The Formation Costs of an LLC in Missouri
The LLC filing fee in Missouri for the articles of organization is $50 if filed online and $105 for paper filing. Forming and maintaining an LLC can be expensive: additional state fees for other registrations, business licenses and other possible services you may need (like registered agent or drafting of operating agreement) all cost money. Let’s review them in detail to make sure you are prepared and plan your budget accordingly.
Missouri LLC Costs: Summary
| Fee type | Cost |
| LLC Filing Fee (Articles of Organization) | $50 – $105 |
| Statement of Information | $10 |
| Business License or Permit | varies by city/municipality (generally $25 – $300) |
| Registered Agent (Optional) | $199 – $400 |
| Reserving a Business Name (Optional) | $25.00 |
| Filing a DBA (Optional) | $7.00 |
| Operating Agreement (Optional) | $0 – $1000 |
| Franchise Tax | $45 for Annual Report + a percentage if assets over $1 million |
Thinking about forming an LLC in Missouri but concerned about the complexity or cost? You’re not alone. Many aspiring business owners hesitate to take the first step due to the paperwork, fees, and uncertainty about where to begin. While those concerns are understandable, forming an LLC doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
With the right information and support, such as using a professional LLC formation service, you can simplify the process and get your Missouri LLC up and running more efficiently. LLC costs vary depending on the state, so it’s important to understand what to expect where you live.
In this guide, we’ll break down the costs of forming an LLC in Missouri, so you know exactly what to plan for as you launch your business.
General steps and costs when forming a Missouri LLC
Before you head down the road of creating your Missouri LLC, you need to ensure you’re clear on what steps to take and the cost for each one of those steps. You don’t want to get partway through the creation of your LLC and realize that costs are going to delay your plans. The more you know about it beforehand the more easily you can move from one step to the next one and keep your finances in order. That adds to your peace of mind, making the development of your Missouri LLC a more exciting and enjoyable time.
Naming your Missouri LLC
The good news for forming a Missouri LLC is that the name search is free. That means you don’t have to pay anything to find out if someone in the state of Missouri is already using the name you want for your new business. However, there are two naming areas where you might incur some costs. These are reserving a business name, which costs $25.00, and filing a DBA (doing business as) if you choose to use one, which has a cost of $7.00.
Filing articles of organization
There are two ways to file your Articles of Organization in Missouri, and they have different costs. This is presumably due to the way they’re processed. If you file online you can start as low as $50. However, if you want to file your Articles of Organization by mail you’ll need to pay $105 instead. You’ll also need to pay $10 if you file a statement of information, such as changing your business address. There may also be additional filing fees for items such as a Certificate of Good Standing, which costs $10.
Appointing a registered agent
Appointing a registered agent doesn’t have a cost if you’re doing it yourself, because you can make that appointment free of charge. If you use a registered agent service like ours though, it’s $199 yearly and can be up to $400. For many people who are unfamiliar with how to operate an LLC and are just starting one up, the cost is well worth it to reduce worry and make everything more convenient.
Creating an operating agreement
It’s completely optional to create an Operating Agreement for your LLC. You don’t have to, and you won’t be in any legal trouble if you don’t. Still, it’s recommended that you create one to increase your LLC’s protection and the protection of its members for the future. The cost can range from $0 to $1,000, depending on whether you decide to do it yourself, use our operating agreement service, or hire an attorney to create the agreement for you.
Other Annual and Additional Missouri LLC Costs
Franchise tax
Missouri is one of the states that has a franchise tax. This is a tax imposed on corporations and companies that are legally established and allowed to operate as entities within the state. Your LLC will need to file an Annual Registration Report by April 15th of every year while in operation. The filing fee for that report is $45.
The amount of the tax itself will vary, as it’s based on your assets or issued stock. If your business’ assets are less than $1 million you won’t actually need to pay any tax, but you will still have to file. Failure to file can come with penalties, even if you technically didn’t own any franchise tax, and you don’t want to get on the wrong side of the law with your business’ tax liabilities.
Business licenses & permits
Most businesses operating within the state of Missouri need a license or permit. Sometimes, they need more than one. The kind of business you have will affect what’s required. Even though there’s no statewide, general license to operate, the majority of cities and towns have regulations. That’s particularly significant if you’re operating your business out of your home, as you can be subject to additional scrutiny.
