Run by the Secretary of State, paired with the Fast Track Filing system. It covers LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and nonprofits.
Iowa Secretary of State | Business Entity Search
The Iowa Secretary of State keeps a central database of every registered business and pairs it with the Fast Track Filing system for submissions. Anyone can search it for free to confirm a company's status, find its registered agent, and review its filing history.
Business Name Availability Check
State of Iowa
What the Iowa Business Search Covers
Each record lists the entity type, status, registration date, registered agent, principal office, and filing history.
Searching is free and open to the public; filings run through Fast Track Filing.
How to Search by Business Name
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1
Open the Iowa business entity search
Go to the Secretary of State's Business Entities Search, or use the direct link below. The search is free and public.
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2
Search by name or business number
Enter the business name or the business number. Start broad with part of the name, then narrow from the results.
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Read the results
Results show matching businesses with their status. Click a name to open its record.
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4
Review the entity record
The record shows the business name, registration date, status, registered agent, principal office address, and filing history.
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File through Fast Track Filing
Filings, including the biennial report, go through Fast Track Filing — you can sign in, create an account, or file without logging in.
Ready to try it? Open the official business search and run your query.
Search Iowa businesses ↗All the Ways to Search Iowa Records
Business Name
Search by full or partial business name. The most common starting point.
Open this search ↗Business Number
Go straight to one record using the entity's Iowa business number.
Open this search ↗Registered Agent
The registered agent appears on each record; every Iowa entity must maintain one.
Open this search ↗Filing History
From a record, review the entity's filings, including biennial reports and amendments.
Open this search ↗Rules That Make Your Search Work
- Search by business name or business number — both run through the same search page.
- Searching the database is free and open to the public.
- Filings are submitted through the separate Fast Track Filing system.
- You can file a biennial report through Fast Track without even creating an account.
- You cannot change your registered agent inside the biennial report — that is a separate filing.
- Iowa entities file a biennial report (every two years), with the year depending on the entity type.
Reading the Entity Detail Page
| Field | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Business Number | The number the Secretary of State assigned to the entity. |
| Business Name | The registered legal name of the business. |
| Status | Whether the entity is Active or in another condition. |
| Entity Type | The structure, such as a Domestic or Foreign LLC, Corporation, LP, or Nonprofit. |
| Registration Date | The date the entity was formed in Iowa or registered as a foreign entity. |
| Registered Agent | The name and Iowa address of the agent designated to receive legal documents. |
| Principal Office Address | The entity's principal business address as most recently reported. |
| Biennial Report Status | Whether the entity's most recent biennial report has been filed. |
| Filing History | A list of the entity's filed documents. |
Two official references help you go further:
How to View and Download a Company's Filings
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1
Open the entity’s detail page
Search by name or business number and click the entity to reach its record.
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2
Review the filing history
The record lists the entity’s filings, including its biennial reports and amendments.
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3
File through Fast Track Filing
Use Fast Track Filing to submit a biennial report or other filing — with an account or without logging in.
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4
Order a certificate
Order a certificate of existence from the Secretary of State when a bank, court, or contract requires one.
Biennial report: Iowa entities file every two years. LLCs, LPs, and nonprofits file in odd years; for-profit corporations file in even years. Online filing through Fast Track is $30.
Iowa Business Search - Common Questions
Is the Iowa business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entities database is free and open to the public.
What is Fast Track Filing?
It is Iowa's online filing system, used to submit formations, biennial reports, and other filings. You can file with an account or without logging in.
Does Iowa require an annual report?
Iowa uses a biennial report (every two years). LLCs, LPs, and nonprofits file in odd years and for-profit corporations file in even years. Online filing is $30.
Can I change my registered agent in the biennial report?
No. Changing your registered agent is a separate filing from the biennial report.
How do I find a company's registered agent?
The registered agent's name and address appear on the entity's record in the search.
A name is available in Iowa. Does that mean I can use it?
Not necessarily. State availability does not clear a name against federal trademarks. Run a USPTO trademark screen and check domain and social-handle availability before committing.