How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Missouri
Last verified: November 4, 2026
Starting a business in Missouri is cheaper than most states, but "cheap" doesn't mean free. The actual cost depends entirely on your structure, industry, and how you plan to operate. This guide breaks down every expense from filing your formation documents to your first year of operation.
This page is the whole-business budget. The LLC filing fee is $50 online, and the county, city and registered agent costs that come with forming one are on the Missouri LLC cost and fees page. A corporation costs slightly more upfront at $58, plus an annual registration report fee of $20. But those are only the Secretary of State costs. Real startup expenses extend far beyond filing fees.
Missouri's state filing fees are small, and nothing in the state's fee schedule recurs for an LLC. The money in a Missouri startup budget goes to things the Secretary of State never touches: local licenses, insurance, payroll taxes once you hire, and whatever your industry demands. Budget in that order: fixed fees first, then quotes for the rest.
This page lists only fees we could trace to an official source. Where the cost is a quote (insurance, rent, equipment), we say so instead of guessing a range.
Secretary of State Filing Fees
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) | $50 online, $105 on paper | No annual report for LLCs |
| Corporation Articles of Incorporation (Form Corp. 41) | $58 for $30,000 or less in authorized shares | Plus $5 for each additional $10,000 of authorized shares |
| Corporation annual registration report | $20 online, $45 on paper | Due at the end of the month the corporation was incorporated; $15 more for each 30 days late |
| Fictitious name (DBA), Form Corp. 56 | $7 | Same fee to renew, correct or amend |
| Name reservation | $25 | Holds a name 60 days; renewable twice |
| Change of registered agent or office (Form Corp. 59) | $10 | Same fee to resign as agent |
| Reinstatement after administrative dissolution | $55 basic fee | Plus any fees needed to cure the cause |
Sources: Missouri Secretary of State: Schedule of Fees and Charges; Missouri Secretary of State: general services and filings; Missouri Secretary of State: business FAQ. The fee schedule is dated 01/2025, so confirm the amount when you file online through Missouri Online Business Services.
Which Structure Costs Less to Keep Alive
Our position: for a first-time owner with no investors, the LLC is the cheaper entity to maintain in Missouri, and the difference is the corporation's yearly report. An LLC pays $50 once, and the Secretary of State FAQ says LLCs do not file an annual report. A corporation pays $58 or more to form and then $20 online every year. Over ten years that is $200 in report fees alone, before any late charges.
That is a fee comparison, not tax advice. The tax outcome of an LLC versus a corporation can outweigh a $20 report, so settle it with a CPA before you file. For the filing steps, see our Missouri LLC guide and the corporation guide. For the LLC-specific numbers, use the LLC cost and fees page. A DBA is only needed when you trade under a name different from your legal name; see Missouri fictitious name registration.
If you would rather pay someone to file, compare providers on Best LLC Services in Missouri. Filing yourself online costs the state's $50 and nothing more, so a service has to be worth its price in privacy or speed, not in the filing itself.
Registered Agent Cost
Every Missouri LLC and corporation must keep a registered agent with a Missouri address, and the agent's business office must match the entity's registered office, per the Secretary of State. Naming yourself costs the state nothing. The trade-off is that your address becomes public record and you must be reachable there. A commercial agent costs whatever that provider charges; the state sets no price. Changing agents later is a $10 filing. See registered agent requirements and how to choose one.
Local Licenses and Permits
The Secretary of State FAQ says business licenses come from the local government and that the Secretary of State does not issue them, so an LLC filing does not make you legal to operate in a given city or county. For the state side, see our Missouri business license guide.
We do not print a typical city fee, because it differs by city and business type and we could not trace a single statewide figure. Ask the city clerk and the county for the exact fee before you sign a lease. Start with what you need and how to get a Missouri business license, the county merchant's license and, if you work from home, home-based business rules. Kansas City and St. Louis also levy an earnings tax, a recurring cost that startup budgets often miss.
