How to start an LLC in Missouri in 2023 [What's The Cost?]

Before you begin selling your services and wares in Missouri, you need to first establish and determine what your business structure is going to be.

An LLC is one of the most popular business structures and is a hybrid that provides the limited legal liability of a corporation and the operational flexibility of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

However, to form an LLC (limited liability company) is more complex and formal than a general partnership, yet less complex than a corporation.

If you’re confused about how to start an LLC in Missouri, then you’ve come to the right place. Follow our step-by-step guide below to form a Missouri LLC today to get your business up and running in no time.

Step 1: Name your Missouri LLC

If you want to start an LLC, you probably already know what you want to name your LLC business.

However, choosing a company name is not only the first and most important step of creating an LLC in Missouri, but you also need to make sure you choose a name that complies with the Missouri naming requirements and is easily searchable by potential clients.

1. Follow the naming guidelines for a Missouri LLC:

To form a Missouri LLC, you must choose a name that’s unique and it cannot be too similar to an existing name registered in the Missouri Secretary of State records, and cannot be misleading to the public.

You can check for name availability on the Secretary of State’s business name database and an available name can be reserved for up to 60 days by filing a Name Reservation Request form which can be postal mailed or hand-delivered to the Secretary of State’s office.

Your company name must include the phrase “limited liability company”, or one of its abbreviations or words: “LLC, L.L.C., Limited, Ltd., Company or Co.”
Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency such as FBI, Treasury, State of Department, etc.).
Restricted words such as Bank, Attorney, University may require additional paperwork and a licensed individual, such as a doctor or a lawyer, to be part of your LLC formation.

You can read Missouri’s Code of Regulations for a complete list of naming rules in Missouri.

2. Is the name available in Missouri?

The next thing you want to check is to make sure the name you want isn’t already taken by someone else. You can do this by doing a Business Entity Search on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.

3. Is the URL available?

In the world of internet banking and online transactions, having an online presence will have a big impact on your business. We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain.

Even if you don’t plan to create a business website anytime soon, you may want to consider buying the URL to prevent others from acquiring it.

This will prevent any future confusion when other people surf the net to find an URL with your company name but with a different business nature.

After registering a domain name, you can also consider setting up a professional email account (@yourcompany.coom).

FAQ: Naming a Missouri LLC

What is an LLC?

LLC stands for Limited Liability Company. LLC is a simple business structure that offers business owners more flexibility compared to a traditional corporation while still providing many of the same benefits.

An LLC is one of several business structures including sole proprietorship, partnership, and corporation (C corp and S corp).

Do I need to get a DBA or Fictitious Name for my business?

Most LLCs do not need a DBA since the name of the LLC can already serve as your company’s brand name and you can even accept checks and other payments under that name as well. However, you may also wish to register a DBA if you would like to conduct business under another name.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent in Missouri

If you’re starting an LLC in Missouri, you’re required to nominate a Missouri registered agent. A registered agent is also known as an agent for service of process in other states.

A registered agent is a person or business entity that is responsible for receiving important tax forms, legal documents, a notice of lawsuits, and official government correspondence on behalf of your business. You can simply think of your registered agent as your business’s point of contact with the state.

A Missouri LLC may not serve as its own agent for service of process. The agent should agree to accept service of process on behalf of the LLC prior to designation. However, the agent may be a member, manager, or officer of the LLC, but doesn’t need to be affiliated with the LLC.

There are also a few guidelines that you will need to follow on who you can appoint as the Registered Agent. A Registered Agent must be a full-time resident of Missouri or a corporation authorized to conduct business in the state of Missouri.

You may also elect an individual within the company including yourself to be your LLC’s registered agent.

FAQ: Nominating a Missouri Registered Agent

Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?

Yes, You or anyone else in your company can serve as the registered agent for your LLC. However, there are also other requirements that you will need to meet.

Is a professional agent service worth it?

Professional registered agent service is an affordable way for business owners to manage government filings for their Missouri LLC. The advantages of using a professional service often significantly outweigh the annual costs.

Step 3: File the Missouri LLC Articles of Organization

To register your Missouri LLC, you’ll need to file your Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State. The articles must include your Missouri LLC name, its purpose, information on how it will be managed, its address, and the name and address of its registered agent. Now is also a good time for you to determine whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed.

Most small multi-member LLCs choose to be managed directly by their members, but LLCs have the option to appoint a manager or a small group of managers to take on the management role in the LLC – somewhat like a board of directors that oversee a corporation. Managers can vote on key issues such as taking out a loan, purchasing real estate, or changing strategic plans.

