How to Conduct a Missouri Business Entity Search

The Missouri Secretary of State business search, often called the business entity search, is a valuable tool for new and established business owners alike. This tool can help you perform a variety of different business tasks, from checking name availability to looking up business documents and filing amendments.

But using the tool can feel a bit overwhelming at first, especially if you haven’t used a tool like this before. That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll walk you through the ins and outs of this search tool. We’ll also cover some essential Missouri business naming rules and what you should do after searching a company name.

Let’s get started.

Missouri Secretary of State Contact Information

Missouri Business Name Guidelines

When you’re starting a business, one of the most important things you’ll do is pick your business name. And like other states, Missouri has several rules about naming your business. 

First, your name needs to be different from the names of other registered companies in Missouri, including both domestic and foreign corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and so on. This is one of the simplest but most important naming standards. 

That said, uniqueness isn’t the only naming guideline to adhere to. Here are a few other rules your Missouri business name should follow: 

• Your business name needs to include a designator. For example, corporations need to use the word “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated,” or “limited.” They could also end their name with an abbreviation of one of those words. Meanwhile, LLCs have to use the phrase “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or an acceptable abbreviation like “LLC” or “LC” with or without periods. 
• Your name also can’t use designators that would make the business seem like a different entity type.
• Your name can’t use words or phrases that imply that you’re organized for activities that aren’t allowed by law or by your formation documents.

If you’re in a licensed trade or profession, keep in mind that you’ll need to meet any naming rules that your industry has in place, too. If your business name doesn’t meet these requirements, you’ll need to pick a new one. 

Run a Missouri business name search

The Missouri business entity search actually has four different search methods: a business name search, registered agent search, business charter number search, and a name availability search. We’ll walk you through how to run each search in this guide, but in this section, we’ll focus on the business name search.

Step 1: Set your search parameters and type your search

Once you’re on the business entity search page, you’ll need to check that the search menu is set for the “Business name” setting. It will look like this:

Once you’re on this page, you can set your search parameters. The “Includes Names” dropdown menu lets you set some different filters for your search:

• Starting With: This filter will only display results that begin with the same words as your search criteria. For example, if you searched “America,” the tool would only display business names with “America” as part of their first word.
• All Words: This filter displays results that include every word you searched. For example, if you used the phrase “American Homes” as your search criteria, the tool would pull up all the business names that have the words “American” and “Homes” somewhere in the business name.
• Any Words: This filter displays any names that include all or some of the words you search. Going back to our “American Homes” search example, this filter would show you names that include just “American,” just “Homes,” and both words, too.
• Exact Match: To use this filter, you need to type the full business name (including the business designator) exactly as it’s included in the Secretary of State’s records. This search will only display an exact match.

Choose one of these parameters (“Starting With” is the default), and then decide if you want the results to include only active businesses. If so, check the box labeled “Only Active Corporations.” If not, leave it unchecked.

Then, type your search criteria into the search bar and hit “search.”

Step 2: Review your results

If there are any business names that match your search criteria, the results page will display them in a list, pictured below:

For each result, you’ll see the full business name, charter number, business structure, status, formation date, and the registered agent’s name. If you click on a company’s name or charter number, you’ll be directed to another page where you can review even more information or take additional actions.

This third page will show you extra facts like the company’s principal office address, its registered agent’s address, and its formation state. You can also review business documents under the “filings” tab. If applicable, you can even use this page to submit paperwork like an Amendment to Articles of Organization or Articles of Termination. You can also request copies from the Business Services Division through this portal.

Search by registered agent in Missouri

The second business search type you can run is a registered agent search; you’ll use this tool if you know the name of a company’s registered agent (or registered agent service) and need to learn additional information about the company.

Here’s how to use this search.

Step 1: Set your search parameters and type your search terms

To start, make sure the search type menu is set to “Registered Agent.” With that setting, you should see a search page that looks something this:

Next, you’ll need to set the type of agent search you’re going to run. Select “Agent is Individual” if the registered agent you’re searching is a person; if the agent is a registered agent company, select “Agent is Organization.”

After that, you can set any additional filters (covered in detail above) to further define your search.

