Top 7 Best Iowa Registered Agent 2024: Ranked & Guides
Reviewed by Randolph Vialva, MBA
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Business owners in Iowa understand the overwhelming amount of tasks that they must accomplish and keep in order at any given time. So when it comes to legal matters, hiring an expert to keep the business compliant with the Iowa Secretary of State‘s requirements and ensure that all required legal documents are filed is of great importance. This can be accomplished with the help of a registered agent, and throughout this article, we will cover the best Iowa registered agent services that businesses in the state can consider hiring.
Read more: Best LLC Services In 2024
An Overview of Registered Agent
First, let’s cover what a registered agent is. They are an individual or business entity that’s an Iowa resident that can accept legal documents and service of process on behalf of your business. In many states, you can even be your own registered agent, though if you hire registered agent services from a professional company like the ones listed below, you may benefit from other additional services and perks they offer to businesses on an ongoing basis.
Starting Business with Registered Agent Service In Iowa
When starting a business in Iowa, you should consider the following steps.
Pick A Business Idea
First, you need to decide on an idea for your business that involves the goods or services you’ll sell. You don’t need to provide too many details at this stage, though you should assess whether there’s a demand for your products and what the industry looks like.
Plan Your Business
Next, you’ll make a more in-depth and detailed plan for your business. This may include the price point you’ll sell your products or services at, where you’ll operate, who your target audience is, and other projected timelines or financial targets for the coming months and years.
Choose A Business Structure
After that, you need to choose a business structure, which is where you’ll hire your own registered agent. Whether you want to be a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, and more, hiring an expert during this process can be a great benefit as they guide you through the necessary steps and filings.
Set Up Banking, Credit Cards, & Accounting
With your business structure in place, you need to get your finances and accounting in order. This step will help you separate your personal finances from the business’s, and help you prepare for a smooth tax season after your first year in business.
Hire Employees
Next, you can begin to hire employees to help you ramp up production and sales efforts. As the owner, you may not have the capacity to do all the duties required of you, so hiring someone to help with service delivery, order fulfillment, sales, or other duties can be a great benefit to you.
Build A Business Website
Another important step is to have a quality business website. Even if you’re not actively selling online, you still need a place for customers to visit to learn more about your business, and who you are, and find any relevant contact information.
Promo Your Business
Lastly, you need to promote your business so you can help generate more sales for the business and get your name out there. Each company will do this differently given the products or services they sell and their target market, so don’t be afraid to test out different ideas to see what works best.
Top 7 Best Registered Agents In Iowa in April
- Zenbusiness: Best Overall
- Northwest Registered Agent: Best Value
- IncFile: Most Affordable
- Harbor Compliance: Quick Delivery
- LegalZoom: Best Reputation
- Better Legal: Good Pricing
- Inc Authority: No Fees
Read more: Best LLC Formation Services In Iowa (IA) 2024
Top 7 Best Iowa Registered Agents April 2024
Zenbusiness
Even though they are a new registered agent service provider, ZenBusiness ranks near the top of our list for their affordability and transparency, combined with the great value they provide to customers with their ongoing legal support and registered agent services.
- Starts at $0 plus state fees
- Premium registered agent and compliances services
- Affordable EIN and expedited filing options
- Their online platform is cluttered and hard to navigate
- They are a newer provider, so they don’t have the same reputation as other providers
At the prices they charge, ZenBusiness is a great registered agent for Iowa businesses. They provide all the essential services required from a registered agent, all at affordable rates. Choosing this company, ZenBusiness will supply all the formation necessities with its $0 plus state fees and make sure you have everything you need to start your business.
Their tiered services mean companies can select the level of support they need, which helps to fit a range of budgets. All packages include a free operating agreement, formation documents, annual report support, and more. The quality of their service and quick turnaround times give them an edge over other providers, even if the large number amount of packages and services they offer can become overwhelming for customers.
Northwest Registered Agent
Northwest continues to be the top choice for an Iowa registered agent. With their wide range of offerings at reasonable prices, customers can appreciate their services even if they aren’t the cheapest option available. Plus, their great customer service team and depth of knowledge of legal matters is a great advantage.
- Privacy by Default policy that never sells customers’ data to third parties
- Outstanding customer support team made up of experts
- Packages are flexible and can be upgraded or downgraded at any time
- Their customer service team is highly qualified, though they don’t always operate in a timely manner
- There are cheaper options available from other Iowa registered agent options
Their Iowa registered agent service is one of the best available and provides all that customers expect from a registered agent. They give customers a physical street address in the state, helping to protect their privacy, and allowing all official mail to go through the registered agent so the company only receives the most important information. Northwest Registered Agent can accept service on the business’s behalf, informing them of any legal proceedings they may be involved in.
Above all, they are known for their top-tier customer support team comprised of experts who provide helpful solutions to business owners on a wide range of topics. This level of support cannot be found with any other registered agent services, in addition to their strong customer data support.
Incfile
IncFile is a great choice for a registered agent in Iowa. They are preferred for the value they provide customers, the wide variety of packages they offer, and their overall affordability.
- Affordable pricing and no hidden service fee
- One free year of registered agent services with the purchase of any package
- Any package includes a free hour-long tax consultation
- Customer support team only available during regular business hours
- There are cheaper options available from other Iowa registered agent service providers
One of the great things about IncFile is that they provide services at a range of price points, so they are affordable and accessible to businesses at any stage. Plus, they offer a wide range of services, including everything from business formation packages, to their registered agent service, and more. As registered agent, they include document storage in an online account, free mail forwarding, assistance with report filing, an address at the registered office address that they have in the state, and accept service of process on your behalf.
