Open binder, pen and closed laptop on a wooden desk, How to Start a Corporation in Missouri

How to Start a Corporation in Missouri

Last verified: November 4, 2026

Forming a Missouri corporation takes one filing: Articles of Incorporation (Form Corp. 41) with the Secretary of State. The base fee is $58, and every year after that you file a $20 online registration report. If you are a solo owner or a small partnership with no plan to issue stock to investors, the LLC is usually the lighter choice: it costs $50 online and Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report. This is reasoning from the fee schedule, not a rule, and the "Is a Corporation the Right Fit?" section below explains where it breaks down.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items first. Each one maps to a line on Form Corp. 41.

  • Business name. Under RSMo 351.110 the name must contain the word "corporation," "company," "incorporated" or "limited," or end with an abbreviation of one of them (Corp., Co., Inc., Ltd.). It cannot imply it is a government agency, and it must be distinguishable from other Missouri corporations, foreign corporations registered in Missouri, LLCs and limited partnerships.
  • Registered agent and office. The agent is a Missouri resident individual or a corporation authorized to do business in Missouri, and the agent's business office must be the same as the registered office (RSMo 351.370). Form Corp. 41 allows a PO Box only in addition to a physical street address.
  • Incorporator. At least one natural person who is 18 or older. The Secretary of State FAQ says the incorporator does not have to be a shareholder. You need the incorporator's name and physical business or residence address.
  • Share information. Check one box if you will authorize no more than 30,000 shares and no more than $30,000 in par value. Above either limit you must list each class, its par value and its rights on the form.
  • Duration and purpose. Articles Five and Six of the form ask whether the corporation is perpetual and for a lawful purpose statement. A general purpose such as "any lawful business" is for your attorney to word; the form does not supply one.
  • $58 base fee. See the fee breakdown in Step 4.

How to Incorporate in Missouri: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Choose and Check Your Business Name

Search the Secretary of State business entity search before you commit to a name, then confirm it meets the RSMo 351.110 rules above. A name that is too close to an existing entity is the simplest way to have a filing sent back. If another Missouri entity already holds the name, pick a different one.

To hold a name while you prepare, file an Application for Reservation of Name (Form BE 1, listed on the Secretary of State forms page). The fee is $25 for a 60-day reservation, and the Secretary of State FAQ says it can be renewed for two more 60-day periods, 180 days in total.

Step 2: Appoint a Registered Agent

Your corporation must keep a registered agent and a registered office in Missouri. The agent receives lawsuits and official notices, so choose someone who is reachable at that street address during business hours. You can serve as your own agent if you are a Missouri resident with a business office in the state. Otherwise use another resident or a business authorized to act as an agent; a commercial service also keeps your home address off the public record. A new agent must sign the Acceptance of Appointment and Consent to Serve as Registered Agent (RAC 1) when an agent is changed.

Step 3: Complete the Articles of Incorporation

Use Form Corp. 41, Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation (version 01/2025). It has seven articles:

  • Corporation name
  • Registered agent's name and Missouri street address
  • Share structure (the 30,000-share and $30,000 par value check box, or the class details)
  • Name and address of each incorporator
  • Duration: perpetual or a number of years
  • Lawful purpose
  • Number of directors (optional)

The form also lets you set a future effective date up to 90 days after filing; otherwise the filing takes effect on the date the Secretary of State files it. Bylaws, officers and the allocation of shares are not filed with the state, but you still need them. RSMo 351.055 sets what the Articles must contain, so keep every optional provision for an attorney to review.

Step 4: File and Pay the Fee

File through the Secretary of State's Online Business Services portal, or mail the form to the Corporations Division, PO Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102 (the address printed on Form Corp. 41). The Schedule of Fees and Charges sets the fee: $50 for authorized capital of $30,000 or less, plus a $3 certificate fee and a $5 technology fund fee, which is the $58 total. Authorized capital above $30,000 adds $5 for every additional $10,000, so a corporation that authorizes more shares than it needs pays more. The Secretary of State FAQ states that online filing fees are paid by credit card.

The Secretary of State does not publish a guaranteed processing time. Its FAQ says the effective date is the day it endorses the document, which is usually the day the filing is received and first reviewed. Do not sign contracts or open accounts as a corporation until you hold the filed certificate.

If you would rather hand the paperwork to someone else, you can compare Missouri formation services and what they add on top of the state fee.

