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

The Missouri Secretary of State charges $50 to file Articles of Organization. Because Missouri requires no annual report, there are no recurring state filing fees. Your entire state cost is just $50 for the life of your LLC. For example, if you form your LLC in 2026 and operate it for ten years, you'll never pay the state another cent in LLC filing fees. Additional costs may include registered agent services, business licenses from your city or county, and professional operating agreement drafting. Exception: Missouri LLCs still owe state income tax on profits, which must be reported annually to the Missouri Department of Revenue. File your Articles of Organization online with the Missouri Secretary of State to receive immediate confirmation of your $50 payment.

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

Missouri publishes this figure, which many states don't: usually instant (online). In the Missouri Secretary of State's own words: many are processed immediately after submission. Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Missouri Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.

Do I need to publish my LLC formation in Missouri?

No, Missouri doesn't require LLCs to publish a notice of formation in any newspaper, making the formation process straightforward and cost-effective. Filing Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State is the only public disclosure step required. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Missouri requires no newspaper notice of formation, so founders pay no newspaper charges. For example, once the Missouri Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is legally formed and you can immediately open a bank account and begin operations without any additional public notices. Exception: certain regulated professions forming a professional LLC in Missouri may face additional board-specific disclosure requirements. File your Articles of Organization at sos.mo.gov and your formation is complete with no further publication steps required.

Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?

Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your Missouri LLC if you've a physical Missouri street address and are reliably available during normal business hours to accept legal documents and official state correspondence. Your name and address will be listed as public record on your Articles of Organization filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. For example, if you run a home office in St. Louis with consistent weekday availability, self-representation as a registered agent is a straightforward choice. Your address becomes searchable by anyone on the state's public business database, which is why many founders opt for professional registered agent services to maintain personal privacy. Exception: a P.O. box can't serve as a registered agent address; a physical street address is required. Update your registered agent information with the Missouri Secretary of State immediately whenever it changes.

Does Missouri require an operating agreement?

Missouri law requires the member or members of an LLC to adopt an operating agreement. An operating agreement defines ownership structure, profit distribution, management authority, voting procedures, and dissolution terms, matters that Missouri's default LLC statutes address only in general terms. For example, a three-member Missouri LLC without an operating agreement must rely on state default rules for every disagreement, which often don't align with the founders' intentions and can result in costly litigation. The document is kept internally and is never filed with the state. Exception: LLCs seeking S-corp tax treatment must additionally file IRS Form 2553 no later than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year the election is to take effect (or at any time during the tax year before it), a separate federal step unrelated to the operating agreement. Sign your operating agreement before opening a business bank account, as many Missouri banks require it.

What ongoing requirements do Missouri LLCs have?

Missouri is one of only seven states with no annual report requirement for LLCs, meaning the Missouri Secretary of State imposes zero ongoing state filing fees after your initial $50 Articles of Organization. This makes Missouri exceptionally low-maintenance compared to most states, where founders pay $50 to $500 in annual or biennial report fees each year. For example, a Missouri LLC formed in 2026 has no recurring state filings due in 2027, 2028, or beyond, just the initial $50 to form. You must still file annual federal and Missouri state income tax returns with the IRS and the Missouri Department of Revenue respectively. Additionally, maintain a current registered agent and keep any required local business licenses renewed with your city or county. Exception: if your business structure or registered agent changes, you must file an amendment with the Missouri Secretary of State at sos.mo.gov.

How to Start an LLC in Missouri: Complete 2026 Guide

Form your Missouri LLC quickly and affordably with just a $50 filing fee and no annual reporting requirements.

By Edmond Hui · Last updated: October 2026

Filing an LLC in Missouri costs $50 upfront and has no annual report fee. Processing time: Usually instant (online). See breakdown below.

Missouri is one of only 7 states in the U.S. with no annual report requirement for LLCs

This means Missouri LLC owners save both time and ongoing compliance costs compared to most other states, making it exceptionally business-friendly for long-term operations.

Source: MyStateLLC 50-state analysis 2026

Read this guide for another state:

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr.

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Quick Facts

State filing fee	$50 online, $105 by mail
Processing time	Usually instant (online)
Annual report due	None required
Annual report fee	$0
State income tax	Members pay 0% to 4.7% on pass-through profits, with the top rate reached at $9,436

Source: Missouri Secretary of State (verified June 2026)

Step diagram for forming an LLC in Missouri, showing the 7 required steps, $50 state filing fee, $0 annual report. — The 7 steps to form an LLC in Missouri, with the state's own filing fee and annual report cost. Source: Missouri Secretary of State, verified June 2026.

