MEDIA RELEASE: Iowa smashes record for most new business filings in a single month

DES MOINES - Secretary of State Paul Pate announces Iowans set a record for most new business filings in a single month during April 2019. Pate’s Business Services Division processed 2,326 filings for new businesses in April. The previous one-month record was 2,204, set in March of 2018.

The news comes while Iowa is celebrating Small Business Week and coincides with recent reports that Iowa is the best state for jobs and maintains one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation.

“We're seeing small businesses flock to Iowa because we have an environment that I think is very inviting,” Secretary Pate said. “We have low interest rates, we've seen low unemployment numbers, but it's the entrepreneur who's stepping up and getting the job done.”

Iowa is also on pace to shatter the record for new business filings in a year, for the fourth consecutive fiscal year. More than 20,000 new businesses have filed with the Secretary of State’s Office since July 1, 2018.

The implementation of Fast Track Filing by Secretary Pate in 2018 allows new businesses to register with the state in just a few minutes. Previously, the process could take up to three weeks.

“Our office’s goal is to operate at the speed of business, not the speed of government,” Secretary Pate added. “We need to be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and that's what we've done by putting online filing and fast tracking in our offices.”

A graphic showing new business filings in Fiscal Year 2019, compared to 2018, through April is available for your use by clicking here.

Secretary Pate’s quotes and additional comments are available in audio form for your use by clicking here.

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