How to Start an LLC in Missouri in 2026: $50 Filing, No Annual Report and First-Year Cost

Missouri is one of the cheapest states in the country to form an LLC and one of the simplest to keep. Filing articles of organization online with the Secretary of State costs $50, and Missouri has no annual report and no yearly state fee for LLCs. That simplicity has a downside: with no annual filing, nothing prompts you to keep the registered agent and address current, and the work you do need, such as a retail sales license and a city licence, is handled by other agencies. This guide walks a first-time founder through each step in order, explains why the online fee is $50 when the statute says $45, covers series LLCs and fictitious names, and ends with a worked first-year budget. Fees were checked against RSMo Chapter 347 and the Secretary of State's forms in October 2026.

Quick answer

To start an LLC in Missouri, file articles of organization (Form LLC-1) with the Missouri Secretary of State and pay $50 online or $105 on paper. Name a registered agent at a Missouri street address. There is no annual report, so after formation your state duties are tax registrations, licences and keeping your filed details current.

• Online total: $45 statutory fee plus a $5 technology fee

• No annual or biennial report and no yearly Secretary of State fee

• Fee waiver for Missouri-resident organizers serving in the National Guard or on active duty

• Fictitious name needed within 5 days if you trade under another name

• Retail sales license from the Department of Revenue: Free ($0)

What a Missouri LLC is and who should form one

A Missouri limited liability company is formed under the Missouri Limited Liability Company Act, RSMo sections 347.010 to 347.187. As in any state, the LLC keeps the company's debts and lawsuits with the company, so a supplier's claim or a customer's lawsuit against the business does not automatically reach your house or personal savings. That shield holds up when you run the LLC as a separate business: its own bank account, contracts signed in its name and clear records of money in and out.

The Secretary of State's Business Services Division keeps the register in Jefferson City. You search names, file articles and amendments and order certificates of good standing through its online business portal. Because Missouri has no annual report, owners rarely hear from the Secretary of State after formation, which is why letters offering to file an "annual compliance statement" for a fee deserve suspicion. They come from private companies, not the state.

For federal tax, a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC is a partnership unless you elect corporate treatment, and Missouri follows the same classification. LLCs suit most small Missouri businesses: contractors, consultants, online sellers, food trucks, salons, farms and landlords. You do not need to live in Missouri or be a US citizen to own one. Licensed professionals should check with their board in the Division of Professional Registration first, since some professions have extra ownership rules.

If your business actually operates in Kansas or Illinois, a Missouri LLC does not avoid those states' rules; you would also register there as a foreign LLC. Our Illinois LLC guide covers the state across the river from St. Louis.

Missouri LLC at a glance (2026)

$50

Articles of organization online

$105 on paper

$0

Annual report

Missouri has none for LLCs

$5

Change registered agent

statutory fee, RSMo 347.179

Free ($0)

Retail sales license

Department of Revenue

Why the online fee is $50 and paper is $105

RSMo 347.179 sets the Secretary of State's fees for LLCs: $100 for original articles of organization filed on paper and $45 for articles filed online in the Secretary of State's electronic format. On top of chapter 347 fees, the Secretary of State collects an additional $5 per filing for its Technology Trust Fund. That is why the paper Form LLC-1 tells you to submit $105, and why an online filing totals $50.

Card and e-check payments add a separate convenience fee. Since 2015 Missouri law has not let the Secretary of State absorb these costs, so card transactions carry a fee based on the total and e-checks a flat 50 cents. Paying by check with a paper filing avoids it, but the paper fee is so much higher that online filing is still cheaper by about $55.

Military fee waiver. Section 347.179 waives the articles of organization fee and the name reservation fee when an organizer who is listed as a member in the operating agreement is a member of the Missouri National Guard or on other active military duty, lives in Missouri, and gives the Secretary of State proof of service. The Secretary of State runs this as its "Startup for Soldiers" program.

Step 1: Choose a name that meets the Missouri rules

Missouri requires the LLC's name to include "limited liability company" or "limited company", or an abbreviation such as "LLC", "L.L.C.", "LC" or "L.C.". The name should not include words that suggest a different type of entity, such as "corporation" or "incorporated", or that imply a government agency. It must also be distinguishable from names already on the Secretary of State's records. Search the Secretary of State's business entity database before you commit to a logo or domain, and use our LLC name checker to test variations quickly.

You can reserve a name before filing; the statutory fee is $20. Most founders skip it and file the articles directly, since an approved filing secures the name.

