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.
Missouri welcomes new business owners with low formation costs and competitive tax rates. Forming an LLC online costs just $50 and requires no annual registration fee or maintenance expense. Once established, Missouri's flat 4 percent corporate income tax and individual income tax capped at 4.70 percent provide predictable tax planning.
This guide walks you through every step from selecting your business structure and forming your LLC to obtaining licenses and registering for taxes.
Choosing Your Missouri Business Structure
This is the first decision and it affects everything: taxes, liability, paperwork. If you are unsure, an LLC is the right default for most Missouri small businesses.
| 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
LLC, corporation, or sole proprietorship. Each has different costs, tax treatment, and liability protection.
- 2
Pick and reserve your business name
Search the Missouri Secretary of State database. Reserve for $25 (60 days, renewable for two additional 60 day periods (180 days total)).
- 3
Appoint a registered agent
Must have a physical Missouri street address. Can be yourself (free) or a service ($100 to $300 per year).
- 4
File your formation documents
Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) ($50) or Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation (Form Corp. 41) ($58) with the Missouri Secretary of State.
- 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
Through the Missouri Department of Revenue. State sales tax rate: 4.225%.
- 7
Get required licenses and permits
Missouri has no general statewide business license.
- 8
Register for Missouri taxes
Personal income tax: Graduated, 0% to 4.70% top marginal rate for 2026.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Missouri?
| 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 | Missouri has no general statewide business license. |
| 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
- How to Start an LLC in Missouri
- How to Start a Corporation in Missouri
- Sole Proprietorship in Missouri: How to Start One
- Missouri Business License: What You Need and How to Get It
- Missouri Home-Based Business Laws: Zoning, Permits and Rules
- How to Get an EIN in Missouri
- Missouri Business Name Search: How to Check and Reserve a Name
- How to Get a Resale Certificate in Missouri
- Missouri Registered Agent: Requirements and How to Choose One
- Best LLC Services in Missouri
- Missouri Business Taxes Explained for New Owners
- How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Missouri
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 ranked 22nd nationally in gross state product at $357.97 billion for 2025 in chained 2017 dollars, with a population of 6,270,541 as of July 1, 2025.
Missouri Business Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does it take to form an LLC in Missouri?
- Online LLC filings through the Missouri Business Filings portal are typically processed immediately after submission.
- What does it cost to start an LLC in Missouri in year one?
- An LLC formation costs $50 online. If you need a fictitious name, a statewide DBA registration is $7 and lasts five years. Missouri LLCs owe no annual registration fee, so there is no recurring Secretary of State maintenance cost.
- Can a non-resident form an LLC in Missouri?
- Non-residents can form a Missouri LLC entirely online through the Secretary of State's Business Filings portal. The Articles of Organization form requires only a qualifying business name, with no residency restriction.
- What is the cheapest way to start a business in Missouri?
- The cheapest way to start is to register a fictitious name as a single statewide DBA filing for $7, which lasts five years. To form a legal business entity, an LLC costs $50 to file online, which is $8 less than the $58 corporation filing fee, and LLCs owe no annual registration fee unlike corporations.
- Is an operating agreement required for an LLC in Missouri?
- Missouri law does not require an operating agreement for LLC formation. The Articles of Organization are the only required formation document.