Harbor Compliance
Harbor Compliance is one of the best-registered agent services in Iowa. Their affordable rates and good value are preferred by customers, making them a solid option for businesses across the state. The compliance knowledge and expertise they possess are a bonus, but other registered agents may provide more widespread legal and tax knowledge.
- Strong expertise in compliance matters
- Their compliance calendar keeps businesses in good standing with the Iowa Secretary of State
- Great value and affordable rates
- They don’t shine in any particular area
- The customer service team is not comprised of experts, so available support can be limited
Harbor Compliance has a range of services they offer to businesses, helping them throughout the incorporation process, as a registered agent, and with mail forwarding services. They show great expertise as a registered agent for non-profit organizations and have a dedicated agent available to you for help and support during normal business hours. Plus, they offer their services on a quick turnaround time, which is a great advantage.
LegalZoom
With its strong brand recognition and reputation in the industry, LegalZoom continues to be one of the best-registered agent options in the state. Given their clear expertise with legal matters, customers appreciate the ongoing legal support they can provide, though being a registered agent isn’t necessarily their core offering.
- Good for IP protection
- Strong brand reputation
- Great ongoing legal support
- They are not known for their registered agent service, so there could be a cheaper provider
- Don’t offer registered agent services free with other packages
- Not all businesses needing a registered agent will require the in-depth legal support they provide
LegalZoom offers many services to businesses in Iowa, especially when it comes to ongoing legal support and IP protection, trademark registration, identity theft protection, patent applications, and more. Thus, the expertise on legal matters that they can assist customers with is unmatched by other providers. Plus, they offer registered agent services on top of these core offerings, which is an added bonus for anyone looking to hire them. All in all, they offer great legal assistance and have a strong brand reputation, making them a consistent favorite for Iowa business owners.
Better Legal
Better Legal provides a wide range of ongoing business support services to companies in the state, including tax guidance, web creation assistance, and legal support, in addition to their registered agent service. Their interface is simple and easy to use, and their streamlined package makes the purchase process simple for customers.
- Wide range of expertise
- Services are all available under one flat fee
- Quick delivery and turnaround time
- With their flat fee structure, you may pay for services you don’t actually need
- Customer support is not available outside normal business hours
- The full formation package is cheaper than other providers
Better Legal has garnered a lot of positive customer reviews, though some point out that the flat fee package makes it so you pay for some services that you never actually needed. This compares to some of the other providers who offer their services on an a la carte basis, though Better Legal’s services are still great, especially when it comes to their customer support team with widespread expertise, though they are only available during business hours.
Inc Authority
Inc Authority is a great registered agent service in Iowa. There are cheaper options available from other registered agents on this list, though they have standout expertise and depth of knowledge on legal matters and business incorporation.
- Good reputation and authority
- Free registered agent service for a year when purchasing any package
- Free LLC filing
- They charge extra for an EIN filing
- There are cheaper options available
- They use strong upselling tactics
Customers like Inc Authority for their comprehensive LLC services and ongoing support and business advice they offer, aside from their registered agent service. In addition to the typical benefits associated with hiring a registered agent, they also provide tax planning, customer support, and other services. The value they provide is some of the best compared to others on this list, and business owners can appreciate IncAuthority’s convenience and privacy they provide to customers with their services.
How Does An Iowa Registered Agent Service Cost?
There is a range of price points available for those looking for an Iowa registered agent. Some providers offer a free year of the registered agent service when you purchase one of their packages, while others offer their services on an a la carte structure. Depending on the registered agent service provider, you can expect to pay around $100-200 a year for the service.
Advantages Of Using Iowa Registered Agent
As you may have gathered from our reviews of the top Iowa registered agents, there is a lot of benefit to hiring a professional registered agent service for your business, even though you can technically be your own registered agent in many cases. Namely, they can help maintain your privacy and security by shielding your physical address from databases. This is because the registered agent’s address will be the one listed on the public record when you hire them for their services. Plus, they will accept all services or processes on your behalf and alert you anytime your business is involved in legal matters. Additionally, many Iowa registered agent providers on this list offer additional business support services that can benefit your company, which is an added bonus to Iowa businesses when you contract them as your registered agent.
Final Thoughts
Above all, hiring one of the Iowa registered agent services listed here is a great idea for many businesses in the state. There is a range of service providers that offer different perks and benefits, all at different price points. So, there is a good provider to fit your business’s needs and budget, giving you the peace of mind that all legal matters are being handled.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Iowa business owners can hire a family member to be their registered agent if they fit all the criteria as set out by the state, just like you can be your own registered agent if you qualify.
When incorporating, an Iowa business will need to provide a physical address in the state for the public record. When hiring a registered agent, you can use their address as your official one on record, which can help shield your personal information from the public.
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- FAQs. sos.iowa.gov. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://sos.iowa.gov/business/faqs.html
- Business Entity Forms and Fees. sos.iowa.gov. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://sos.iowa.gov/business/formsandfees.html
- What is a registered agent? | Fast Track Filing Resource Center. help.sos.iowa.gov. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://help.sos.iowa.gov/what-registered-agent
- Iowa Registered Agent | For LLCs & Corporations. Northwest Registered Agent. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/registered-agent/iowa
- Get an Iowa Registered Agent Today. ZenBusiness Inc. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://www.zenbusiness.com/iowa-registered-agent/
- Iowa Registered Agents & Your LLC. www.incfile.com. Accessed September 26, 2022. https://www.incfile.com/iowa-llc/registered-agents-iowa-llc