Fictitious names. If your LLC will trade under any name other than its exact registered name, for example "Gateway Movers" instead of "Gateway Movers LLC", RSMo 417.210 requires you to register a fictitious name with the Secretary of State within 5 days of starting to use it. The registration lasts 5 years and can be renewed in the six months before it expires. Our DBA guide explains how trade names work across states.

Step 2: Appoint a registered agent

Section 347.039 requires the articles to give the street address of the LLC's registered office in Missouri and the name of the registered agent at that office. The agent receives lawsuits, subpoenas and official notices on the company's behalf, so the office must be a real Missouri address where papers can be handed over during business hours, not a post office box. The agent can be you, another member or employee, or a business that acts as registered agent in Missouri.

Many owners act as their own agent at their shop or home address. Owners outside Missouri, or anyone who wants to keep a home address off the public record, usually pay a commercial agent, typically somewhere around $50 to $300 a year (an estimate based on published prices of national agent services, not an official figure).

Because Missouri has no annual report, nothing forces you to update the agent when you move. If papers are served at an old address, you may never learn about a lawsuit until a default judgment arrives. Changing the registered agent or office costs only $5 under the statute, so file the change the week you move.

Step 3: File the articles of organization

Under section 347.039 the articles must state the LLC's name; its purpose, which can simply be any lawful business; the registered office address and registered agent; whether the LLC is managed by its members or by managers; the events on which it will dissolve or the number of years it will exist, which may be perpetual; and the name and physical address of each organizer. You can add other provisions that appear in your operating agreement, but most small LLCs keep the articles short.

File online through the Secretary of State's business portal for $50, or mail paper Form LLC-1 with $105. Online filing is faster and cheaper, and the approved articles are sent back electronically.

Filing Missouri articles of organization online

1. 1

   Check the name

   Search the Secretary of State's business entity database and confirm the name has an LLC ending.

2. 2

   Line up the registered agent

   Get the agent's agreement and the Missouri street address of the registered office.

3. 3

   Decide member-managed or manager-managed

   Member-managed suits most owner-run businesses. Choose manager-managed if some owners will be passive investors.

4. 4

   Choose duration and add any series

   Most LLCs choose perpetual existence. A series LLC must give the required information for each series too.

5. 5

   Pay and save the filing

   Pay $50 online, plus any card convenience fee, and save the approved articles and charter number.

   Tip: Your charter number is what the Department of Revenue and city licence offices will ask for.

Why filings get rejected. The usual reasons are a name too close to an existing entity, a missing LLC ending, a P.O. box as the registered office, missing organizer addresses, and leaving out whether the LLC is member- or manager-managed. Fix the issue and resubmit; nothing exists until the Secretary of State approves the articles.

Series LLCs. Missouri is one of the states that allow series LLCs under RSMo 347.186. Each series can hold separate assets, have separate members and keep separate liabilities, but only if the records and accounts are genuinely separate. They appeal to landlords with several rental houses, but some banks, title insurers and other states treat series cautiously, so get legal advice before choosing one for a portfolio.

Step 4: EIN, operating agreement and bank account

EIN. Apply for an employer identification number from the IRS once the articles are approved. It costs Free ($0) and the online application gives you the number at the end of the session. You need it for the bank, for hiring and for Department of Revenue registration. Our EIN application guide walks through each screen.

Operating agreement. Missouri does not require you to file an operating agreement, but you should have one. It sets profit shares, voting, who can sign contracts and borrow, and what happens when a member leaves, dies or divorces. Without it, the Act's default rules apply. Even a one-owner LLC benefits, because banks ask for the agreement and courts look at it when deciding whether the LLC is separate from you. The military fee waiver also depends on the organizer being listed as a member in it.

Bank account. Open a business account in the LLC's exact name using the approved articles, the EIN letter and the operating agreement. Keep business and personal money apart, and pay yourself by transfer; our guide on how to pay yourself from an LLC explains draws and salary.

Beneficial ownership reporting. Since FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, companies formed in the United States do not file beneficial ownership information reports, so a new Missouri LLC has no BOI filing (current position: Not required for US-formed companies).

Keeping a Missouri LLC in good standing without an annual report

Missouri is one of a handful of states that require no annual or biennial report from LLCs. Once the articles are approved, the LLC stays on the register until it is terminated, and there is no yearly fee to the Secretary of State. That is a real saving compared with states that charge hundreds of dollars a year.

The trade-off is that the Secretary of State's record only changes when you change it. Three filings keep it accurate. First, a statement of change of registered agent or office whenever either changes, for $5. Second, an amendment to the articles, at a statutory $20, if you change the LLC's name, switch between member and manager management, or change other details in the articles. Third, a fictitious name renewal every 5 years if you use one.

