Foreign registration · Form 972

Iowa LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana registers an LLC from Iowa as a foreign LLC on Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also asks for Iowa's Certificate of Existence ($5), no older than 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your Iowa records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Iowa vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	Iowa formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Iowa Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$5	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Iowa: online as a printable PDF right after payment	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	sos.iowa.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Biennial Report, $30, every two years	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due	April 1 of odd-numbered years	On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Iowa registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From Iowa to Louisiana, step by step

Order the Iowa certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Iowa separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. An instant Iowa certificate reaches Louisiana only hours old, well inside the limit of 90 days.
We prepare and file Form 972
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your Iowa name and formation date and the certificate attached. With the certificate issued on the spot, nothing from Iowa delays the Louisiana filing. After approval, your Iowa LLC is registered with Louisiana.

First-year cost, Iowa to Louisiana

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to Iowa	$5
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Iowa certificate included	$394

Louisiana's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Your Iowa name and Louisiana's rules

We check your exact Iowa name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Your Louisiana agent and the Iowa one

Iowa and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Louisiana papers come to us; Iowa's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Iowa and Louisiana

Iowa wants the Biennial Report every two years ($30); Louisiana wants the Annual Report every year ($35). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Iowa to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Iowa files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Iowa's Biennial Report ($60) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

Registering a Louisiana company in Iowa

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Iowa files Form 635_0010 with $100 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 90 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Iowa to Louisiana

Does my Iowa company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once an Iowa business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does the Louisiana registration cost?

$389 at checkout plus $5 to Iowa for the Certificate of Existence, $394 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Iowa's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants Iowa's Certificate of Existence ($5), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Iowa and Louisiana?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), Iowa's report ($30, every two years) and Louisiana's report ($35).

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

An Iowa company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Iowa registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Iowa keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Iowa's Biennial Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Iowa?

It files Form 635_0010 with $100 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

People also search

LLC into Louisiana, by home state (48)

Iowa into other states (47)

The same move for a corporation