Promote:
Invest in Kansas
A short guide for companies expanding into Kansas: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Kansas at a glance
Population
2.98 million
The population was 2,977,220 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$232.1 billion
GDP was US$232,106.7 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$77,961
GDP per person was US$77,960.9 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
1.0%
Real GDP growth was 1.0 percent in 2025, BEA's published percent change.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, Kansas’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA names the Kansas Department of Commerce as the state economic development organization for Kansas.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations list (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Kansas Business One Stop is a state information portal that links business registration, tax registration, employer accounts and licensing on each agency's own site.
Source: Kansas Business One Stop, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Kansas's land and military installation protection act, in force from July 1, 2025, bars certain foreign principals from acquiring any interest, including a lease, in covered property.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 2 foreign-trade zones in Kansas.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, annual report 2024, Appendix D (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Show 10 more
The act covers any interest, including a lease, easement or mineral or water right, in non-residential property within 100 miles of a military installation in Kansas or a neighboring state.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The listed countries of concern are China including Hong Kong, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela, plus designated foreign terrorist organizations; Taiwan is excluded.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
A covered foreign principal must register its interest with the Attorney General within 90 days, and an unregistered interest must be divested.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Until June 30, 2028, an owner from before July 1, 2025 that missed registration first gets a warning and 30 days to file before divestiture applies.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
A foreign principal that owned covered property before July 1, 2025 may ask the Governor to approve more property for an expansion; the Governor decides within 90 days.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Secretary of State's 2025 notice told covered owners to file the Attorney General's registration form on or before September 29, 2025.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, businesses page, 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Attorney General may seek divestiture, injunctions and civil forfeiture, and a court-ordered divestiture must be completed within 180 days.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The act also bars a foreign principal of a listed country from receiving any direct benefit from a Kansas economic development program, in any form.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Before a qualified data center gets public financial assistance, the Kansas intelligence fusion center reviews its equipment and software, and an oversight board may approve, require changes or deny.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 2 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The act lets any person report to the Attorney General foreign investment transactions that were not submitted to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Kansas
- A business formed outside Kansas files the Foreign Application (form FA) on paper with the Secretary of State and names a resident agent with a Kansas street address.Kansas Secretary of StateUS$115 filing feeOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, foreign application form, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If an owner is a foreign principal of a listed country and the company holds property near a military installation, file the registration form of the Attorney General.Office of the Kansas Attorney GeneralOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, businesses page, 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Register for Kansas business taxes through the Business One Stop link to the Department of Revenue, after you obtain a federal employer identification number.Kansas Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Business One Stop, business tax requirements (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If the business will have employees, create an employer account with the Kansas Department of Labor.Kansas Department of LaborOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Business One Stop, hiring employees (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- Search the Business One Stop's licenses and permits page for the state license or permit your activity needs, and check city and county rules.Kansas Business One StopOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Business One Stop, licenses and permits (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- File an information report every two years: for-profit businesses by April 15 and not-for-profit businesses by June 15.Kansas Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, information reports (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Secretary of State. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
State business filings office
Secretary of State
Kansas Secretary of State
Registers Kansas and foreign business entities, runs the business search and information reports, and issues apostilles for documents used abroad.
Visit Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)Source: Kansas Secretary of State, businesses page, 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Regional economic development organization
Greater Wichita Partnership
Promotes the Wichita region to aerospace and other companies, including at international airshows, and supplies regional market data.
Show 3 more organizations
- Get advice
County economic development council
Wyandotte EDC
Wyandotte Economic Development Council
Recruits and keeps businesses in Wyandotte County, which includes Kansas City, Kansas, and explains local and state incentives.
Visit Wyandotte EDC (opens in a new tab)Source: Wyandotte Economic Development Council, about (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Meet requirements
State labor and employment agency
Labor Department
Kansas Department of Labor
Sets up employer accounts for businesses that hire in Kansas and offers a handbook for employers.
Visit Labor Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Kansas Business One Stop, hiring employees (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
State attorney general's office
Attorney General
Office of the Kansas Attorney General
Takes the foreign principal real property registration required by the state's 2025 land and military installation protection act.
Visit Attorney General (opens in a new tab)Source: Kansas Secretary of State, businesses page, 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
Revenue Department
Kansas Department of Revenue
Registers businesses for Kansas business taxes, which the Business One Stop links from its tax requirements page.
Visit Revenue Department (opens in a new tab)Source: Kansas Business One Stop, business tax requirements (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Wheat growers association
Wheat Growers
Kansas Association of Wheat Growers
Represents Kansas wheat growers in planning legislation and advises government and international agencies on matters affecting wheat.
Visit Wheat Growers (opens in a new tab)Source: Kansas Wheat, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Reserved sectors
From July 2025, foreign principals of listed countries may not acquire any interest, including a lease, in non-residential property within 100 miles of military installations in Kansas or adjacent states.
What to do: Check whether your owners fall in a listed country before you choose a site.
Sources: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab); Kansas Secretary of State, businesses page, 2025 notice (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Corporate tax path
Kansas taxes corporate income at 4 percent plus a 3 percent surtax above US$50,000; 2025 laws move to single sales factor apportionment in 2027 and tie rate cuts to revenue.
What to do: Confirm the current rate with the Department of Revenue before you model costs.
Sources: Kansas Secretary of State, 2026 Session Laws, volume 2 (opens in a new tab); Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 2 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Angel investor credit
A 2026 law extends Kansas's angel investor tax credit, up to 50 percent of a cash investment, to investments made through 2031.
What to do: Check the credit's limits for one business and one investor before you raise capital.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2026 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
STAR bond changes
A 2026 law bars new STAR bond district approvals after July 1, 2031 and authorizes projects in major amusement park areas.
What to do: Ask the Department of Commerce about project eligibility before you count on bond financing.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2026 Session Laws, volume 2 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more
Incentive eligibility
A foreign principal of a listed country of concern may not receive any direct benefit from a Kansas economic development program.
What to do: Check your owners against the act's countries of concern before you apply for any state incentive.
Source: Kansas Secretary of State, 2025 Session Laws, volume 1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Filing rules
A business formed outside Kansas files its foreign application on paper, and every registered business files an information report every two years.
What to do: Mark the April 15 or June 15 report date before you register.
Sources: Kansas Secretary of State, foreign application form, 2026 (opens in a new tab); Kansas Secretary of State, information reports (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
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Promote:Kansas is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 3, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.