- Filing fee
- $50
- Ongoing report
- $0
- First-year gov. cost
- $50
- Publication
- Not required
The steps, in order
Pick a name Missouri will accept
Restricted words include standard regulated designators (bank, trust).
Search existing Missouri business names before you commit. Missouri naming rules in detail.
Appoint a registered agent
Must continuously maintain a registered agent with a Missouri street address.
File the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)
Submit it to the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division through the official filing portal and pay $50. Filing online costs $50, while filing by paper costs $105. Both fees include a $5 Technology Trust Fund surcharge. Card payments add a 2% plus $0.25 convenience fee.
Processing: online Immediately upon submission; by mail Processed in the order received. Expedite: No official expedited service fee for LLC formations..
Write an operating agreement
Not required to be filed with the state, though statutorily required internally.
Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number is free from IRS.gov. You'll need it for a business bank account and, if you hire, for payroll.
Stay in good standing
Missouri doesn't require a recurring LLC report, based on our latest check. Missouri report deadlines.
Every Missouri LLC fee
| Filing | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) | $50 | Filing online costs $50, while filing by paper costs $105. Both fees include a $5 Technology Trust Fund surcharge. Card payments add a 2% plus $0.25 convenience fee. |
| None required | $0 | none, None |
| Name reservation (optional) | $25 | 60 days |
| Change of registered agent | $10 | Changing the registered agent costs $10. |
| Amendment | $25 | |
| Certificate of good standing | $10 | |
| Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company | $105 | For LLCs formed in another state |
| Notice of Winding Up (LLC-13) and Articles of Termination (LLC-5) | $50 | |
| DBA / assumed name | $7 | state |
How Missouri compares nationally
- Missouri's filing fee of $50 is the 4th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $104).
- Missouri's first-year government cost of $50 is the 4th lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $125).
- Missouri's yearly cost after that of $0 ties for the lowest of 51 jurisdictions (median $45).
See every state side by side in our LLC cost by state table.
File it yourself or use a service?
Filing directly with the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division costs $50 and nothing else, but you'll need a registered agent with a Missouri street address, and that address goes on the public record. A formation service files for you and acts as your agent. Here's what that adds over three years, before Missouri's own fees:
| Route | Year one with Missouri fee | 3-year service fees |
|---|---|---|
| File yourself, be your own agent | $50 | $0 |
| Northwest | $89 | $289 |
| Bizee Basic | $50 | $298 |
Bizee vs Northwest, compared · All LLC services ranked
State taxes to plan for
Eliminated corporate franchise tax entirely. Standard LLC profits pass directly to members' personal income tax returns. If taxed as C-Corp, pays a flat 4.0% state corporate income tax.
What's different about Missouri
- Zero ongoing maintenance; no annual reports and no franchise tax.
- Active duty military personnel (including National Guard) can create new businesses without paying the SOS filing fee.
More Missouri LLC guides
Missouri LLC questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Missouri?
The Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges $50 to file the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1). Counting mandatory first-year items, expect about $50 in government fees ($50 in the first year (online).).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Missouri?
Online: Immediately upon submission. By mail: Processed in the order received. Expedited: No official expedited service fee for LLC formations..
Does a Missouri LLC have to file an annual report?
Missouri doesn't require a recurring report for LLCs, based on our latest check. Does not require an annual report or biennial report for LLCs.
Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?
Usually, if you meet the requirements. Must continuously maintain a registered agent with a Missouri street address. Your agent's address becomes public record.
Does Missouri require publishing a notice for a new LLC?
No. Missouri has no newspaper publication requirement for LLCs, based on our latest check.
Is an operating agreement required in Missouri?
Not required to be filed with the state, though statutorily required internally.
What taxes does a Missouri LLC pay to the state?
Eliminated corporate franchise tax entirely. Standard LLC profits pass directly to members' personal income tax returns. If taxed as C-Corp, pays a flat 4.0% state corporate income tax.
Sources and verification
Last checked against official state sources on . States change fees with little notice, so confirm on the filing portal before you pay. How we verify.
Still being confirmed with the state: ra.self allowed, dissolution.tax clearance.