The cost to form an LLC for a Davenport business starts with the $50 Iowa filing fee. Add annual fees, a registered agent, and local Davenport business taxes below.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Iowa charges a $50 filing fee to form an LLC and a $60 biennial report every two years. Iowa transitioned to a flat income tax rate of 3.8% for 2025, down from its previous graduated system. The state also fully exempts retirement income from state taxation.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Filing Fee | $50 | One-time at formation |
| Biennial report | $60 | Every 2 years |
| Registered Agent Service | $49 to $300/year | Annually |
| Local Davenport Business License / Tax | Varies by industry | Annually |
| Operating Agreement | $0 to $500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
Iowa does not levy a local business income tax. Davenport requires a sales tax permit for businesses that sell goods, and the state charges a biennial report fee of about $60 every two years for LLCs. Budget for those on top of the Iowa LLC filing fee.
Davenport is the largest of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, with an economy built on manufacturing, agribusiness and food processing, healthcare, and riverboat gaming, anchoring a metro that spans the Iowa and Illinois border.
| Local Metric | Davenport (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 100,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | Scott County |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 83 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $18.50/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $38.00/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $7.25/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $850/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,050/month |
| Median home price | $175,000 |
| Median household income | $55,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 7% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.7% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The LLC filing fee is set by Iowa at $50, since LLCs are formed at the state level. Add the $60 biennial report (every two years), a registered agent (about $49 to $300/year), and any local Davenport business license or tax. Iowa does not levy a local business income tax. Davenport requires a sales tax permit for businesses that sell goods, and the state charges a biennial report fee of about $60 every two years for LLCs. Budget for those on top of the Iowa LLC filing fee.
Iowa does not levy a local business income tax. Davenport requires a sales tax permit for businesses that sell goods, and the state charges a biennial report fee of about $60 every two years for LLCs. Budget for those on top of the Iowa LLC filing fee.
Plan for the $60 biennial report, registered agent renewal (about $49/year), and any local Davenport business license or tax. The calculator above totals these for you.
LLCs are registered with the Iowa Department of Revenue at the state level, not the city. You then comply with local Davenport requirements such as a business license, zoning, and any city business tax. There is no separate city-level LLC filing.
If your business actually operates in Davenport, forming in Iowa is usually simplest. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating in Davenport typically forces you to register as a foreign LLC in Iowa anyway, paying fees in both states.