The agencies state $21,322 in initial fees across 5 of the 10 items; 2 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top and depend on the space.
How much does it cost to open a bar in Iowa?
$21,322 in state fees the agencies state, across 5 of the 10 licenses, permits and registrations; 2 are free; 3 are set by the city, the county or a provider. Rent, build-out and equipment come on top.
What the state publishes for a bar in Iowa
Every row checked against its agency’s page; the latest on Oct 21, 2026.
- Stated state fees
- $21,322initial fees across 5 of 10 items
- Free items
- 2no fee as the agency publishes it
- Set elsewhere
- 3by the city, the county or a provider
- Items in all
- 10in the order to get them
Initial fees as each agency states them, summed; renewals are not included. Where a fee depends on size or sales the range is the lowest to the highest stated. Members see each row’s fee, its renewal and the official page.
Set up the business
Item Agency Fee Certificate of organization (LLC) and the biennial report Iowa Secretary of State Premium only Trade name statement (DBA) Your county recorder Premium only Employer Identification Number (EIN) Internal Revenue Service Free Register for tax
Item Agency Fee Business tax registration: sales and use tax permit, withholding permit Iowa Department of Revenue Free Local business license, where the city has one Your city clerk Premium only Approve the space
Item Agency Fee Zoning approval and certificate of occupancy Your city or county building and zoning office Premium only Get the permits for your kind of business
Item Agency Fee Food establishment license (food service or retail food) Iowa Department of Inspections Premium only Certified food protection manager DIAL or the contracted county health department Premium only Alcohol permits
Item Agency Fee Class C retail alcohol license (liquor, wine and beer on premises) or special class C (beer and wine) Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division Premium only Before the first hire
Item Agency Fee Unemployment insurance account, new hire reporting and workers’ compensation Iowa Workforce Development Premium only
What comes on top of the fees
The state publishes its fees; the space sets the rest. These work it out from your own numbers.
- Rent the business can carryMonthly sales, or seats and average check, to the base rent that fits a healthy occupancy share.Rent-to-sales calculator
- The real cost of a NNN leaseBase rent plus CAM, property taxes and insurance, each month.NNN lease calculator
- The steps in orderThe same items as a walk-through you tick off, with progress saved to your account.How to open
Fees are shown to members as published. Create an account.
Sources and dates
Secretary of State business entity forms and fees page (Iowa Code 489.201); biennial report instructions; Iowa Code 547.1; county recorder trade name pages (Polk, Webster, Pottawattamie counties); IRS EIN page; Department of Revenue business permit registration page; IASourceLink business license information center; city clerk pages; Iowa Code 103A.19 (local administration of the state building code); DIAL State Building Code Bureau pages; city ordinances; Iowa Code 137F.6 (2026); DIAL food service and retail food establishment pages; 481 IAC chapter 30; 481 IAC 31.1 (Iowa adoption of the 2017 FDA Food Code); county inspection program guidance; Iowa Code 123.36 (2026) and 123.92; Alcoholic Beverages Division license and permit fee page; Iowa Workforce Development 2026 unemployment insurance employer handbook; Iowa Code 252G.3; Iowa Code 85.1 and 87.21. Fees are as published by each agency on the date checked; cities and counties add their own.