Some of the more common business licenses and permits for an LLC in Missouri include:
- Seller’s Permit (Sales Tax License)
- Graduated Business License (Specific to St Louis)
- Specialty Business License (Issued by a State Regulatory Agency)
- Misc licensing for issues such as retail sales tax, withholding tax, or a tire & battery fee
What expenses you can write off
The good news about LLC formation costs in Missouri is that you can write a lot of them off on your federal taxes. That’s a great way to get back a little of what you’ve financially invested in your LLC, and that allows you to feel more confident about moving forward with a business that might not make any money right away. Most businesses lose money in their first year or two, so getting something back can really. The main deductible costs include:
- Cost of completing Articles of Organization
- Filing fees
- DBA fees
- Operating agreement costs
- Registered agent costs
- Attorney fees
Missouri LLC and General State Fees
These fees are taken from the state’s fee schedule. There’s a 2% + $0.25 fee for credit cards and $0.50 for E-checks.
| Form | Fee |
| Certificates of Limited Liability Company – domestic/foreign (paper) | $105 |
| Certificates of Limited Liability Company – domestic (online) | $50 |
| Amendments to Limited Liability Companies (penalty fee may apply if domestic LLC) | $25 |
| Merger with Limited Liability Company as Surviving Entity | $25 |
| Winding up of a Limited Liability Company | $25 |
| Termination of a Limited Liability Company | $25 |
| Certificate of Withdrawal | $25 |
| Abstract of Business Record | $10 |
| Certified Abstract of Business Record | $15 |
| Certified Copy of Business Record (paper) | $10 for certification plus 50¢ per page |
| Certified Copy of Business Record (online) | $10 |
| Certificate of Fact | $25 |
| Certificate of Good Standing | $10 |
| Change of Registered Agent / Office Address / or both | $10 |
| Pre-Clearance Examination | $55 |
| Reservation of Name | $25 |
| Resignation of Registered Agent | $10 |
| Statement of Correction | $10 |
| Non Certified Copies | 50¢ per page |
Conclusion
Setting up an LLC in Missouri. doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful Having help, though, makes it even easier to do. When you use or LLC creation service you take all the guesswork out of the creation of your business, so you can focus on growing it for the future. Missouri is a relatively business-friendly state to set up and operate your LLC, and it has low fees and reasonable requirements for you to follow. You can get started today, and being making your dreams of owning your own business come true.
FAQ
One of the benefits of choosing Missouri for your LLC formation is that the state has generally low costs for businesses that want to operate within it. You won’t have a lot of unexpected expenses or difficult paperwork to deal with, and that can make it easier for you to develop and grow your business over time. That’s good news for people who want to see success and may need a lower barrier to entry to get their LLC dreams off the ground.
Working with an LLC formation service has some big benefits, with the largest ones being convenience and peace of mind. Sure, you can handle the formation of your LLC yourself, but when you have questions or you’re not sure about something, it’s not always easy to get quick answers from governmental agencies. You don’t want to make a mistake and miss something important, which could lead to costly problems and even put you at risk of legal issues.
If you have an LLC you need a registered agent. This is someone who lives in the state and is appointed to receive legal and other official correspondence on behalf of the LLC. That could be you, a business partner, an attorney, or someone else you’ve appointed who agrees to serve in that capacity. While you may not want to choose anyone other than yourself, you need someone who’s fully available during normal business hours, with a legal address in the state.
Technically, you don’t have to live in Missouri to have an LLC there. You can operate with a registered agent in that state, and foreign entities can have LLCs in Missouri, too. It’s a little more complicated when you don’t live in the state where your LLC is formed and managed, though, so you would definitely want to work with a formation service to help you through the process. That’s important for legality and also for increased peace of mind.
You should get an EIN (employer identification number) from the IRS for your LLC. You’ll need it to open a business bank account, and it’s much easier to operate when you have it. You’ll also feel more protected financially and be able to keep your accounts separate from what your LLC has, which can reduce your risk if something goes wrong with your business. Extra security is a good thing, and an EIN is free.
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