How do I form a business in Iowa?
A business entity can be formed in Iowa by filing the applicable document or form with the Secretary of State:
- Corporation: Articles of Incorporation—Profit
- Limited Liability Company (LLC): Certificate of Organization—LLC
- Nonprofit: Articles of Incorporation—Nonprofit
- Foreign (out of state) LLC, Corporation, or Nonprofit: Certificate of Authority
To ensure that all issues are considered and addressed appropriately, you should consult with a private legal counsel before submitting any formation documents with the State.
Certain types of entities and registrations are required to file reports at different intervals. For the timing of each of these filings, consult the appropriate Iowa Code section for your entity. Currently, Biennial are the only interval reports available on the Fast Track Filing website. https://filings.sos.iowa.gov/Account/Login
See the https://help.sos.iowa.gov/how-do-i-file-biennial-report for a step-by-step guide on filing a Biennial Report.
Beneficial Ownership Information
As of January 1, 2024, many companies doing business in the United States must report information about their beneficial owners—the individuals who ultimately own or control the company—to the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Additional information is available at fincen.gov/boi. There you can also find step-by-step guides on how to file and all future guidance documents.