Step 1: Choose a name Missouri will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Company”, “Limited Liability Company”, “LC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Missouri Secretary of State's records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Missouri against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 60 days (renewable up to 180 days total). See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Missouri who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Missouri companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Missouri Secretary of State. The fee is $50 online ($105 on paper). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Missouri law requires an LLC to have an operating agreement (RSMo § 347.081.1). It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed with the state.
Make a free Missouri LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Missouri has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: Keep the LLC in good standing
No annual report: Missouri LLCs do not file annual reports (no LLC annual report provision in RSMo ch. 347 fee schedule).
| After formation | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | None |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Missouri certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Missouri
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $50 |
| First year, state fees | $50 |
| Each year after | $0 |
Over five years, Missouri's state fees come to $50. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
RSMo 347.020, revisor.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RSMo 347.025, revisor.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RSMo 347.179, revisor.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RSMo 417.210, revisor.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
RSMo 417.220, revisor.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fees, sos.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fees (PDF), sos.mo.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Missouri
- Choose a name Missouri will accept and check it against the Missouri Secretary of State's records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Missouri.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State (from $50).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Missouri?
From $50 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $50 in the first year and nothing in later years; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Missouri?
The Missouri Secretary of State doesn't publish a processing time; its site shows how to file and check on a filing.
Do I need an operating agreement in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri law requires one (RSMo § 347.081.1), though it isn't filed with the state.
Can I start an LLC in Missouri online?
Yes. The Missouri Secretary of State takes the Articles of Organization online, for from $50.
Does Missouri require an annual report for LLCs?
No. Missouri has no recurring report for LLCs.