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

1
Choose Your Missouri LLC Name
Select a unique name ending with 'Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' Search the Missouri Secretary of State's business database to ensure availability. Your name can't be identical or confusingly similar to existing Missouri entities.
How to search Missouri's business entity records →
Pro tip: Consider reserving your name for $25 if you need extra time to prepare your filing documents.
2
Designate a Registered Agent
Appoint a registered agent with a Missouri street address who can receive legal documents during business hours. This can be yourself, another person, or a professional service. The agent's address will be public record on your Articles of Organization.
Missouri registered agent rules, costs and options →
Pro tip: A professional registered agent service puts its address, not yours, on the registered agent line of the public filing, and accepts legal papers during business hours.
3
File Articles of Organization
Submit your Articles of Organization to the Missouri Secretary of State online or by mail with the $50 filing fee. Include your LLC name, registered agent information, and management structure. Missouri says many online filings are processed immediately after submission; it publishes no timeframe for mailed paper filings.
What You File in Missouri
In Missouri, the formation document is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), filed with the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The state charges $50 to file online and $105 by mail. Missouri lets you fill in and file the Articles of Organization online. The state's published processing time: Usually instant (online). The form itself requires the LLC's name, the registered agent's name, the registered office address, the organizer's name, whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, a business purpose and the LLC's duration. Every line of the Articles of Organization, field by field →
Processing Times
- Online: Posts immediately. Many are processed immediately after submission
- Mail: Not published, Missouri Secretary of State states no standard turnaround for mailed filings, and every state that comments says mail is slower than online
- Expedited: No paid expedite option is published for LLC filings
Pro tip: Online filing is faster and provides immediate confirmation of submission with tracking capabilities.
4
Create an Operating Agreement
Draft an operating agreement outlining ownership percentages, management responsibilities, and operational procedures. Missouri law requires the member or members of an LLC to adopt an operating agreement. It may be a written or oral agreement among the members, or a written declaration by a sole member, and a written version gives you a record to show a bank or a court.
Missouri LLC operating agreement: what to include →
Pro tip: Even single-member LLCs benefit from operating agreements to maintain corporate formality and strengthen liability protection.
5
Obtain an EIN from the IRS
Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the IRS website for free. Most banks ask for this federal tax ID to open a business bank account, and the IRS requires one if the LLC hires employees, owes certain employment or excise taxes, or is taxed as a partnership or corporation.
How to get your LLC's EIN from the IRS, free →
Pro tip: Get your EIN immediately after filing your Articles of Organization - you'll need it for the next steps.
6
Open a Business Bank Account
Open a dedicated business bank account using your EIN, Articles of Organization, and operating agreement. This separates personal and business finances, which matters for maintaining your LLC's liability protection and simplifying tax preparation.
Business bank accounts for Missouri LLCs →
Pro tip: Shop around for business banking packages - many Missouri banks offer free business checking for new LLCs.
7
Obtain Required Business Licenses
Research and obtain any federal, state, or local licenses required for your specific business activities. Missouri's licensing requirements vary by industry, with some requiring state-level permits while others only need local business licenses.
Does your Missouri LLC need a business license? →
Pro tip: Check with your city or county clerk's office for local business license requirements, as these vary significantly across Missouri municipalities.

Watch: How to Start an LLC in Missouri (2026): Step-by-Step Guide

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. It reports what each Secretary of State publishes for forming an LLC, with the sources this page cites. It cannot tell you what your own filing needs: fees and forms change between our reviews, several occupations cannot use an ordinary LLC at all and must use a professional entity, and your city or county may require a registration of its own. Confirm the current fee and form with the filing office named on this page before you send anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

