiring an expert. We recommend using TaxJar. They'll help you register for, collect, and pay sales tax.
Do I need any federal business licenses?
Most businesses in Iowa don’t need a federal business license. However, certain industries do need federal licenses:
| If your business… | Contact this agency about business licenses |
|---|---|
| Transports animals, plants or biotechnology over state lines | Department of Agriculture |
| Imports or exports animal products, wildlife, or products derived from wildlife (including fish) | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Fishes commercially | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Broadcasts on radio or TV | Federal Communications Commission |
| Makes alcohol and sells it at a retail store | Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau |
| Makes or sells firearms, ammunition or explosives | Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives |
| Transports cargo by sea | Federal Maritime Commission |
| Transports goods or people by air | Federal Aviation Administration |
Check out the Small Business Administration’s Licenses and Permits page for a full list of industries with federal license requirements.
If your business isn’t one of these special cases, then the only federal requirements are that your LLC get an Iowa EIN Number (aka Federal Employer Identification Number) and that you file taxes.
Iowa Business License FAQs
How much does a business license cost in Iowa?
Iowa doesn’t have a general business license for LLCs, so there are no fees there.
If your business has to get an occupational license or municipal (city or county) permit, the fees are hard to predict. Depending on your LLC’s location, and what type of business or industry you’re in, the fee varies.
And you might not need a business license at all!
Unfortunately, we can’t say what your LLC’s business license costs would be, because it depends on several factors and the cost of Iowa licenses varies.
Is an LLC considered a business license?
No, an LLC is not a business license. They are two completely different things.
An LLC is a type of business structure created by filing a document with the state government.
And a business license is a document that gives a person, or a company, the right to transact business. It doesn’t create an LLC.
Does a Sole Proprietor need a business license in Iowa?
Sometimes a new business owner chooses to operate as a Sole Proprietorship in Iowa instead of an LLC.
Even if you’re just trying out a business idea as a Sole Proprietorship, you may still be subject to license requirements at the state and municipal levels. It just depends on what you will be doing, and where you will be operating your business.
Does the Iowa Secretary of State provide a business license?
No, the Iowa Secretary of State doesn’t handle licensing requirements. Instead, they manage business entity formation and registration. For example, depending on business entity type, business owners file different paperwork with the Secretary of State to create their business entity.
For more information, or to determine if there is an Iowa business license cost for your business, we recommend contacting the IASourceLink service, the Department of Revenue, and/or your local government agency. For example, your local county or city government will have information about any local licenses.
How to start an LLC in Iowa
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Iowa:
- Select a business name for your Iowa LLC
- Choose your Registered Agent
- File the LLC Certificate of Organization with the state
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business license or tax permits in Iowa
References
IASourceLink: Business License Navigator
IASourceLink: Business License Information
Iowa Association of County Auditors: Permits
IASourceLink: Register for State and Local Taxes
IASourceLink: Register Business for Additional Licensing
Iowa Department of Revenue: Permits, Filing Requirements & Sales Tax
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.