What you decide should 100 percent be based on your own business and not how other businesses are structured. You may consider these factors when deciding on your business structure:

Member-managed structure:

Any member can bind the company to obligations and third parties
For LLCs with a small number of members
Members are involved in day-to-day operations
A vote is required for major business decisions
“Decentralized Management” where the administrative power is equal among all members instead of just one manager.

Manager-managed structure:

A large number of members in the limited liability company
Members are not involved in day-to-day operations
Allocates administrative power to one or more specific managers instead of all the members.
Does not require all members to vote on business decisions, just the specific managers.

FILE THE ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION

Option 1: File Online with the Secretary of State

Option 2: File by Mail

State Filing Costs $50 for online applications and $105 by mail. Filing costs can be made payable to the Secretary of State (Non-refundable)

Mail to:
Corporations Unit
James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center
Division PO Box 778
St RM 322 Jefferson City, MO 65102

FAQ: Filing Missouri LLC Documents

What is the processing time to form my Missouri LLC?

You can expect your Missouri LLC to be processed immediately after payment is received online and about 3 to 6 business days if you’ve made an application by mail.

What is the difference between a domestic LLC and a foreign LLC?

An LLC is commonly referred to as a “domestic LLC” when it conducts business in the same state where it was formed. A foreign LLC must be formed when an existing LLC wishes to expand its business to another state.

How much does it cost to start a Missouri LLC?

It costs $50 online to start a Missouri LLC and $105 by mail.

Step 4: Create a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement

Missouri LLCs are required to establish an operating agreement as per the Revised Statutes Section 347.081 of the state’s legal code. An operating agreement is a legal document that outlines the ownership as well as the operating procedures of an LLC.

Operating agreements are very important as a comprehensive agreement will ensure that all business owners are on the same page and will help to reduce the risk of future conflict.

FAQ: Creating a Missouri LLC Operating Agreement

Do I need to file my operating agreement with the state of Missouri?

No, you do not need to file your LLC’s operating agreement as it’s an internal document that you should have for future reference. However, Missouri does legally require LLCs to have an operating agreement in place.

Step 5: Get a Missouri LLC EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is also known as the Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), or Federal Tax Identification Number (FTIN).

This is a nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue System (IRS); an Employer ID Number is used to identify a business entity and keep track of all the business’ tax reporting. It can essentially be considered as a Social Security number (SSN) for the company.

You may wonder why you need an EIN. An EIN number is required for the following:

To open a business bank account for the company
For Federal and State tax purposes
To hire employees for the company

Take note that sole proprietorships are required to get a new EIN when converting to an LLC. An EIN can be obtained from the IRS free of charge by any of the business owners after forming the company. This process can also be done online or by mail.

GET AN EIN

Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS

Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax

Mail to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999

Fax: (855) 641-6935
Fee: Free

FAQ: Getting a Missouri LLC EIN

How do I get an EIN if I don’t have a social security number?

You don’t need a social security number (SSN) to get an EIN for your LLC in Missouri. You can simply fill out IRS Form SS-4 and leave section 7b blank. Give the IRS a call at (267) 941-1099 to complete your application.

What tax structure should I choose for my LLC?

When you obtain an EIN, you will be informed of the different tax classification options available for your company. Most LLCs elect the default tax status.

However, some LLCs can reduce their federal tax obligation by choosing the S corporation status. For this, we recommend consulting with a local accountant to find out which option is the best for you.

Do I need an EIN for my LLC?

All LLCs with employees, or any LLC with more than one member, must have an EIN. This is a requirement by the IRS.

Important Steps After Forming A LLC in Missouri

Separate Your Personal and Business Assets

Your personal assets like your home, car, and other valuables are at risk in the event your Missouri LLC gets sued if your personal and business accounts are mixed.

In business law, this is often referred to as piercing the corporate veil. Here are a few steps you can take to protect your Missouri LLC.

1. Opening a business bank account

Separating your personal assets from your company’s assets is an important step that is necessary for personal asset protection. It also makes accounting and tax filing easier.

2. Getting a business credit card

This is also a good habit to practice as it helps you separate personal and business expenses. This can also be used to build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise capital.

3. Hiring a business accountant

Yes, you certainly can handle your business books yourself. However, it is also a good idea to consider hiring a business accountant as they are experts in this field. They will help prevent your business from overpaying on taxes while helping you avoid penalties, fines, and other costly tax errors that you might miss out on.