: The Missouri Secretary of State charges $50 to file Articles of Organization. Because Missouri requires no annual report, there are no recurring state filing fees. Your entire state cost is just $50 for the life of your LLC. For example, if you form your LLC in 2026 and operate it for ten years, you'll never pay the state another cent in LLC filing fees. Additional costs may include registered agent services, business licenses from your city or county, and professional operating agreement drafting. Exception: Missouri LLCs still owe state income tax on profits, which must be reported annually to the Missouri Department of Revenue. File your Articles of Organization online with the Missouri Secretary of State to receive immediate confirmation of your $50 payment.
: Missouri publishes this figure, which many states don't: usually instant (online). In the Missouri Secretary of State's own words: many are processed immediately after submission. Treat this as a genuine planning figure rather than a guarantee, and confirm it on the Missouri Secretary of State's own site before committing to a date.
: No, Missouri doesn't require LLCs to publish a notice of formation in any newspaper, making the formation process straightforward and cost-effective. Filing Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State is the only public disclosure step required. Unlike New York, Nebraska and parts of Arizona, Missouri requires no newspaper notice of formation, so founders pay no newspaper charges. For example, once the Missouri Secretary of State approves your Articles of Organization, your LLC is legally formed and you can immediately open a bank account and begin operations without any additional public notices. Exception: certain regulated professions forming a professional LLC in Missouri may face additional board-specific disclosure requirements. File your Articles of Organization at sos.mo.gov and your formation is complete with no further publication steps required.
: Yes, you can serve as your own registered agent for your Missouri LLC if you've a physical Missouri street address and are reliably available during normal business hours to accept legal documents and official state correspondence. Your name and address will be listed as public record on your Articles of Organization filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. For example, if you run a home office in St. Louis with consistent weekday availability, self-representation as a registered agent is a straightforward choice. Your address becomes searchable by anyone on the state's public business database, which is why many founders opt for professional registered agent services to maintain personal privacy. Exception: a P.O. box can't serve as a registered agent address; a physical street address is required. Update your registered agent information with the Missouri Secretary of State immediately whenever it changes.
: Missouri law requires the member or members of an LLC to adopt an operating agreement. An operating agreement defines ownership structure, profit distribution, management authority, voting procedures, and dissolution terms, matters that Missouri's default LLC statutes address only in general terms. For example, a three-member Missouri LLC without an operating agreement must rely on state default rules for every disagreement, which often don't align with the founders' intentions and can result in costly litigation. The document is kept internally and is never filed with the state. Exception: LLCs seeking S-corp tax treatment must additionally file IRS Form 2553 no later than 2 months and 15 days after the start of the tax year the election is to take effect (or at any time during the tax year before it), a separate federal step unrelated to the operating agreement. Sign your operating agreement before opening a business bank account, as many Missouri banks require it.
: Missouri is one of only seven states with no annual report requirement for LLCs, meaning the Missouri Secretary of State imposes zero ongoing state filing fees after your initial $50 Articles of Organization. This makes Missouri exceptionally low-maintenance compared to most states, where founders pay $50 to $500 in annual or biennial report fees each year. For example, a Missouri LLC formed in 2026 has no recurring state filings due in 2027, 2028, or beyond, just the initial $50 to form. You must still file annual federal and Missouri state income tax returns with the IRS and the Missouri Department of Revenue respectively. Additionally, maintain a current registered agent and keep any required local business licenses renewed with your city or county. Exception: if your business structure or registered agent changes, you must file an amendment with the Missouri Secretary of State at sos.mo.gov.

Sources

6 documents

Each entry below is a document recorded in our verified Missouri sources, and each entry says what the document is. Some statutory text is read from an accurate mirror rather than from the state's own host, and those say so. Where we hold the citation but no stable public link, the citation is printed on its own rather than pointed at a guessed address.

Missouri statute: RSMo 347.081.1 (duty to adopt an operating agreement)
Missouri statute: RSMo 347.015(13) (operating agreement defined)
sos.mo.gov/business/corporationsMissouri Secretary of State: business entity filings
sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Business/fees.pdfMissouri LLC filing fees
revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=347.048Missouri statute: annual report exemption
revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=347Missouri statute: annual report exemption

More for Missouri LLCs

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$39 with Northwest, plus your $50 state fee. Northwest's $39 includes a year of registered agent service.

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Form your LLC with Northwest ($39 + state fee)Includes a year of registered agent service. After year one, registered agent service is $125/yr.

Prefer to file directly? File yourself at the Secretary of State → ($50 state fee, no service fee)

Not sure which service is right? Compare formation services →

Edmond Hui · Founder, MyStateLLC

Edmond Hui is a software engineer and serial entrepreneur based in New York who has founded multiple online businesses across e-commerce, media, and information publishing. Before transitioning into tech, he spent years as a commercial real estate professional closing deals totaling over 100,000 square feet, giving him firsthand experience with business formation and entity structuring. He built MyStateLLC to provide the free, state-specific LLC guidance he wished existed when forming his own companies.

How we check facts

How to Start an LLC in Missouri: Complete 2026 Guide

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Missouri LLC Name

Designate a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Missouri

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Missouri LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Missouri LLC?

Quick Facts

How to Form an LLC: Step-by-Step

Choose Your Missouri LLC Name

Designate a Registered Agent

File Articles of Organization

What You File in Missouri

Processing Times

Create an Operating Agreement

Obtain an EIN from the IRS

Open a Business Bank Account

Obtain Required Business Licenses

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

More for Missouri LLCs

Start and set up

Taxes, money and growth

Stay compliant

Operate in other states

Compare structures

By owner type

By profession

Ready to Form Your Missouri LLC?

More Missouri LLC Guides

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