How to search Iowa records
- Search by business name (starting with, contains, or exact) or by business number.
- The "Filings" tab lists every biennial report so you can confirm the last one filed.
- Use "Names" on the record to see prior names and any registered fictitious names.
Iowa SOS, corporation and LLC search
Iowa Secretary of State Business Entity Search
The Iowa Secretary of State business entity search is run by the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services through its Business Entities Search (Fast Track Filing). Related queries such as "Iowa SOS business search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its business number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Iowa Entity Search
An entity search of the Iowa business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Iowa expects a biennial report every 2 years, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Iowa Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "IA corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Iowa LLC Lookup
Run the Iowa LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the business number. Forming an Iowa LLC costs $50 and the biennial report is $45. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Iowa Business Name Search
An Iowa business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Iowa lets you hold a name for 120 days for $10. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Iowa Business License Search
An Iowa entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Iowa UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Iowa businesses are filed with the Secretary of State. A filing shows a lender's claim on the company's assets, and it must be searched under the exact legal name on the entity record. The UCC lien search guide explains how to read one.
Everyone files in odd years
Iowa puts every entity on the same biennial schedule: reports are due April 1 of odd-numbered years, regardless of when the company was formed. A company formed in late 2026 therefore files its first report in spring 2027, only months after formation. The online fee is $45, or $60 on paper.
Iowa filing facts
| Record number | Business number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $50. Certificate of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Biennial report, $45, every 2 years |
| Due | April 1 of odd-numbered years. $60 on paper. |
| Name reservation | $10 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 515-281-5204 |
What an Iowa LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 3; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $45 | $45 |
| Three-year state total | $95 | ||
The register moved to the Iowa Data Hub
Iowa publishes a free file of active business entities, which was moved from its old open-data address to the Iowa Data Hub in 2026; anyone building a tool on the old link needs the new one. The Secretary of State also sells a paid API. Details on both are in data downloads by state. On the record itself, the Names tab shows prior names and registered fictitious names, useful when a company has rebranded. Entities that skip the biennial report are dissolved after a 60-day notice, a status explained under dissolved entity.
Planning around the odd-year cycle
If you form an Iowa LLC in an even year, your first biennial report is due the following April. If you form in an odd year after April 1, you have nearly two years. Iowa sends notices before the deadline, but the safest approach is to note April 1 of each odd year as a fixed date for every Iowa entity you manage.
How Iowa compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $50 | $22.50 | Every 2 years | $10 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 | Yearly | $25 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | Yearly | $55 |
| Nebraska | $100 | $5 | Every 2 years | $30 |
Before you rely on an Iowa result
- Iowa entities that miss the biennial report are administratively dissolved after a 60-day notice.
- All business entity reports are filed online through Fast Track Filing.
Bulk Iowa business data
Free full register. Format: CSV/JSON (Iowa Data Hub). Active Iowa Business Entities, updated September 2026; moved from the old Socrata id ez5t-3qay. A paid API ($2,400/yr) also exists. Official source
Searching beyond Iowa
Registries next to Iowa: Illinois business search, Minnesota business search, Nebraska business search.
Iowa business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Iowa?
The state filing fee is $50. Certificate of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $22.50 a year in state fees.
When is the Iowa annual report due?
Iowa calls it the biennial report. It costs $45, it is filed every 2 years, and it is due April 1 of odd-numbered years. $60 on paper.
Can I reserve a business name in Iowa?
Yes. A name reservation costs $10 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the Iowa biennial report due?
April 1 of odd-numbered years, for every entity. The fee is $45 online.
Is the Iowa business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entities Search (Fast Track Filing) costs nothing. The Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Iowa?
The Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services. Its business line is 515-281-5204, and its free search is the Business Entities Search (Fast Track Filing).
What number identifies a business in Iowa?
Iowa assigns each entity a business number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Iowa businesses?
Yes. Iowa publishes its full business register free (CSV/JSON (Iowa Data Hub)). Active Iowa Business Entities, updated September 2026; moved from the old Socrata id ez5t-3qay. A paid API ($2,400/yr) also exists.
Sources
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