How to Start a Business in Missouri
Everything you need to form your Missouri LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship, with exact fees, timelines, and step-by-step instructions.
A Missouri LLC starts with the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), filed with the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State through its Online Business Services portal for $50, or on paper for $105. Once the certificate is issued, the Secretary of State's own FAQ says an LLC has no annual report to file, so the state paperwork largely ends at formation.
The layer that takes real work is local. The Secretary of State states that business licenses are obtained directly from the local governmental authority, and the Department of Revenue separately handles tax registration. This guide is for people starting a small business anywhere from Kansas City to St. Louis to a county seat in the Ozarks, and it walks the state steps first, then points you to the city and county pages.
Missouri Economy and Top Industries
Missouri ranked 22nd among the states in gross state product for 2025, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center reporting Bureau of Economic Analysis data, and the Census Bureau's Vintage 2025 estimate put the population at 6,270,541 on July 1, 2025.
Manufacturing is the first of the state's notable industries, with transportation equipment, food, fabricated metal, machinery and chemicals among its segments. Transportation and logistics, agribusiness and food production, professional and business services, real estate, life sciences, healthcare and construction are also on the list.
Several of those industries have a dedicated guide here. Freight and delivery owners can read the trucking, moving, towing and courier guides. Food and farm businesses have the farm, meat processing and winery or brewery guides. Builders can start with the plumbing, HVAC, roofing and electrical guides, and care providers with the home health agency guide.
Choosing Your Missouri Business Structure
In Missouri the choice shows up in the annual cost: an LLC files no annual report with the Secretary of State, while a corporation files a $20 online Annual Registration Report. RSMo 147.010 imposes no annual franchise tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, and a default-taxed LLC passes income to its members, who pay Missouri individual income tax up to 4.70 percent, the top rate in the Department of Revenue's 2026 withholding formula (its income tax changes page states 4.7 percent for 2025).
| Entity Type | Liability Protection | Taxation | Missouri Filing Fee | Annual Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | Yes | Pass-through | $50 | No corporation franchise tax. RSMo 147.010 provides that... | Most small businesses |
| Corporation | Yes | Double (C-Corp) or pass-through (S-Corp) | $58 | $20 Annual Registration Report (a biennial... | Raising investment, stock options |
| Sole Proprietorship | No | Pass-through | $0 | $0 | Freelancers, side hustles |
| Partnership | No | Pass-through | $0 | $0 | 2+ owners (consider an LLC instead) |
8 Steps to Start Your Missouri Business
- 1
Choose your business structure
Missouri LLCs pay $50 to form online and owe no annual report, while a corporation pays a $58 minimum filing fee based on authorized capital and then files the $20 Annual Registration Report each year.
- 2
Pick and reserve your business name
Run the Secretary of State's Business Entity Search first, because under RSMo 347.020 an LLC name must include a designator such as LLC or Limited Company and be distinguishable from names already on the Secretary of State's records. A name reservation costs $25 and can be held 60 days, renewed twice.
- 3
Appoint a registered agent
Your registered agent needs a Missouri street address, and a PO box is allowed only in addition to that address. Changing the agent or office later costs $10 through the Secretary of State.
- 4
File your formation documents
File Form LLC-1 through Online Business Services, where you will need an email address and credit card, for $50, or mail it for $105. A corporation files Form Corp. 41 instead, starting at $58 for authorized capital of $30,000 or less.
- 5
Get your EIN from the IRS
Free, online, takes about 5 minutes. Do not pay anyone for this.
- 6
Register for a sales tax permit if you sell goods
Register online with the Department of Revenue for a sales tax license, which the Department says takes about 2 to 3 business days. Selling retail without a license carries a $500 penalty for the first day and $100 for each day after, capped at $10,000.
- 7
Get required licenses and permits
The Secretary of State does not issue business licenses, so apply to your city or county. A county collector such as Boone County's charges $25 a year for a merchant license, and St. Louis has a graduated city business license with its own fee schedule.
- 8
Register for Missouri taxes
Beyond sales tax, register with the Department of Revenue for employer withholding and with the Division of Employment Security for unemployment tax, where the new-employer rate for most employers is 2.376 percent on a $9,000 wage base in 2026. Corporations owe a flat 4 percent income tax, and individuals top out at 4.70 percent according to the Department of Revenue's 2026 withholding formula (its income tax changes page states the same rate for 2025).
What Is Different About Starting a Business in Missouri
Missouri LLCs file no annual report. The Secretary of State FAQ answers the question "Do limited liability companies have to file an annual report?" with a plain "No." Corporations are different: they file an Annual Registration Report at $20 online or $45 on paper.
Missouri has imposed no corporation franchise tax for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, under RSMo 147.010. Corporate income tax is a separate flat 4 percent under RSMo 143.071.
The Secretary of State's business FAQ states that it does not issue business licenses and that they are obtained directly from the local governmental authority, so what you need depends on where you operate. Regulated trades still hold their own state licenses.
A fictitious name, commonly called a DBA, is filed with the Secretary of State on Form Corp. 56 for $7, according to the Secretary of State's fee schedule.
The paper-versus-online gap is wide. The Secretary of State's fee schedule lists $50 for an online LLC certificate and $105 on paper, so filing online saves $55.
Kansas City and St. Louis add local earnings taxes. For example, the City of St. Louis collector describes a 1 percent earnings withholding and a 0.5 percent payroll expense tax for employers.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Missouri?
