Start a Missouri LLC Today

It can be fun to brainstorm names for your new business. But keep in mind there are rules you’ll need to follow. When you think about how to name your LLC in Missouri, remember to follow the required guidelines:

• The name must be distinguishable from any other already registered domestic or foreign business entity in Missouri.
• The name must contain “Limited Company,” “Limited Liability Company,” or one of the following abbreviations: “LC,” “L.C.,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.”
• The name can’t contain the following words: “corporation,” “incorporated,” “limited partnership,” “limited liability partnership,” “limited liability limited partnership,” “Ltd.,” or any abbreviations of these words.
• The name can’t have any words or phrases that imply or indicate the LLC is organized for any purpose other than what is stated in its Articles of Organization.
• The name can’t imply that the LLC is a governmental agency.

You can conduct a Missouri business search to find out if the name is available, and we’ve created a step-by-step Missouri name search guide to make things easier.

Reserve a Business Name for a Missouri LLC

If you’ve decided on a name but you aren’t ready to register your LLC in Missouri, you can reserve it with the state for up to 180 days. If the reservation process is confusing, we have a business name reservation service that can handle it for you. As part of the service, we also check to see if your desired name is available.

Get a Website Domain Name

Another thing to consider when naming your Missouri LLC is if it will translate easily to a domain name for your company’s website. This is just another service we offer to help you start an LLC in Missouri.

Register a Fictitious Name

Missouri law also requires you to complete a Fictitious Name Registration with the Secretary of State if you or your company will be doing business under a name that’s different from your or your company’s true name. It’s also known as “Doing Business As” (DBA) registration. This form allows you to market your business under a name other than its official legal name. You can file online or by mail, and it must be renewed every five years. Take a look at our Missouri DBA page for more information and how we can help you with this process.

The state fees for forming a Missouri LLC can range from $50 to $130, depending on factors such as your method of filing and whether you choose to reserve your business name. Note that fees change over time, so check the Missouri Secretary of State website for the most recent fee schedule.

On the federal level, a Missouri LLC is taxed based on the company’s classification for federal income tax purposes. Single-member LLCs default to sole proprietorship classification, while multi-member LLCs default to a partnership classification. You also have the option of being taxed as a corporation, which be advantageous for certain larger LLCs.

There’s a wide variety of state, local, and federal taxes that your Missouri LLC will need to pay. A qualified tax professional can help you make sure you stay in compliance. You can also use the free accounting assessment included in some of our formation packages. 

The processing time to form an LLC in Missouri varies due to many factors. However, it’s faster to file online than through the mail, which typically takes three to six business days for processing.

No. While Missouri DOES require an LLC to have an operating agreement, it doesn’t require you to file it with them.

An LLC can be structured as a partnership, disregarded entity (like a sole proprietorship), or corporation. Consult with an expert in tax laws to decide which tax structure best fits your Missouri LLC’s needs.

Some types of businesses require special licenses or certifications to operate legally. Check with your local town, city, and/or county authorities to determine if your LLC needs any licenses or permits on the local level. Missouri has a page to help you determine what state licensing you may need. Remember that licensing can also happen at the federal level and is often industry-specific.

You’ll need to make sure your LLC has all the licenses and permits it’s required to have by law. Unfortunately, there’s no central place to check to see if you have all the licenses and permits you need. You’ll have to do some research.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to do all this research, or if you just want the peace of mind to know that your business has all the licenses and permits it’s legally required to have, our business license report service can do the work for you.

As for insurance, Missouri requires LLCs with five or more employees to carry workers’ compensation. Any vehicles used for work purposes must be covered by commercial auto insurance. Additional insurance coverage, such as general liability insurance, might be recommended based on your business.

No, Missouri LLCs do not have to file an annual report.

Before starting the dissolution process, the members of an LLC should vote to dissolve it. For the subsequent steps please refer to our Missouri business dissolution guide.

Yes, you can use a foreign LLC to transact business in Missouri after you register it with the state.