How to Start an LLC in Missouri

A Missouri LLC is one of the most simple, cost-effective, and quick business structures to form. Even so, navigating the formation process can seem daunting without clear guidance and an actionable plan.

In this How to Start an LLC in Missouri guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know to form your LLC, from the steps you’ll need to take to get started to maintaining your structure.

LLC in Missouri

In order to form an LLC in Missouri, you’ll need to complete the following steps:

1. Name Your Missouri LLC
2. Pick a Missouri Registered Agent
3. Submit Your LLC’s Articles of Organization
4. Create a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement
5. Get an EIN
6. File Your BOI Report

In the sections below, we’ve broken down each of these steps in more detail.

Step 1: Name Your Missouri LLC

The first thing you’ll need to do before getting started is picking the right name for your LLC. This is important because your business’s name will need to represent your brand accurately, as well as be as memorable as possible.

In Missouri, all LLC names need to abide by the following statutory guidelines in order to be accepted by the Secretary of State:

• Distinguishability: Your LLC’s name must be unique and distinguishable from the names of other business entities already registered or reserved in Missouri
• Business Entity Designator: The name of your LLC must include a business entity designator such as “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or other variants recognized by the state
• Restricted Words: The name should not include words that could confuse the LLC with a government agency (e.g., FBI, Treasury) or imply an affiliation with a government agency

Keep in mind that even though picking an LLC name in itself has no cost, there are certain fees that can be associated with the overall process.

Reserve an LLC Name

If you’re not yet ready to launch your business and still need a little more time, you can choose to reserve your desired LLC name for later by submitting an Application for Reservation of Name form to the Corporations Division of the Missouri Secretary of State’s office ($25 fee). This will keep anyone from being able to take the name you plan to use for 60 days.

If you need more time beyond the initial 60 days, you can extend your reservation twice by reapplying and paying an additional $25 fee each time.

Note: Missouri law restricts business name reservations to a maximum of 180 days. After this period, you will no longer be able to reserve the name, and it will become available for others to register.

Register a DBA Name

Another potential cost associated with naming your LLC is a “doing business as” (or DBA) name. This is essentially a nickname that you can choose to register for your business to operate under — particularly if you’re not content with your LLC’s legal name.

Registering a DBA name can be done by filing a  Registration of Fictitious Name with the Secretary of State and paying a $7 fee.

Note: Keep in mind that your LLC’s DBA name will remain valid for five years from the filing date; after this period, you will be able to file for a renewal if you want to continue using it.

Buy a Domain Name

Finally, you’ll want to focus on securing a good domain name (which is your website’s URL address) for your business. For this, try to focus on choosing one that’s easy for customers to remember, relevant to your business, and accurately reflects your brand.

After confirming the domain name you want to use is actually available, you can purchase it through a trusted registrar.

Step 2: Pick a Registered Agent

The next step you’ll need to take toward forming your LLC is to pick a registered agent.

This is an individual or business entity that accepts legal correspondence on behalf of your business, such as service of process, notice of lawsuits, and official government communications; you’re required to continuously maintain one as long as your LLC is active.

Your registered agent will need to satisfy the following requirements:

• The registered agent must be either an individual residing in Missouri with a business office identical to the LLC’s registered office, or a corporation authorized to do business in Missouri with a matching business office address
• The agent must be consistently available at this registered office address during normal business hours to ensure the timely acceptance of legal and official documents
• Your LLC must have a physical office in Missouri. If a P.O. Box is used as part of the address, it must be supplemented with a physical street address in the same city

It should be noted that any change in your LLC’s registered agent will require the new agent’s written consent; you can do this by filing a Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form.

It should also be noted that your LLC’s registered office cannot be located at a retail mailing store address — such as a mailbox or UPS Store — and will need to be a genuine business office.

You can even act as your own registered agent if you’re looking to save money — though we don’t typically recommend this as you’re much more likely to suffer fines and penalties due to non-compliance than if you just hire a professional service.

On top of this, you’ll lose any anonymity your LLC would have given you since your name, address, and contact information will be publicly available.

Note: To have a look at some of our other top recommendations, you can also check out our Best Registered Agent Service of 2024 guide.

Step 3: Submit Your LLC’s Articles of Organization

In Missouri, the Articles of Organization is the filing document that you’ll need to submit with the Secretary of State in order to officially register your LLC.