Getting an accountant also makes bookkeeping and payroll easier, leaving you with more time to focus on plans and strategies to grow your business. They can also help you manage your business funding more effectively such as discovering areas of unforeseen loss or extra profit.

Get Business Insurance for your LLC in Missouri

Getting business insurance is just as important as getting personal insurance. Business insurance helps you manage risk and focus on growing your LLC in Missouri. The most common types of business insurance available include:

General Liability Insurance – This is a pretty broad insurance policy that protects your business from lawsuits. Most small businesses will get general liability insurance.

Professional Liability Insurance – This is an insurance that’s catered for professional service providers such as consultants, accountants, etc that covers claims of malpractice and other business errors.

Workers’ Compensation Insurance – This is a type of insurance that provides coverage for employees’ job-related illnesses, injuries, or deaths. Businesses with five or more employees, excluding LLC members and corporate officers in Missouri, are required by law to have workers’ compensation insurance.

Create Your Website

In a world of digitalization, creating a website is a big step towards legitimizing your business. Almost every business will need a website now.

Even if you think that your business is too small or if you’re focused on an offline industry, you could still be potentially missing out on a large percentage of customers and revenue simply because you don’t have a website.

Some business owners may fear that creating a business website is out of their reach since they do not have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that make the life of small business owners much simpler!

Here are a few main reasons why you should seriously consider building your own business website:

All legitimate businesses have websites. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to setting up your business online.
Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles simply do not act as a replacement for a complete business website that you own and control.
There are many website builder tools online like GoDaddy Website Builder that have made it their mission to create a website extremely simple. With this, you don’t even need to worry about hiring a web developer or designer just to create a website you can be proud of.

Send Out a Press Release

Though it’s not a requirement in the Missouri Secretary of State to form your LLC, press releases are among the easiest and best ways to promote your business. They’re also one of the most cost-effective strategies that provide the following benefits:

Provides publicity
Establish your brand presence on the web
Improves your website’s SEO, thus driving more customers to your website
A one-time cost in terms of effort and money
Have long-lasting benefits

Keep your Company Compliant After Registering LLC In Missouri

Missouri LLC Business Permits & Licenses

Does my Missouri LLC need business licenses and permits?

To operate an limited liability company, you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. If you’re opening a restaurant, you’re likely to have health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc.

The details of business licenses and permits will vary from state to state. So you need to make sure to read carefully. Don’t be surprised if there are short classes required as well. Fees for various business licenses and permits will vary depending on what sort of license you are seeking to obtain.

Below are a few methods or easy ways you can obtain necessary Missouri business licenses and permits for your limited liability company. Alternatively, you can also hire a professional service to do it for you

Federal: Use the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guide to get federal business licenses and permits.
State: Apply for or learn more about licenses, permits, and registration with Missouri’s Business Portal.
Local: Contact your local county clerk and ask about local business licenses and permits.

It is recommended for first-time entrepreneurs to consider having professional service research your business’s licensing requirements.

Missouri LLC Tax Filing Requirements

Depending on the nature of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax. Here are the types of tax that you may encounter:

Missouri Sales Tax

If you’re selling a physical product, you’ll typically need to register for a seller’s permit through the Missouri Department of Revenue website. This certificate will allow your business to collect sales tax on taxable sales.

Sales tax is also known as “Sales and Use Tax” is a tax levied by states, counties, and municipalities on business transactions that involve the exchange of certain taxable goods or services.

Missouri Employer Taxes

If your business involves hiring employees, you will need to register for Unemployment Insurance Tac through the Missouri Department of Labor. You will also need to sign up for Employee Withholding Tax with the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Federal LLC Tax Filing Requirements

Most LLCs will need to report their income to the IRS each year. And you can report them via:

Form 1065 Partnership Return (most multi-member LLCs use this form)
Form 1040 Schedule C (most single-member LLCs use this form)

Just to note, how you decide to pay yourself as the company owner will also play an important role in your federal taxes.

Avoid Automatic Dissolution

Limited liability company may face fines and even automatic dissolution if they miss one or more state filings. When this happens, the LLC owners risk the loss of limited liability protection. This is where a quality registered agent service can help LLC in Missouri to prevent this outcome by notifying you of upcoming filing deadlines and even submitting the necessary reports on your behalf for an additional fee.

Hiring Employees in Missouri

If you have an limited liability company in Missouri and plan on hiring employees, you need to stay compliant with the law by following these steps:

Verify that new employees are able to work in the US with a valid working pass
Report employees as “new hires” to the State
Provide workers’ compensation insurance for employees
Withhold employee taxes
Print compliance posters and place them in visible areas of your workspace