How to look up Iowa business entity information

All Iowa business entity information, including entity name, type, and number, is available through the Iowa Secretary of State business portal. This free online database provides immediate access to key details for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

Here, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the Iowa database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Iowa's system.

Summary table: Finding your Iowa entity information

How to search for Iowa business entities

Navigate to Iowa's business entity search. The database covers over 600,000 registered businesses and returns results immediately.

Enter your business name (full or partial) in the search field. Iowa's system will return all entities starting with your input. For example, searching "Acme" returns "Acme Industries, LLC" and any other businesses beginning with "Acme."

For exact results, enter your complete legal name as registered or use your business number if you know it. The search supports both name and number lookups, returning up to 1,000 results at once.

Click any entity name or number in the results to view complete details, including your entity number, formation date, registered agent, and filing history.

What you'll see in search results

Search results display essential information immediately visible:

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Nonprofit)
• Business number (Iowa's unique identifier)
• Formation/registration date
• Current status (active, inactive, dissolved, revoked)
• Registered agent name and address
• Principal office address

How to find your entity number in Iowa

Your Iowa entity number, officially called your "Business Number," is a unique numeric sequence assigned by the Iowa Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Iowa entity number

1. Iowa business search

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results as a clickable link
• Labeled as: "Business Number"
• Format: Numeric sequence (length varies)

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "File Number," "Document Number," or "Business Number"
• Stamped or printed by the Iowa Secretary of State

3. Biennial reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Iowa Secretary of State documents
• Used as your account identifier for Iowa's Fast Track Filing system
• Required for all official state filings and communications

Iowa entity number format

Format: Numeric sequence (length varies by formation date)

• Example: Sequential numbers assigned chronologically
• Pattern note: Iowa assigns numbers sequentially, so newer entities typically have higher numbers than older ones

How to find your entity type in Iowa

Iowa recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Iowa entity type

1. Iowa business search

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under entity details
• Listed as: "LLC," "Corporation," "LP," "LLP," "Nonprofit Corporation," etc.

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the specific entity type being formed
• Uses Iowa's official terminology

3. Biennial reports

• Listed in entity information section
• Cannot be changed without formal amendment through Iowa's system
• Must match original formation documents

How to find your formation date in Iowa

Your formation date, which is when the Iowa Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity, appears in Iowa business search results and on your Certificate of Organization or Articles of Incorporation.

Where your Iowa formation date appears

1. Iowa business search

• Listed as: "Formation Date" or "Date Filed"
• Location: Displayed in the entity detail page after clicking on your business
• Format: Standard MM/DD/YYYY format

2. Certificate of Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document
• May say "Filed on [date]" or "File Date: [date]"
• Often stamped with the Iowa Secretary of State seal and date

3. Biennial report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate biennial report due dates (every two years)
• Critical for maintaining compliance with Iowa's requirements

Formation date vs. effective date

Iowa usually makes filings effective upon processing via Fast Track Filing. However, filers can specify a future effective date (up to 90 days) when completing online submissions.

Next steps: Onboarding your entity to Discern

With your Iowa entity information in hand, you're ready to onboard to Discern in minutes. Our platform automates Iowa's biennial reporting requirements, tracks critical deadlines, and coordinates registered agent services across all 51 jurisdictions.

Whether you're managing a single Iowa LLC or coordinating entities across multiple states, Discern eliminates compliance uncertainty by automating tracking and filing assistance. Book a demo to get started.