The cost most owners miss is local: according to the Secretary of State, business licenses come from the city or county, so local fees sit on top of the state filing fee. Choosing paper over online also more than doubles formation, at $105 against $50.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LLC filing fee (Missouri Secretary of State) Required | $50 | Online filings through the Missouri Business Filings portal are typically processed immediately after submission; |
| Corporation filing fee Required | $58 | If forming a corporation instead |
| Annual report | $0 | Not required in Missouri |
| Name reservation | $25 | 60 days, renewable for two additional 60 day periods (180 days total) |
| Registered agent service | $0 to $300/yr | Free if you serve as your own |
| EIN (IRS) Required | $0 | Always free |
| Business license | Varies | Business licenses come from your city or county; the Secretary of State FAQ says the state office does not issue them. |
| Operating agreement | $0 to $500+ | Free template or attorney-drafted |
| Realistic LLC total (year 1) | $50 to $350 |
Start a Specific Business in Missouri
Missouri Business Guides
Formation and Entity Types
- Becoming an LLC in Missouri
- How to Start a Corporation in Missouri
- Sole Proprietorship in Missouri
- How to Start an S Corp in Missouri and Elect for an LLC
- Missouri Series LLC
- Missouri Certificate of Authority for Foreign LLCs
- How to Start a Nonprofit in Missouri
- How to Dissolve an LLC in Missouri
- Missouri LLC Operating Agreement
- Missouri Partnership and LLP Formation
Licenses, Permits and Registrations
- Missouri Business License
- Missouri Annual Report Filing
- Missouri General Contractor License
- Missouri Fictitious Name (DBA)
- Missouri Business Name Search
- Apply for EIN Missouri
- How to Get a Resale Certificate in Missouri
- Missouri Home-Based Business Laws
- Missouri Certificate of Good Standing
- Missouri Government Contracts
- Missouri Merchant's License
- Missouri Statement of No Tax Due for a City License
- Missouri Liquor License
- Missouri Professional License Lookup by State Board
Taxes and Compliance
- Missouri Business Taxes Explained for New Owners
- Missouri Workers' Compensation Requirements for Employers
- Missouri Sales Tax Rates by City and County (2026 Table)
- Missouri Tax ID Number
- Hiring in Missouri
- Missouri Income Tax Rate for Business Owners in 2026
- Kansas City and St. Louis Earnings Tax for Business Owners
- Missouri Business Personal Property Tax
Costs, Money and Services
- Cost to Start a Business in Missouri
- Best LLC Service in Missouri
- Become a Registered Agent in Missouri
- Missouri General Liability Insurance and Required Coverage
- Missouri Small Business Grants and Funding in 2026
- Missouri LLC Cost 2026
County Business Licensing
- Boone County MO Business License
- Camden County, MO Business License and Sales Tax
- Christian County, MO Business License and Sales Tax
- Franklin County, Missouri Merchant License and Sales Tax
- Greene County, MO Merchant License and Sales Tax
- Jefferson County, MO Business License and Sales Tax
- St. Charles County Business License
- St. Louis County Business License
Why Start a Business in Missouri?
- Forming an LLC online with the Secretary of State costs $50, one of the lower formation fees in the country, versus $105 if the Articles of Organization are mailed on paper.
- Missouri LLCs file no annual or biennial registration report, so there is no recurring Secretary of State maintenance fee after formation.
- Missouri has imposed no corporation franchise tax since January 1, 2016 under RSMo 147.010.
- The corporation income tax is a flat 4 percent for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020, and individual income tax tops out at 4.70 percent for 2026.
- A fictitious name (DBA) registration is a single statewide $7 filing with the Secretary of State that lasts five years, rather than a county by county filing.
Missouri Business Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does my Missouri LLC have to file an annual report?
- No. The Secretary of State FAQ says limited liability companies do not file an annual report. Corporations do file an Annual Registration Report, at $20 online or $45 on paper.
- Does Missouri charge a franchise tax?
- Not on corporations since 2016. RSMo 147.010 provides that for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, no annual franchise tax is imposed.
- Why does the Secretary of State list two prices for an LLC?
- The fee schedule lists $50 for an LLC certificate filed online and $105 for the paper version. Online filing requires an email address and a credit card.
- Do I need a state business license in Missouri?
- The Secretary of State says it does not issue business licenses and that they are obtained from the local governmental authority. Check with your city and county, and with the state board if your trade is regulated.
- What is a Missouri merchant license and what does it cost?
- It is a county license issued by the collector. Boone County lists $25 a year for the calendar year, and Cole County also lists $25. Some businesses are exempt, so confirm with your collector before paying.
- How do I register a DBA in Missouri?
- File Form Corp. 56 with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's fee schedule lists $7 for creating a fictitious name.
- What happens if I sell goods in Missouri without a sales tax license?
- The Department of Revenue FAQ states a penalty of $500 for the first day of operation and $100 each day after, up to $10,000. Register online with the Department of Revenue before your first sale.
- Do Kansas City and St. Louis tax earnings?
- Yes, both cities have local earnings taxes. The City of St. Louis collector describes 1 percent earnings withholding and a 0.5 percent payroll expense tax for employers, so register locally in addition to the state.
- When do I need workers' compensation in Missouri?
- The Division of Workers' Compensation says you must carry coverage if you have five or more employees. In construction, you must carry it with one or more employees.
- How long does it take to form an LLC in Missouri?
- Online filings through the Missouri Business Filings portal are typically processed immediately after submission. The Secretary of State does not publish a set turnaround for paper filings.