How Much Does an LLC Cost in Missouri

Written by: Mary Gerardine

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How Much Does an LLC Cost in Missouri

The minimum Missouri LLC Cost is $50, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation documents (known as the Articles of Organization).

Having said that, the total cost of forming a Missouri LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Missouri article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

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Missouri LLC Cost

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Missouri limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         
RequirementFee
Articles of Organization$50-$105
Registered Agent$0-$130+
LLC Name$0-$32+
Operating Agreement$0+

Missouri LLC Filing Fee ($50-$105)

In Missouri, all domestic LLCs are required to submit their Articles of Organization online or by mail with the Secretary of State in order to be legally registered, while foreign LLCs must submit an Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company instead.

If you choose to submit either of these documents by yourself, you’ll be required to pay one of the following registration fees:

  • Domestic Entities: $50
  • Foreign Entities: $105

Domestic entities that submit their Missouri LLC Articles of Organization by mail must pay a higher filing fee of $105.

Having said that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Missouri’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our Missouri LLC Formation guide.

Missouri Registered Agent ($0-$130+)

As part of the process of submitting your Articles of Organization to the Secretary of State, you’ll also be required to appoint a registered agent. This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax, as well as legal and governmental correspondence on behalf of your Missouri LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service so you avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

Although the Missouri registered agent fee of these professional services is unique to each provider, they typically charge around $130+ per year. Most premium LLC formation services also allow new customers to access their services for free for the first year post formation.

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Naming Your Missouri LLC ($0-$32+)

When forming your Missouri LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

While registering a name in itself has no cost, there are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you’ve found an available name for your business but aren’t looking to form an LLC right away, you’ll need to file an Application for Reservation of Name with the Missouri Secretary of State in order to keep it safe for later use.

It costs $25 to submit this form, which will reserve your name for up to 60 days. However, you’ll be able to file additional name reservation applications throughout this time in order to extend the reservation period up to a maximum of 180 days.

Note: To save yourself money, we recommend confirming that your desired business name is available beforehand by performing a Business Entity Search on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

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Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you want to operate your Missouri business under a name other than the one it’s legally registered as, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) name — which is also known as an “fictitious name” in Missouri.

To obtain a DBA name for your business, you’ll need to submit a Registration of Fictitious Name to the Missouri Department of State alongside a $7 filing fee.

Note: Fictitious names are only valid for five years, after which they will expire. However, you can renew them by submitting the same form and paying the filing fee again.

Missouri LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

All LLCs in Missouri are required to obtain an operating agreement (or “company agreement” as it’s sometimes called) under Revised Statutes Section 347.081 of the state’s legal code.

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Missouri Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Missouri LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of additional formation costs that LLCs in Missouri may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Local Business Licenses

Depending on the exact location and industry of your LLC, there are a number of local-level licenses and permits it may be required to obtain in order to operate legally.

For example, LLCs based in Branson are required to obtain a local business license which can range between $50 and $300 depending on the number of employees it has. Similarly, all LLCs based in the city of Jefferson are required to obtain a license before they can begin operating, unless exempted by law.

However, to get a better idea of the specific local licenses your LLC may need (and their respective costs), you’ll need to refer to get in contact with your local county and city officials.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Missouri Certificate of Status, (or “Certificate of Good Standing” as it’s also called) is a document that demonstrates the existence of your LLC. It’s often required to open a business bank account, or by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business with the state.

You can obtain a Certificate of Status for your Missouri LLC by paying a $10 filing fee and submitting a request by mail, fax, email, or online to the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division.

Submissions made by mail will be required to pay an additional $0.50 per page.

Note: Expedited filing is not available for this certificate. However, online requests are normally processed immediately.

Certified Copies of Business Documents

If you require any certified copies of your business’s documents, you can request them from the Missouri Department of State at a cost of $10 per document.

You can submit this request online through the Business Registration Online Portal or by mail. 

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Cost to Maintain an LLC in Missouri

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Missouri, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining a Missouri LLC below.

Missouri Sales and Use Tax Bond

Any Missouri-based business looking to sell taxable goods or services will be required by the state’s Department of Revenue to get a sales tax license. While this is free to obtain, you’ll also need to get a sales and use tax bond equal to three times the value of your predicted monthly sales tax liability.

This bond carries a minimum fee of $25 and is valid for one year — after which, you’ll need to renew it on an annual basis to keep it active. During renewal, the surety company might re-evaluate your creditworthiness and adjust the premium accordingly.

Note: If you fail to collect or remit sales tax as required, the state can claim the owed amount from the surety company, which will then come after you to recoup their funds.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Missouri you need to be aware of, including:

  • Sales tax
  • Employment taxes
  • Business privilege taxes
  • Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

  • Sales and use taxes
  • Property tax

Note: Nonprofits seeking tax-exempt status will need to submit an application directly to both the Missouri Department of Revenue and the Internal Revenue Service.

Missouri vs Other States

Compared to other popular options among business owners, Missouri represents a competitive choice. It has a comparatively low initial filing fee of only $50, and an ongoing maintenance fee of at least $25.

By contrast, LLCs in Georgia, for example, are required to pay at least double in both initial filing fees and ongoing costs.

Ultimately, the best state to form your LLC will be one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from. This makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.

LLC Cost in Missouri FAQ

How much does an LLC cost in Missouri?

The primary cost of forming a Missouri LLC is the $50 filing fee for the Articles of Organization. However, there are a number of optional fees that can quickly raise the formation cost, including reserving a name and appointing a registered agent. For more information on other Missouri LLC fees, check out our article on How Much Does it Cost to Start an LLC.

How long does it take to get an LLC in Missouri?

The timeframe for forming an LLC in Missouri can vary between three and five business days — which is how long it takes for the Secretary of State to process standard filings. For more information on the total LLC cost, Missouri business owners can see our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Missouri guide.

Is Missouri a good LLC state?

Missouri is a popular state among LLC owners due to its straightforward LLC formation process, business-friendly environment, and minimal reporting requirements under Missouri law. Please note that this is not legal or tax advice, and you’ll need to choose the state that best fits your needs. If you’re interested in getting started, check out our guide on How to Start an LLC in Missouri.

How much does it cost to get a certificate of authority in Missouri?

In order to become a foreign corporation authorized to conduct business in the state of Missouri, your business entity must first file for a Certificate of Authority, which costs $105. However, since a company is required to list a Missouri registered agent (and cannot serve themselves in this capacity), the total cost of obtaining this certificate is in reality a little higher than this.

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