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Foreign registration worksheets · Iowa

3 Best Foreign Registration Services in Iowa (2026): Worked Prices

After the sums, Mainstay Filing ($199), IA Registered Agent.org ($199) and Iowa Registered Agent.co ($199) lead the 2026 Iowa table of foreign registration services, in that order. Do the sum: $397 to $497 in service fees by year three, plus $100 to the state for registering.
Worked by the Formation Math editorial team

↓ Sorted by: Rows follow a five-part score in which three-year total counts 42% and coverage 28%

Iowa: the numbers worked

State fee to register $100 sos.iowa.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Year-one totals $199 Before government fees
Three-year spread $397 to $497 Opening price and two renewals
Three-year state total $130 Registration + reports + any tax
Year the lines meet No crossing Same ranking each year

Rows ranked by value

Service prices only. Add the $100 state fee to any row; it is identical for all.

1
Top score

1. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs that keep expanding

$199 for registration, $149 for the agent after that
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $149/yr
Sum of 3 years $497

Mainstay Filing comes out on top. Working: $199 over Iowa's own fee, followed by $149 a year for the agent.

IA Registered Agent.org totals $100 less over three years, but the 28% coverage term favors this row.

Year one has no agent charge; after that it is $149 a year.

The price buys

  • Registration papers, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent with no charge in year one
  • Valid in all fifty states

Adds up

  • Same fee wherever you register
  • Service charge of $199
  • Registered agent costs nothing in year one

Does not add up

  • Agent renews at $149, which is $50 above IA Registered Agent.org
2
In-state provider

2. IA Registered Agent.org: best for the smallest annual agent total

$199 for registration, $99 for the agent after that
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $397

IA Registered Agent.org is row 2: registration in Iowa costs $199 here, with a $99 agent renewal after that.

The price buys

  • Registration handled start to finish
  • Year-one agent service

Adds up

  • First agent year included
  • Agent renews at $99
  • $199 over the state fee

Does not add up

  • The home state still needs a different agent
3
In-state provider

3. Iowa Registered Agent.co: best for a second in-state filer

$199 for registration, $99 for the agent after that
Year-1 price $199
Price after year 1 $99/yr
Sum of 3 years $397

Iowa Registered Agent.co is row 3: registration in Iowa costs $199 here, with a $99 agent renewal after that.

No difference in price from IA Registered Agent.org.

The price buys

  • Registration handled start to finish
  • Year-one agent service

Adds up

  • Agent renews at $99
  • $199 over the state fee
  • First agent year included

Does not add up

  • The home state still needs a different agent

Totals after 1, 2, 3 and 5 years

No. Provider Year 1 total Total at year 2 Total at year 3 Total at year 5
1 Mainstay Filing $199 $348 $497 $795 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 IA Registered Agent.org $199 $298 $397 $595 Visit IA Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 Iowa Registered Agent.co $199 $298 $397 $595 Visit Iowa Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Service fees only, using each company's prices as read on November 13, 2026. No row passes another within ten years.

Break-even check

Change the years to redo the addition.

After 3 years, the totals are Mainstay Filing $497, IA Registered Agent.org $397, Iowa Registered Agent.co $397. Lowest total at that point: IA Registered Agent.org.

Official state amounts

Term Value Where it comes from
Fee to register the foreign LLC $100 sos.iowa.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Biennial report $30 sos.iowa.gov (checked October 2026) as the source
Three-year state total $130 Calculated from the rows above

Our state figure adds three things: the filing, two years of reports and a minimum tax where there is one. Variable costs like publication stay out.

How the ranking worked out

Mainstay Filing scored above IA Registered Agent.org on items covered per dollar, a 28% term.

The home state counts too; covering both with one account scored highest.

Iowa foreign LLC registration fee and rules, from the source

The Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services collects $100 and the Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010) from out-of-state LLCs doing business in Iowa. The filing also needs certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation from within the last 90 days.

Operating unregistered risks no lawsuits as plaintiff in Iowa courts until it registers (Iowa Code 489.902).

Quoted from: sos.iowa.gov (checked October 2026) as the source

Filing it yourself, worked out

With no service, three years cost $130 in state fees. Each service adds its own row, $397 to $497 over the same period.

About these figures

How much does Iowa take to register an out-of-state LLC?

$100 as the official fee, and our rows add $199.

What do the services add up to over three years?

$397 to $497 in service fees, with state fees on top.

Which form does the registering?

The form is Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement (Form 635_0010), and the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services receives it.

Does Iowa ask for a paper from the home state?

Yes, and it must be under 90 days old: certificate of existence (good standing) from the state or country of formation.

What recurring filing comes after registration?

The biennial report, which costs $30.

In what year does one service pass another in total cost?

They stay in the same order for ten years.

Which foreign registration service is best value in Iowa?

Mainstay Filing, which wins on items covered per dollar. Then IA Registered Agent.org and Iowa Registered Agent.co.

Related worksheets

Foreign registration worksheets, all 50 states Best foreign registration services overall The method

Inputs and sources

  1. Check Iowa Secretary of State, Business at help.sos.iowa.gov; last read August 2026.
  2. Check Iowa Secretary of State, Business at help.sos.iowa.gov; last read August 2026.
  3. Check Iowa report due date at legis.iowa.gov; last read August 2026.
  4. Check Iowa Code § 489.201 at legis.iowa.gov; last read August 2026.
  5. Check Iowa formation fee: Filing fee at legis.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  6. Check Iowa registered agent statute at legis.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  7. Check Iowa Secretary of State, business at sos.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  8. Check LLC Foreign Registration Statement, Form at sos.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  9. Check Iowa Code 489.902, registration requirement at legis.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  10. Check Iowa Code 489.905, activities that at legis.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  11. Check Iowa Secretary of State, certificate at sos.iowa.gov; last read October 2026.
  12. Check Iowa Code 489.902, registration to at legis.iowa.gov; last read November 2026.
  13. Check Iowa Code 490.1502, registration of at legis.iowa.gov; last read November 2026.
  14. Mainstay Filing Iowa service page, read on November 13, 2026 for the inputs
  15. IA Registered Agent.org pricing page, read on November 13, 2026 for the inputs
  16. Iowa Registered Agent.co pricing page, read on November 13, 2026 for the inputs