How to form an LLC in Missouri

Who should form an LLC in Missouri?

Anyone who lives in Missouri or runs their business from there. If you form in another state but operate in Missouri, you will usually have to register there as a foreign LLC anyway, paying both states' fees. See home state or another state.

How do you form an LLC in Missouri, step by step?

1. Choose and check the name

   Search the state's business records and include "LLC", "L.L.C." or "Limited Liability Company" in the name.

2. Appoint a registered agent

   A person or company with a physical street address in Missouri. See what a registered agent is.

3. File the Articles of Organization

   Online through the Secretary of State's business filing system for $50, usually processed quickly, or by mail for $105.

4. Get an EIN and sign an operating agreement

   The EIN is free from the IRS. See LLC operating agreement.

5. Register for state taxes

   Sales tax and payroll as needed. Then note the first yearly filing date.

What does Missouri require every year?

Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report, and there is no annual LLC fee. That stays true even if the LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation, because tax treatment does not change what the LLC files with the Secretary of State.

For deadlines, fees and late penalties in detail, see Missouri LLC yearly filings.

Do you need a Missouri business license?

Missouri has no general statewide business license. Many cities and counties require a local business license or occupational license, and regulated professions need state licensing. If you sell taxable goods, you also need a Missouri retail sales license from the Department of Revenue, which may require a bond.

Can you reserve a name first?

Yes. A name can be reserved for 60 days for a $25 fee, which helps if you need time before filing. Filing the Articles straight away secures the name without a separate reservation.

What do the first two years cost?

Over two years, Missouri's state filing cost is just the $50 formation fee.

Should you file it yourself or use a formation service?

Filing yourself costs only the state fee, and the Missouri filing is short enough for most owners to complete. A formation service saves time, can act as your registered agent and may send reminders for yearly filings, but compare total yearly costs: low headline prices are often paired with paid add-ons such as expedited filing, operating agreements or EIN applications, which you can do yourself free. Whichever you choose, keep the approved filing, the EIN letter and your operating agreement together. See how much an LLC costs.

Can a non-resident form an LLC in Missouri?

Yes. Missouri has no residency or citizenship requirement for an LLC's members or managers. You need a registered agent with a Missouri street address and an EIN; a foreign owner without a Social Security number applies for the EIN on Form SS-4. A single-member LLC owned by a foreign person files Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 every year, even with no US income. See can a non-resident own a US LLC and annual filings for foreign-owned LLCs.

What keeps a Missouri LLC in good standing?

With no annual report, the risks are losing the registered agent without appointing a new one, leaving the registered office address out of date, and failing to file state tax returns. The state can administratively dissolve an LLC for not maintaining a registered agent. Update the agent and address promptly. See reinstating a dissolved LLC.

Which Missouri taxes apply to an LLC?

Owners pay Missouri's graduated income tax on their share of profit. The state sales tax is 4.225%, but local taxes often bring the total much higher; register with the Missouri Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods. Some cities, such as St. Louis and Kansas City, also levy earnings taxes.

If you sell online, see Missouri sales tax for online sellers.

Federally, a Missouri LLC is taxed like any other LLC. See how LLCs are taxed. For a side-by-side view of state costs, see how much an LLC costs.

This guide is general information. It is not tax or legal advice for your situation.