A principal office is the primary location where a business operates.

When a business is “Not in Good Standing”, it means that the business entity is noncompliant with one or more Iowa laws that apply to businesses and their responsibilities in this State. There are a few risks associated with having a business that has lost its Good Standing:

The Secretary of State’s office cannot advise you on what type of business entity to form (LLC, Corporation, etc.). It is best to consult with an attorney who can properly advise you. You can visit IA Source Link for information on starting a business in Iowa.  Upon determining the type of business entity you would like to form, our office can assist you with the filing process.

Notaries in Iowa can file to become a Notary on Fast Track Filing, as well as file an “Application for Renewal of Appointment”, or a renewal of commission. In Iowa, notaries must renew their notary commission every 3 years, and notaries of bordering states must renew every year.

A corporation is required by Iowa law to adopt bylaws, which are written rules that govern how the corporation operates internally (how the Board of Directors will be elected, what votes are required for a particular action, etc.) Bylaws may contain any provision in them that is not prohibited by law. See Iowa Code Chapter 490 for more information on bylaws in Iowa. The Secretary of State does not have forms for bylaws and the Office cannot advise you concerning the content of bylaws.

If your business has been administratively dissolved, you will need to file an “Application for Reinstatement”. This form can be completed and submitted through the Fast Track Filing website. After signing up/logging in to your Fast Track account, click on “Business Filings” in the navigation menu. A drop-down menu will appear—click on “File A Document”. Under the “Existing Entities” column, select “Application for Reinstatement.” For a step-by-step guide on filling out the form, click here.

The next steps after forming a corporation will vary from business to business. Depending on many factors, you may need to acquire an EIN, establish bylaws, establish a conflict of interest policy, hold an initial organizational meeting, file for Iowa tax exemption, register for charitable fundraising and/or apply for certain licenses and permits.

IA Source Link is a government-affiliated website that can assist you in all aspects of starting, growing and managing your business.

The next steps after forming an LLC will vary from business to business. Depending on many factors, you may need to prepare an LLC Operating Agreement, obtain an EIN, elect how the entity will be taxed, open an LLC bank account and apply for certain licenses and permits.

IA Source Link is a government-affiliated website that can assist you in all aspects of starting, growing and managing your business.

A foreign business entity can be registered with the State by submitting a Certificate of Authority. You may submit this file through the Fast Track Filing website. The version submitted depends on the type of entity being registered (LLC, Profit, Nonprofit). . All foreign filing applications will look similar and will follow the same trend, though different chapters may have specific requirements as listed on the form. We have simplified the walkthrough by showing how to file for a foreign LLC, but the same general rules apply to all foreign filing forms.

No, the Iowa Secretary of State cannot issue Tax ID or EIN. Contact the IRS for information regarding Tax IDs or your EIN.

Please note that your EIN is the business equivalent of a Social Security Number and should be kept secure to prevent business identity theft. For more information on how to protect your business, visit sos.iowa.gov/ProtectYourBusiness.