A Missouri LLC's first years

Day 1

Articles of organization approved ($50 online)

Within 5 days of using a trade name

Register the fictitious name

Before the first sale

Retail sales license from the Department of Revenue (Free ($0)) and city or county licence

Every year

No Secretary of State report; state and federal tax returns as usual

Whenever the agent or office moves

Statement of change ($5)

When a bank, landlord or public agency asks for proof that the LLC is active, order a certificate of good standing; the statutory fee is $5. Our certificate of good standing guide explains how certificates work. If you close the business, file a notice of winding up and then articles of termination so the LLC does not linger on the register.

Licences and tax registration after you form

The Secretary of State's approval creates the LLC. It does not register you for taxes or license your trade.

Department of Revenue. If you sell taxable goods or services, you need a retail sales license under RSMo 144.083. It costs Free ($0), and the Department of Revenue must issue it within 10 working days of a complete application. Missouri's state sales tax rate is 4.225%, and local taxes push combined rates to 9.679% in the City of St. Louis and a common 9.975% in Kansas City. Our Missouri sales tax guide covers rates, the reduced grocery rate, filing frequency and the timely-filing discount.

City and county licences. Missouri has no general state business licence, but most cities and many counties license businesses. Before they issue or renew one, they must see your retail sales license and a no-tax-due statement from the Department of Revenue dated within the past 90 days. Kansas City and St. Louis also levy a 1% earnings tax on the net profits of businesses operating in the city. Our Missouri business license guide walks through local licences, professional boards and the no-tax-due rule.

Employees. Hiring means registering for withholding with the Department of Revenue, for unemployment insurance with the Division of Employment Security, and carrying workers' compensation insurance once you have five or more employees (one or more in construction). Our guide to hiring your first employee covers the federal steps.

How Missouri LLC owners are taxed

A single-member LLC owned by a person is ignored for income tax. The profit goes on the owner's federal Schedule C and Missouri Form MO-1040, taxed at Missouri's graduated individual rates, which top out at 4.7% for 2026. The LLC itself pays no Missouri income tax, and Missouri has no franchise tax on LLCs.

A multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership files Missouri Form MO-1065. The partnership itself normally pays no income tax; members report their shares on their own returns, and nonresident members may need to file Missouri returns or have tax withheld. Missouri also lets partnerships and S corporations elect to pay tax at the entity level under its SALT parity rules, which can help owners who itemise federal deductions. Ask an accountant whether it is worth it.

An LLC can elect S corporation treatment to split a working owner's income between a reasonable salary and distributions, which can reduce federal self-employment tax once profits are steady. The cost is running payroll and filing Form MO-1120S. Read LLC vs S corp before you elect.

What it costs: a worked first-year budget

The table shows three realistic Missouri LLCs. State fees are statutory or from the Secretary of State's forms; the registered agent and city licence lines are estimates, because local licence fees vary widely.

What the table leaves out. Insurance, an accountant, professional licences and Kansas City's earnings tax on the food truck's profit sit on top. A food truck also needs health inspections and may need permits in each city it trades in.

Year two onwards. The Secretary of State charges nothing to keep a Missouri LLC alive. Over five years the state cost is the $50 filing alone, compared with $150 plus four $75 reports in Illinois and $100 plus four $300 reports in Maryland.

Worked examples

A Springfield bookkeeping consultant. Grace files online for $50, naming herself as registered agent at her office. She gets an EIN the same day and opens a business account. Bookkeeping is not a taxable service in Missouri, so she skips the retail sales license, but she checks with Springfield whether her home-based business needs a city licence. Because Missouri has no annual report, she sets a single reminder: update the registered office if she ever moves.

A Kansas City food truck run by two cousins. Marco and Tia form "Riverbend Tacos LLC" online, register a fictitious name because they trade as "Riverbend Tacos", and apply for a free retail sales license. They request a no-tax-due statement and take it, with the license, to Kansas City's licensing office along with their health permits. At the common 9.975% rate they collect about $0.80 tax on an $8 taco plate. As a two-member LLC they file Form MO-1065 each year and pay Kansas City's earnings tax on the truck's net profit.

A Kansas landlord with three St. Louis County rentals. Owen lives in Overland Park and forms a Missouri series LLC with a series for each house, using a commercial registered agent in Missouri. He keeps a separate bank account, lease file and insurance policy for each series so the separation holds up. He confirms with his lender that it will lend to a series before closing on the third house.

