How to Start an LLC in Missouri: Fees, Filings and Annual Requirements

The fee for filing Articles of Organization (a Certificate of Limited Liability Company) for a Missouri LLC is $50.00 when filed online and $105.00 on paper.

A Missouri LLC is formed by filing Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State's Corporations Division, either online through the Secretary of State's business portal (bsd.sos.mo.gov) or on a paper form mailed with a check payable to the Secretary of State (PO Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102). Under RSMo 347.039 the articles must state the LLC's name, its purpose, the registered office address and registered agent, whether it is managed by managers or by members, the events on which it dissolves or the number of years it is to exist (which may be perpetual), and the name and physical address of each organizer.

The name must contain "limited company" or "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LC," "LLC," "L.C." or "L.L.C." It may not contain "corporation," "incorporated," "limited partnership," "limited liability partnership," "limited liability limited partnership" or "Ltd." (or abbreviations of them), or words implying a purpose not stated in the articles or that it is a government agency, and it must be distinguishable from other entity names on the Secretary of State's records. A name may be reserved for 60 days for a $25 fee; the reservation may be renewed for two more 60-day periods, for a maximum of 180 days.

Each LLC must continuously maintain a registered office in Missouri and a registered agent, who may be an individual Missouri resident whose business office is the registered office, or a domestic or foreign corporation authorized to do business in Missouri whose business office is the registered office. The agent or office address is changed by filing a statement with the Secretary of State; the fee to change the registered agent, office address, or both is $10.00.

Missouri law states that the member or members of an LLC shall adopt an operating agreement, which may contain any provisions not inconsistent with law about the conduct of the LLC's business, management, member classes, voting, transfer restrictions, allocation of income and losses, and tax elections.

Missouri law requires any person or business entity that transacts business in the state under a name other than its own "true name" to register that name with the Secretary of State as a Fictitious Name Registration, which can be done online through the business portal. The fee to create, renew, correct or amend a fictitious name registration is $7.00; cancellation has no fee.

A business must obtain a sales tax license by registering with the Missouri Department of Revenue if it makes sales of tangible personal property or taxable services. Registration is done through the Department's online registration system or with the Missouri Tax Registration Application (Form 2643).

Before transacting business in Missouri, a foreign LLC must register with the Secretary of State by filing an application that includes its name, home jurisdiction and formation date, purpose, Missouri registered agent and office, and a certificate of good standing/existence from its home state dated within 60 days. The fee listed for a paper Certificate of Limited Liability Company (domestic/foreign) is $105.00.

The Secretary of State's fee schedule lists a $25.00 fee for a Notice of Winding Up of a Limited Liability Company and a $25.00 fee for Termination of a Limited Liability Company. A foreign LLC files a Certificate of Withdrawal, also $25.00.