When filing your LLC’s Articles of Organization in Missouri, you will need to include the following details:

• LLC Name: You will need to include your LLC’s chosen name (in accordance with the naming guidelines outlined above)
• Business Purpose: You will need to specify the purpose(s) for which your LLC is being organized (you can include a generic purpose)
• Registered Agent: You will need to provide the name and physical street address (no P.O. Boxes allowed) of your LLC’s registered agent in Missouri
• Management Structure: You will need to indicate whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed
• Duration of the LLC: You will need to state whether the LLC is established to operate for a specific number of years or intended to exist perpetually
• Organizer Information: You will need to list the name(s) and street address(es) of each LLC organizer
• Series LLC Option: If applicable, you will have to indicate if your LLC will have any Series under it, according to Section 347.186

You can submit your LLC’s Articles of Organization in one of two ways:

• Online Submission: Through the Missouri Business Filing System, which allows you to file electronically and streamline the registration process
• Mail Submission: By downloading this form, completing it, and mailing it to the address listed below

Corporations Division
Missouri Secretary of State’s office
PO Box 778
600 W. Main St., Rm. 322
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Regardless of which method you choose, you will need to pay a filing fee of $105 in order for your submission to be processed.

Step 4: Create a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement

Once this is completed, the next step you’ll need to take is to create an operating agreement.

This is an internal document that clearly outlines the ownership and management structure of your company in order to reduce potential future conflict.

All LLCs in Missouri are required by law to have an operating agreement, as it can help maintain both: smooth operations and your LLC’s corporate veil.

A number of companies provide drafting services for operating agreements online, typically for a fee of around a few hundred dollars. However, it’s quite easy to sort this out by yourself if you want to save money, and you can even find a number of free templates online to help with this.

Note: Keep in mind that even though you’ll be required to have an LLC operating agreement, this is an internal document and thus does not need to be filed with the Missouri Secretary of State.

Step 5: Get an EIN

Even though it’s not a legal requirement (unless your LLC has employees or multiple members), all Missouri LLCs should apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN); this is also known as a Federal Employer Identification Number or a Federal Tax Identification Number.

This is a free, nine-digit number used by the IRS to identify your business and keep track of its tax reporting — much like a Social Security Number (SSN) for individuals.

You’ll need an EIN to be able to:

• Hire employees
• Open a business bank account
• Apply for some business licenses/permits
• Establish a line of credit

On top of this, using an EIN instead of a Social Security Number (SSN) helps to protect your personal information and safeguard your anonymity as the business owner of your LLC.

You can quickly apply for an EIN for your LLC online through the IRS website. You’re also able to submit a paper application using Form SS-4 either via fax to (855) 641-6935, or by mailing it to the following address:

Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999

Note: Don’t worry if you don’t already have an SSN, it’s not necessary to have one in order to apply for an EIN — instead, you can just leave Section 7b of the application blank and call the IRS on (267) 941-1099.

Step 6: File a BOI Report

Starting January 2024, the vast majority of LLC owners will be required to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

This is part of an initiative by the U.S. government to stop individuals and entities engaging in illegal or unethical activities from being able to conceal this using “opaque ownership structures”, like shell companies, to hide their true identities.

Existing LLCs will be able to file this report anytime between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, while new LLCs will have up to 90 days after the date they were initially formed to do so (30 days for LLCs formed after the start of 2025).

Keep in mind that failure to file your LLC’s BOI report on time can result in exorbitantly high fines (i.e., $591 per day) or even jail time (up to two years).

Note: Not every LLC owner is required to file a BOI report. For example, companies with more than 20 full-time employees, accounting firms, and banks are exempt. For a full list of filing exemptions, you can have a look at FinCEN’s website.

How to Maintain Your Missouri LLC

In order to keep operating legally in the state of Missouri, your LLC will need to keep up with its annual obligations — which we’ve discussed in greater detail below

Obtain a Sales and Use Tax Bond

Under Missouri state law, all LLCs that engage in selling taxable goods or services are required to secure a sales and use tax bond. 

This bond should be equal to three times the estimated monthly sales tax liability of each LLC, and can be obtained from any licensed surety company.

Keep in mind that the bond requires a minimum fee of $25 and will need to be renewed annually. 

Note: If the bond is not maintained, the state can claim any owed sales taxes from the surety company, which will then seek reimbursement from your LLC.

Missouri vs Other States

Missouri stands out for its favorable business environment, offering a blend of supportive regulatory policies and valuable resources for entrepreneurs.

Although Missouri’s formation fees for LLCs are on par with the national average, the state’s maintenance fees are considerably lower, making Missouri an attractive and cost-effective choice for businesses.

This combination of reasonable startup costs and low ongoing expenses makes Missouri a compelling choice for entrepreneurs looking to maximize their investment.

Regardless, keep in mind that the best state to form your LLC is almost always the state that you will be operating in; this is because otherwise you’ll likely be required to register as a foreign LLC in your home state, meaning that you’ll need to pay registration and maintenance fees twice.

Missouri Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address:
Corporations Unit
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
P.O. Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65102

Physical Address:
Corporations Unit
600 W Main St.
Missouri State Information Center, Room 322
Jefferson City, MO 65101-0778
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Contact Information:

Email: corporations@sos.mo.gov
Phone: (573) 751-4153