Missouri LLC launch checklist

0/8

• Name checked on the Secretary of State's database, with an LLC ending
• Registered agent agreed, with a Missouri street address
• Articles of organization (Form LLC-1) approved and charter number saved
• EIN issued and operating agreement signed
• Business bank account opened in the LLC's name
• Fictitious name registered if you trade under another name
• Retail sales license and city or county licence in place
• Reminder to file a statement of change whenever the agent or office moves

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Common mistakes and how to fix them

Assuming no annual report means no upkeep. Missouri will not chase you, so an outdated registered agent can go unnoticed for years. Check your record on the Secretary of State's site once a year and file any change straight away.

Trading under a name without registering it. Using "Gateway Movers" when the LLC is "Gateway Movers LLC" is a different name. Register the fictitious name within 5 days; banks and payment processors often ask for it.

Opening without a retail sales license. Selling taxable goods without one exposes you to the tax you should have collected plus penalties, and your city cannot license you without it.

Forgetting the no-tax-due statement. Cities and counties require one dated within 90 days each time you apply or renew. Request it from the Department of Revenue before your licence renewal date.

Paying for "annual report" mailers. Missouri LLCs have no annual report. Any letter asking for money to file one is a private service.

Official links

• Missouri Secretary of State — business forms and feesForm LLC-1 and change forms
• RSMo 347.179 — LLC fees$45 online / $100 paper, plus $5 technology fee
• RSMo 347.039 — contents of the articlesWhat the articles must say
• Missouri Secretary of State — e-payment convenience feesCard and e-check fees
• Missouri Department of Revenue — business registrationRetail sales license, no-tax-due statements and withholding
• IRS — Apply for an EINFree

What to do next

Check your name with our LLC name checker, file online and get your EIN the same day. Before you open, get your retail sales license and city licence using our Missouri business license guide, and read the Missouri sales tax guide if you sell goods. If you are still weighing structures, our LLC registration guide and LLC vs sole proprietorship explainer compare the options.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — confirm on the official source or with a professional.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Missouri?

Filing articles of organization online with the Missouri Secretary of State costs $50, and a paper Form LLC-1 costs $105. Those totals are the statutory fee in RSMo 347.179 ($45 online, $100 on paper) plus a $5 technology fee. There is no annual report fee. The EIN and the retail sales license are free; card payments carry a small convenience fee.

Does a Missouri LLC have to file an annual report?

No. Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual or biennial report with the Secretary of State, and there is no yearly state fee just for keeping the LLC alive. You still need to keep the registered agent and office current, file amendments when details in the articles change, and meet your tax filing duties with the Department of Revenue.

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

Online filings through the Secretary of State's business portal are usually much faster than paper, which waits in the mail queue. If you need the LLC by a set date, file online and confirm current processing times with the Secretary of State's Business Services Division.

Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?

Yes. The articles must give a registered office with a street address in Missouri and the registered agent at that office. You can name yourself or another adult at a Missouri address where legal papers can be delivered during business hours. Changing the registered agent or office later costs $5 under the statute. Owners outside Missouri usually hire a commercial agent.

Does Missouri have series LLCs?

Yes. RSMo 347.186 allows an LLC to establish separate series, each with its own assets, members and liabilities, if the articles and records keep them apart. Each series must state the same information the articles require for the LLC itself. Real estate investors use series to separate properties, but banks and other states do not always respect the separation.

Do I need a DBA for my Missouri LLC?

Only if you trade under a name other than the LLC's exact registered name. RSMo 417.210 requires you to register a fictitious name with the Secretary of State within 5 days of starting to use it. The registration lasts 5 years and can be renewed in the six months before it expires.

Sources & verification

Figures on this page were checked against the sources below when it was last reviewed on 11 October 2026. Each rate and limit is stored once with its own official source and review date, and official update channels are monitored daily so changes are picked up. How we verify

1. 1.RSMo 347.179 — Fees — Missouri Revisor of Statutes · accessed 11 October 2026
2. 2.RSMo 347.039 — Articles, contents — Missouri Revisor of Statutes · accessed 11 October 2026
3. 3.Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) — Missouri Secretary of State · accessed 11 October 2026
4. 4.Corporations — Forms and fees — Missouri Secretary of State · accessed 11 October 2026
5. 5.E-Payment Convenience Fees — Missouri Secretary of State · accessed 11 October 2026
6. 6.RSMo 144.083 and 417.210 (as summarized in our Missouri business license guide) — Missouri Revisor of Statutes · accessed 11 October 2026
7. 7.2026 Withholding Tables — Missouri Department of Revenue · accessed 11 October 2026
8. 8.Get an employer identification number — IRS · accessed 11 October 2026
9. 9.Beneficial Ownership Information — FinCEN · accessed 11 October 2026