The Certificate of Organization is one of the main documents required while forming an LLC in Iowa. The document needs to be filed with the Secretary of State in Iowa to share all the important information related to the limited liability company that is going to be established.
On this page, LLCBuddy editors put all the information together about how to file the Certificate of Organization in Iowa. There might be several ways to file the formation document, online, by mail, fax, or by in-person visit to the office. Let’s dig more to check the available and easy ways in Iowa to file the Certificate of Organization while forming the LLC.
What is an LLC Certificate of Organization in Iowa?
The Certificate of Organization for an LLC is the most important document among all. In general, establishing an LLC is much simpler than other types of business structures such as corporation or partnership. Among a few mandatory documents to file, Certificate of Organization is one of the main papers.
By submitting the Certificate of Organization, the LLC owners provide all sorts of information related to the LLC. Upon approval of the documents and information provided by the LLC, they can register their business with Iowa Secretary of State.
Each state has a different requirement to fill out a form. The Certificate of Organization usually includes the following:
- The name of the LLC in Iowa,
- The effective date of the LLC,
- The company’s principal office,
- The business purpose,
- The duration of the business,
- A copy of the LLC’s name registration certificate, and
- The name and address of the Registered Agent, organizers, and
- At least one member of the company
Note that the Certificate of Organization in Iowa is a legal requirement, not to mention, the core of your LLC. It even makes up the bulk of your Iowa LLC cost. Without it, you have no LLC. So, take the time to complete and file this certificate.
How to File Iowa LLC Certificate of Organization
Filing an LLC Certificate of Organization with the State is easy. There are several ways to file it. As mentioned, the filing can be done online, by sending the PDF form by mail, or by other means (physical visit or fax). Statewise filing methods can be different. Alternatively, hiring a third-party service can make a lot of difference compared to doing it on your own. They help the LLCs to file documents easily without any complications. In Iowa, the following methods are available.
Step 1: Find Forms Online
Go to the Iowa Secretary of State to download the Certificate of Organization form for your LLC or to log into the online service.
- Offline Filing: Not Available
- Online Filing: Certificate of Organization Online Form
Step 2: Fill Out Form
When filling out the form, you must have reserved an LLC name. Do a name search. Go to Iowa LLC Name Search to check whether your chosen business name is available to use in this state.
You must attach a copy of your Name Reservation to your filled-out Certificate of Organization form when filing. You also need to mention the name and address of the Iowa Registered Agent. We recommend the best LLC services in Iowa that you can choose to form your LLC, hire the Registered Agent, and file the Certificate of Organization with the SOS.
If you plan to start an LLC in states other than Iowa, you must file a foreign LLC in other states. For filing a foreign LLC you can explore the best LLC services that operate in 50 other states along with Iowa.
What information does the Certificate of Organization application need in Iowa?
The application form for the Certificate of Organization needs to include the LLC name, date of establishment, the company’s registered office, business purpose, how long the business will exist, and a copy of the LLC’s name registration certificate.
Step 3: File Formation Certificates
File your formation certificate either online or by mail (whichever is available and convenient for you) by filling out the form and sending it to the Lucas State Office Building, 321 E 12th St, Des Moines, IA 50319. For online filing, you must log in to the Iowa Secretary of State or register with the portal. Submit the form online (if available).
Pay the required filing fee at the time of form submission to complete the LLC registration. For online filing, payment should be made using Credit or Debit Cards. For offline filing, payment should be made using a Cheque or in cash (if available).
Cost of Filing Iowa Certificate of Organization
LLC cost in Iowa includes all types of fees starting from name reservation fee, DBA filing fee ($5), Registered Agent costs, and Certificate of Organization fee. In Iowa, the filing fee of a formation document is $50 (by mail and online). The standard fee for filing the Certificate of Organization allows one to file the LLC within the standard time. However, by paying additional fees, you can expedite the process, and can be done as soon as within a few hours (depending on state rules).
Hiring a professional service can reduce some of the costs while filing an LLC. However, the state filing fee is mandatory and has to be paid at the time of registration. We recommend hiring ZenBusiness as it offers filing an LLC at $0 (plus state filing fee).
Amend Iowa Certificate of Organization: If you make any changes to your LLC, you must file the changes with the Secretary of State. To do so, you must Amend Iowa Certificate of Organization. LLCs can get the amendment form, fill it out with the changed/updated information, and send it back to the SOS online or offline.
FAQs
Also Read
- Alabama LLC Certificate of Formation
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- Indiana LLC Articles of Organization
- Iowa LLC Certificate of Organization
- Kansas LLC Articles of Organization
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- Maine LLC Certificate of Formation
- Maryland LLC Articles of Organization
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- New Hampshire LLC Certificate of Formation
- New Jersey LLC Certificate of Formation
- New Mexico LLC Articles of Organization
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- North Carolina LLC Articles of Organization
- North Dakota LLC Articles of Organization
- Ohio LLC Articles of Organization
- Oklahoma LLC Articles of Organization
- Oregon LLC Articles of Organization
- Pennsylvania LLC Certificate of Organization
- Rhode Island LLC Articles of Organization
- South Carolina LLC Articles of Organization
- South Dakota LLC Articles of Organization
- Tennessee LLC Articles of Organization
- Texas LLC Certificate of Formation
- Utah LLC Certificate of Organization
- Vermont LLC Articles of Organization
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In Conclusion
The formation document or the Certificate of Organization is the main document you need while forming your limited liability company in Iowa. Certainly, you must attach supporting documents such as a name reservation certificate, registered agent name and address, and others. In Iowa, filing the Certificate of Organization is easy. However, mistakes can happen if you are a beginner or a first-time business filer. It is suggested to hire a professional service.
LLCBuddy editors recommend ZenBusiness, as it not only offers free LLC formation service ($0), but also, offers other services such as Registered Agent, operating agreement, EIN, Certificate of Standing for foreign LLC establishment, business name search, and many more.