A business entity can be formed in Iowa by filing the applicable document or form with the Secretary of State:
When you register a business with the State, your business will receive a 6-digit number that can be used when filing documents on Fast Track Filing. To find out what your Business Number is, visit the Business Entities Search page and type in the name of your business (make sure you enter your business name correctly). In the results page, your business should appear with its corresponding number. You can now use that number to file a variety of documents with Fast Track.
To dissolve an entity, a registered agent must file an “Articles of Dissolution” to formally terminate the company and all operations associated with it. This filing may be completed on Fast Track Filing.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on dissolving an entity.
After you have successfully submitted your document, you will receive an email from the Iowa Secretary of State that will let you know your filing has been approved. If you do not see an email, check your spam folder.
After you have successfully submitted your document, you will receive an email from Iowa Secretary of State Business Filings that will let you know if your filing has been approved. If you do not see an email, double-check your spam folder.
If you are interested in forming an entity and have a specific name in mind, the Fast Track Filing system will allow you to: 1) Check if the name is available, and 2) Reserve an available name.
The best way to prevent business identity theft and cyber security fraud is to take action to keep your important information secure. Below are a few tips:
It is strongly recommended that you create a Fast Track Filing account to have the best experience with Fast Track Filing. As of now, only Biennial Report filers can file their documents without an account.
With an account, you can see your saved filing history on your Dashboard, save your payment information for future use and share documents with colleagues who also use the system. Click here for a step-by-step guide on creating an account.
The Secretary of State’s Office does not provide any kind of counseling for businesses.
America's SBDC (Small Business Development Center) Iowa (Iowa SBDC) is an organization that provides no-cost business counseling and resources for those looking to start or grow a business. They also provide a variety of other business-related information. For more information, visit https://iowasbdc.org/, call (515) 294-2030, or email iowasbdc@iastate.edu.