Registered Agent in Missouri and How to Appoint One for your LLC

In order to register an LLC in Missouri you must designate someone to serve as its registered agent. The initial designation occurs when you apply to the state to set up an LLC, corporation, or other business entity. The registered agent serves an important purpose. They have a constant presence in the state where they may receive important documentation on behalf of the LLC, including:

• Legal documents;
• Tax forms;
• Official state notices; and
• Service of process for claims against the LLC.

You, as the business owner, may serve as its registered agent. A registered agent service can offer advantages, though. Perhaps above all else, using a service allows you to focus on building, running, and growing your business. Even if you initially designate yourself as the registered agent, you can change that designation at any time.

Requirements for a Registered Agent in Missouri

A registered agent in Missouri must meet the following criteria:

• If the registered agent is a person, they must be a Missouri resident whose business office is the registered office.
• If the registered agent is a business, they must be authorized to do business in the state of Missouri.
• The registered agent must have a physical address in Missouri. This is known as the “registered office.”
• The registered office address can’t be only a P.O. Box (one may be listed along with a street address).

How to appoint a registered agent in Missouri?

You must designate a registered agent and list a registered office in your Articles of Organization when you create a new LLC in Missouri. The Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) contain a field for the registered agent and registered office. The form asks for the following information:

• Name of the registered agent;
• Street address; and
• City, state, and zip code.

The document states that you may not use a P.O. Box unless you also include a street address for the registered office.

Existing businesses that are expanding into Missouri must designate a registered agent and registered office in Form LLC-4, Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company. Like Form LLC-1, it asks for the following:

• The registered agent’s name;
• Their street address (not a P.O. Box); and
• The city, state, and zip code.

The registered agent does not need to sign either form to indicate their consent to the appointment. Filing Articles of Organization costs $50 online, plus a $1.25 card processing fee ($51.25 total; $0.50 if you pay by e-check). Filing by mail costs $105. A foreign LLC’s application is $105.

If filing the forms by mail, you can send them to the Missouri Secretary of State Corporations Division, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

If filing them in person or by courier, take or send them to the Corporations Division’s office at 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

You can also file these documents and make the registered agent appointments online through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Registration Online Portal. Create an account on the portal, choose to form an LLC, and enter your registered agent and registered office when prompted.

How to change my registered agent in Missouri?

An LLC’s registered agent can resign by filing Form LLC-6, Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent of Limited Liability Company. The form asks for:

• The name of the LLC;
• The registered office;
• The name of the resigning registered agent;
• The name and address of the person to whom the registered agent sent written notice of their resignation; 
• A copy of the written notice to the LLC; and
• A filing fee of $10.00.

The LLC can appoint a new registered agent after resignation or replace a current registered agent by filing Form Corp 59, Statement of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office. This form asks for the following information:

• The LLC’s charter number, issued by the Missouri Secretary of State;
• The LLC’s name;
• The current registered office address;
• The new registered office address, which cannot be a P.O. Box;
• The name of the current registered agent;
• The name of the new registered agent;
• The new registered agent’s signature;
• The signature of an authorized representative of the LLC;
• A filing fee of $10.00.

If filing the forms by mail, you can send them to the Missouri Secretary of State Corporations Division, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

If filing them in person or by courier, take or send them to the Corporations Division’s office at 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

You can also file these documents and make the registered agent appointments online through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Registration Online Portal. Sign in to your account, choose the option to change your registered agent or registered office, enter the new agent’s information when prompted, and pay the $10 filing fee.

Please be aware that if your registered agent resigns, you must appoint a new registered agent as soon as possible using one of the above methods. Failing to appoint a registered agent could lead the Secretary of State to administratively dissolve your LLC.

Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?

Yes, you can act as your own registered agent, provided you meet the legal requirements to serve in that capacity, i.e. you must be a Missouri resident with a street address in Missouri, available during business hours. Anyone who meets the legal requirements and agrees to serve as the registered agent may do so. It could be anyone from your LLC, a family member, a friend, or anyone else.

If you live in Missouri, chances are that you will meet the criteria to be a registered agent. You might have an issue serving as the registered agent if you live in another state and are registering your LLC as a foreign business in Missouri.

Even if you are eligible and qualified to be the registered agent for your LLC, there may be reasons you do not want to. You created an LLC to be a business owner, not necessarily to serve as the point of contact for the state government and process servers. Having someone else be your LLC’s registered agent allows you to focus your attention on the reasons you started the LLC in the first place.

Benefits of using a Missouri registered agent service

Designating a registered agent service for your LLC can have significant benefits. Someone else will manage deadlines and paperwork for you. You can operate an out-of-state business in Missouri without needing your own street address in the state. You can maintain a consistent address for official correspondence even if your business has to move locations.

The following are only a few of the potential benefits of using a registered agent service for your Missouri LLC:

Peace of mind

You probably didn’t start an LLC so you could be the state’s point of contact for official correspondence. Whatever your reason for becoming a business owner, a registered agent service can take administrative pressure off of you. You can focus on running your business while the registered agent service receives official correspondence, logs it, and keeps it in a secure location.

Compliance with the state law

A registered agent service can keep you up-to-date on the state’s filing requirements. This can be invaluable, considering that those requirements can sometimes change with little warning. They will send you updates and reminders so you won’t miss critical filing deadlines. They can also keep backups of critically important documents so you’ll never have to worry about losing them.

Flexibility

Registered agents must be reasonably available during regular business hours in case process servers and others need to find them. With a registered agent service, someone else will be available for you. You can maintain business hours that fit your particular business needs, work from wherever is convenient for you, and go on vacation without worrying about missing anything important.

Reduces paperwork

A registered agent service takes paperwork off your plate by receiving correspondence and managing filings for you. They can sift through the mail that comes to your registered address, identifying the important official documents and sifting out the junk mail.

A Registered Agent is a must, but it can be hassle-free

You can serve as the registered agent for your Missouri LLC, but before you decide to do so, consider the benefits of a registered agent service like Tailor Brands. Serving as a registered agent means keeping track of various requirements under state law. Failing to stay on top of those requirements can lead to missed lawsuits or the loss of your LLC’s good standing. You almost certainly did not start an LLC so you could spend time focusing on Missouri business regulations. Let us handle those details so you can get to work on your business. 

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