The state does set some trade fees. One we verified: the Missouri Alcohol and Tobacco Control office lists $300 for a retail by-the-drink license covering spirits, wine and beer, and $50 for beer by the drink. Contractors and other trades are covered on the occupational licenses by state board page.
Tax Registration Costs
Register through the Missouri Department of Revenue business registration page for sales tax, withholding and the other listed tax types. That page states no registration fee, but it does not say registration is free either, so confirm with the Department if it matters to your budget. Skipping registration is the expensive option: the Department of Revenue registration FAQ states a penalty of $500 for the first day of retail sales without a sales tax license and $100 for each day after.
- State sales tax: The Department of Revenue states the state rate is 4.225%. Cities, counties and districts add local tax, so use the Missouri rate lookup for your address, and see sales tax rates by city and county.
- EIN: The IRS says you can get an EIN for free directly from the IRS. A site that charges for one is a reseller. See how to get an EIN in Missouri.
- Income tax: We do not quote a rate here because we could not confirm the current rate on a Department of Revenue page. Read Missouri income tax for business owners and check the Department's current forms.
The Cost of the First Employee
Hiring is where recurring costs start. Per the Division of Employment Security, the new-employer unemployment rate for "All Others" is 2.376% for 2024 through 2027, on a taxable wage base of $9,000 in 2026. That works out to at most $213.84 of unemployment tax per employee for 2026 ($9,000 x 2.376%). The arithmetic is ours; the rate and base are the state's.
Workers' compensation is the larger unknown. The Division of Workers' Compensation requires coverage if you have five or more employees, and in construction from the first employee. Premiums come from a quote, not a table, so get one before you commit to a hire. See hiring employees in Missouri and workers' compensation requirements.
Insurance and Everything Without a Fixed Fee
No Missouri agency publishes a price for general liability, professional liability, rent, equipment or inventory, so any dollar range we printed would be a guess dressed up as data. Treat these as line items you fill in from real quotes: at least two insurance quotes, a written lease or equipment quote, and a CPA's fee for setting up your books. Our Missouri business insurance guide explains what each policy covers.
Building Your First-Year Budget
Use this order so nothing is missed. Only the first two items are known numbers.
- Known state fees: LLC $50 (or corporation $58 plus a $20 report each year), plus $7 for a DBA and $25 if you reserve a name first.
- Known tax math: up to $213.84 per employee in 2026 unemployment tax.
- Local fees: the city and county license, any zoning or health permit, and any earnings tax. Get written figures from the clerk.
- Quotes: insurance, workers' compensation if required, lease, equipment, inventory and professional help.
- Cushion: the months of operating cash you can fund before sales arrive. That is your decision, not a state fee.
Where This Page Does Not Fit
If you are opening a regulated business such as a bar, a child care facility or a contracting company, the fees above are the smallest part of your cost and licensing rules decide the budget. Use the trade-specific guides instead. If your project is a nonprofit, see starting a 501(c)(3) in Missouri, whose costs differ from those listed here.
Sources
- Missouri Secretary of State: Schedule of Fees and Charges (01/2025)
- Missouri Secretary of State: general services and filings (registered agent, late report fee, reinstatement)
- Missouri Secretary of State: business FAQ (LLC annual report, local licenses, name reservation)
- Missouri Secretary of State: Online Business Services
- Missouri Department of Revenue: register a business
- Missouri Department of Revenue: sales tax rate
- Missouri Department of Revenue: registration FAQ
- Missouri sales and use tax rate lookup
- Missouri Division of Employment Security: tax rates
- Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation: insurance requirement
- Missouri Alcohol and Tobacco Control: by-the-drink licenses
- IRS: employer identification numbers
Disclaimer
This article is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees were checked against the sources above on November 3, 2026 and can change. Confirm with the agency, and ask a Missouri attorney or CPA about your own situation.