When you’re ready, you can type in the registered agent’s name into the search bar and hit “search.”

Step 2: Review your search results

The search tool will identify companies or individuals matching your search terms. For example, when we searched “John Smith” as an individual agent, these are the results we got:

On the far right, you’ll see a list of the agent entities that match your search, their registered office addresses, and the entities they represent. You can click on a name to learn more about the companies the agent represents, if desired.

Search for name availability

If you want to see if your desired LLC name or corporation name is available, then the name availability search is your go-to search. Here’s how to use it.

Step 1: Set your search parameters and type your search terms

To start, make sure that the business entity search page is set to “Name Availability.” If your page looks like the image below, you’re in the right place.

After that, there aren’t any filters to set; all you have to do is type in your desired business name (you don’t have to include a designator) and hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review any results

Ideally, the search tool will display no results, meaning there likely aren’t any names that match yours in the state’s online database. If that’s the case, then there’s a good chance that your business name is available. Please note that this search isn’t a guarantee of availability; it’s just an indicator that it’s likely available.

However, if there are any existing business names that match your desired name, you’ll see them displayed here. You can click on any of the results to review their basic details, see their filings, and more.

Search by charter number

The final way to search the Missouri Secretary of State’s database is to search by the company’s charter ID. This tool is especially helpful if you want to look up your own entity and make filings for it or request certificates. It’s the most direct way to find your specific entity.

Step 1: Set the search and type your charter number

Like the name availability search tool, there aren’t any extra filters to set with this search. As long as the state business entity search is set to “Charter No.” (pictured below), you’ll be good to go.

Once you’re on this page, type in your charter number and hit “Search.”

Step 2: Review the search results

This search has only two possible results. If the charter number doesn’t match any of the business entities on file, you’ll get a message that says “No records to display.” But the tool will pull up the corresponding business if there is a match.

On this page, you can review the business’s information. Clicking on the business name will direct you to another page where you can review filings, request certificates, and more.

What to Do After Searching Business Names in Missouri

After you’ve come up with a name and searched it, you’re probably feeling like you’ve done a lot of legwork. You’d hate for that hard work to go to waste, right? Here are some steps you can take to protect your Missouri business name and make the most of it. 

Reserve your Missouri business name (optional)

If you’ve picked the perfect business name but you’re not quite ready to file your business formation paperwork, Missouri allows you to reserve a business name. 

You can get a Missouri business name reservation by filing an Application for Reservation of Name form with the Secretary of State. For most business types, this reservation costs $25 (limited liability partnerships pay $30). 

After your paperwork is filed and approved, your name reservation is valid for 60 days. Missouri allows you to renew the reservation up to two times for a maximum reservation period of 180 days. After that, the reservation can’t be extended.

This name reservation step is optional, and you should only pursue it if you’ve picked a name but aren’t ready to file your formation paperwork yet.

Form an LLC or register your business

One of the best ways to protect your business name is to register your business. After you register a business under your chosen name, no one else in Missouri will be able to register their own company with the same name. 

Registering a Missouri business is an important legal process. Learn more about starting a Missouri LLC. 

Get a domain name that matches

You want it to be easy for your customers to find your business website. That means you need a domain name that matches your business name as closely as possible. A matching domain will help your brand maintain consistency both in person and online.

If you’re struggling to come up with a domain name (or the one that matches your name is already taken), try using a domain name generator. A generator can help you find a domain that matches your brand image. 

Set up your business online

Today, you can’t run a business without a good digital footprint. A good business website is a decent starting point. But don’t stop there; set up social media accounts like a Facebook page, a TikTok profile, and an Instagram account. Make sure your business name is included on each account so your brand is consistent across your online presence.

Last but not least, set up a Google Business Profile for your business (or claim it if it already exists). This profile will help you direct customers to your website or your store location. Plus, it’ll help you respond to customer reviews and build a good brand reputation in the Show-Me State.

Trademark your business name (optional)

If you want the most robust protections for your business name, you could pursue trademark registration. Trademarks can be registered at the state or federal level (with federal protections being the strongest). 

Getting a trademark can be pretty complicated and time-consuming. If you go this route, it’s highly recommended to work with a trademark attorney.