Step 5: Organize the Corporation

After the state accepts the filing, hold the first board meeting, adopt bylaws and issue shares. Missouri does not file these documents, so keep them in your corporate record book. Disputes between owners are decided from these documents, and an attorney should review them if you have more than one shareholder.

After Incorporation: Required Next Steps

Annual Registration Report

All corporations doing business in Missouri must file an annual registration report. For corporations incorporated or qualified on or after July 1, 2003, the report is due at the end of the month in which the corporation was incorporated, according to the Secretary of State registration reports page. A September incorporation means a September 30 deadline.

The fee schedule lists $20 for an online report and $45 on paper. Under RSMo 351.125 a late report carries a $15 late fee for each 30-day period, and if no report is filed within 90 days the Secretary of State may begin administrative dissolution. The Secretary of State FAQ also describes an option to elect biennial reporting; read its terms before choosing it.

Register for Missouri Taxes

Register with the Department of Revenue through its business registration page. One registration covers corporate income tax, employer withholding and sales tax. Corporations pay Missouri income tax at 4% of Missouri taxable income for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020 (RSMo 143.071).

If you sell tangible personal property or taxable services, the Department of Revenue says you need a sales tax license before you start. If you have employees, you also report to the Division of Employment Security for unemployment insurance.

Obtain a Federal EIN

The IRS issues EINs free of charge. Apply through the IRS online EIN application, and be wary of sites that charge a fee for the same form. A corporation needs an EIN for its bank account, payroll and federal return.

Local Licensing and Permits

The Secretary of State does not issue business licenses. Per its FAQ, you get a license from your city or county, so ask your city clerk or county office what your location and activity require. Industries such as food service, construction and professional services may also need state-level licenses.

Key Facts About Missouri Corporations

No franchise tax: RSMo 147.010 states that for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2016, no annual franchise tax is imposed. Your recurring state filing cost is the registration report.

Flat income tax: The corporate rate is a flat 4% of Missouri taxable income. Rates for owners' personal income differ and are set in RSMo 143.011, so a comparison with an LLC or S corporation belongs in a conversation with a CPA.

Registered agent changes: The Secretary of State requires notice of any change of agent. File Form Corp. 59 (Statement of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office); the fee is $10.

Is a Corporation the Right Fit?

Choose a corporation if you plan to issue stock to investors, grant equity to employees, or want the formal board and officer structure. Choose an LLC if you are a solo owner or a small team that wants less paperwork. The fee schedule shows why: an LLC costs $50 online and has no annual report, while a corporation costs $58 or more and files a $20 report every year. Those state costs are small, so the real difference is the upkeep of bylaws, meetings and records. Already have an LLC? A corporation is not required for an S corporation tax election; see our S corp guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Leaving out the purpose or duration. Articles Five and Six of Form Corp. 41 are not optional, so a blank one is a reason to have the filing returned.
  • Authorizing more capital than you need. The fee rises $5 for each additional $10,000 above $30,000, so match the authorized amount to your plan.
  • Using only a PO Box for the registered office. Form Corp. 41 allows a PO Box only in addition to a physical street address.
  • Missing the registration report. Late reports cost $15 per 30 days, and 90 days without a report allows the Secretary of State to begin administrative dissolution.
  • Treating the Secretary of State filing as the license. The state does not issue business licenses, so check with your city or county.

Timeline and Costs

Item Cost Where to confirm
Articles of Incorporation (authorized capital up to $30,000) $58 Secretary of State fee schedule
Each additional $10,000 of authorized capital $5 Secretary of State fee schedule
Name reservation (optional, 60 days) $25 Secretary of State FAQ
Annual registration report (online / paper) $20 / $45 Secretary of State fee schedule
Late registration report $15 per 30 days RSMo 351.125
Change of registered agent (Form Corp. 59) $10 Form Corp. 59
Federal EIN Free IRS EIN application

When to Consult a Professional

You can file the Articles yourself. Talk to a Missouri business attorney or a CPA if:

  • You have more than one shareholder and need a shareholder agreement or bylaws that handle disputes.
  • You plan to raise money or issue more than one class of stock.
  • You are weighing a corporation against an LLC or an S corporation election for tax reasons.
  • Your industry needs a state license that depends on the entity type.

Disclaimer

This article is general information and not legal or tax advice. Fees and forms change, so confirm them with the agencies listed below before you file. Consult a qualified attorney and accountant about your own situation.

Sources

Keep exploring: related Missouri guides