Missouri LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Missouri — $50 State Fee, $0 Annual Report Forever

Missouri combines two of the best LLC features in the country — a $50 filing fee and a $0 annual report fee that never changes. Home to Kansas City's thriving finance, healthcare, and tech economy, St. Louis's bioscience and logistics hub, and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem, Missouri pairs its low costs with a recently simplified 4.8% flat income tax. Note: Missouri legally requires every LLC to have a written operating agreement. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, operating agreement, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance.

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Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Missouri

Six clear steps — $50 to form, $0 annual report forever, operating agreement legally required, 4.8% flat income tax. Brendat handles everything.

Choose a Name for Your Missouri LLC

Your Missouri LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the Missouri Secretary of State and must include a required designator.

Missouri Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing Missouri business names in the SOS database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Missouri LLC name for 60 days with the Missouri SOS for $25. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a Missouri Registered Agent

Every Missouri LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Missouri street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during regular business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical Missouri address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any Missouri resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in Missouri

Our Missouri address is listed on your Articles of Organization. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization — Just $50

The Articles of Organization officially creates your Missouri LLC. You file it with the Missouri Secretary of State online or by mail. At $50, Missouri has one of the lowest LLC filing fees in the country.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via MO SOS portal	$50	3–5 business days
By Mail	$50	4–6 weeks
Expedited	$50 + $25	Next business day

No publication requirement in Missouri

Missouri does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved, your LLC is fully formed.

Create an Operating Agreement — Legally Required in Missouri

Missouri is one of only six states in the US that legally requires every LLC to have a written operating agreement. This is not optional — it is a mandatory compliance requirement under Missouri LLC law.

⚠️ Missouri Operating Agreement is Legally Required

Every Missouri LLC must have a written operating agreement under Missouri law. Brendat's Standard and Premium packages include a professionally drafted, compliant Missouri operating agreement — no extra charge.

Your Missouri operating agreement must cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided among members
Management: Who makes decisions — member-managed or manager-managed
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to wind down the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat prepares a fully compliant Missouri operating agreement as part of your formation package — drafted for your state and ownership structure.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

File Your Missouri Annual Report — Completely Free

Missouri LLCs must file an annual report every year with the Missouri Secretary of State — and the fee is $0. Missouri is one of a small group of states that charges nothing for annual LLC compliance.

Annual report fee: $0 — completely free
Due date: By the anniversary month of your LLC's formation each year
Filing: Online via Missouri Secretary of State portal
Late penalty: Risk of administrative dissolution if not filed

$0 Annual Report — Zero Ongoing State Fees

Missouri charges nothing for your annual LLC report. Just file it online by your anniversary month each year. Most states charge $50–$500/year. In Missouri, ongoing compliance costs nothing.

Free But Still Mandatory — Don't Skip It

Missouri's annual report must be filed even though there is no fee. Missing it risks administrative dissolution of your LLC. Brendat tracks your anniversary month and sends reminders so you never miss it.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Missouri LLC Cost?

$50 to form, $0 every year forever — one of the best total cost structures of any LLC state.

State Filing Fee

$50

One-time Articles of Organization fee paid to the Missouri Secretary of State. One of the lowest in the country

Annual Report Fee

$0/yr

Completely free. Due in your LLC's anniversary month each year. Must be filed even though free — skipping risks dissolution

State Income Tax

4.8% flat

Recently simplified flat rate. LLC pass-through income taxed at 4.8% on members' personal returns

Operating Agreement

Required

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every Missouri LLC must maintain a registered agent

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every Missouri LLC must maintain a registered agent

Publication Requirement

No newspaper publication requirement in Missouri

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $50 state fee

$149 Brendat + $50 Missouri state fee · Operating agreement included · $0/year annual report forever · 4.8% flat income tax

Choose your plan

Missouri LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Standard and Premium include Missouri's required operating agreement.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $50 Missouri state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $50 Missouri state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Anniversary month reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $50 Missouri state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual report filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Missouri the Right State for Your LLC?

Missouri is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to neighboring Midwest states.

Feature	Missouri	Kansas	Illinois	Tennessee
State Filing Fee	$50	$165	$150	$300
Annual Report Fee	$0	$55/yr	$75/yr	$300/yr
State Income Tax	4.8% flat	5.58% flat	4.95% flat	None
Operating Agreement	⚠️ Required	None	Recommended	None
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
Best For	MO businesses	KS businesses	IL businesses	TN businesses

Missouri vs Kansas — both have $0 operating costs but Missouri files for $115 less

Kansas City straddles the MO-KS border. Missouri's $50 filing fee beats Kansas's $165, and both charge $0 for annual reports. For Kansas City entrepreneurs, Missouri typically offers lower total formation cost.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Missouri Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 3–5 business days. 24-hour expedited available for $25 extra.

$50 + $0/Year Forever

Missouri's $50 filing fee and free annual report make it one of the most affordable LLC states for long-term operation. Brendat helps you take full advantage of this cost structure from day one.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our Missouri registered agent address on all your formation documents.

Anniversary Month Reminders

Missouri's annual report is due in your LLC's anniversary month — not a fixed date. We track your specific month and send reminders so you never miss it, even though it's free to file.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required to form a Missouri LLC. Brendat assists international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN via IRS Form SS-4.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Missouri LLC Customers Say

David K.

Tech LLC, Kansas City MO

"$50 to form and $0 every year — Missouri is incredible value. Brendat also handled the required operating agreement which I didn't even know was mandatory. Seamless experience!"

Angela R.

Consulting LLC, St. Louis MO

"Brendat set up my St. Louis consulting LLC perfectly — Articles of Organization, operating agreement, and EIN all done professionally. The anniversary month reminder system is great!"

James W.

Retail LLC, Springfield MO

"Fast, accurate, and affordable. My Springfield retail LLC was approved in 4 days. Brendat explained that Missouri requires an operating agreement — glad they caught that for me!"

Common questions

Missouri LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Missouri.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

Does Missouri require an LLC operating agreement?

Yes. Missouri is one of only six states in the US that legally requires every LLC to have a written operating agreement. This is a legal obligation under Missouri LLC law. Brendat's Standard and Premium packages include a compliant Missouri operating agreement prepared as part of your formation.

What is Missouri's LLC annual report fee?

Missouri's LLC annual report fee is $0 — completely free. You must still file the annual report in your LLC's anniversary month each year via the Missouri Secretary of State portal to maintain good standing. Missing it risks administrative dissolution even though there's no fee. Brendat tracks your anniversary month and sends reminders.

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Missouri?

The Missouri state filing fee is $50. Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard). Total first-year cost with Standard is $199 — including the required operating agreement. After that, the annual report is $0 every year, making Missouri one of the lowest total-cost LLC states in the country.

What is Missouri's income tax rate for LLCs?

Missouri recently simplified its income tax to a flat 4.8% rate. For single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income flows to members' personal returns at this flat 4.8% rate. Missouri's simplified flat structure makes state tax planning straightforward for LLC owners.

Does Missouri require newspaper publication for LLCs?

No. Missouri does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the Missouri Secretary of State, your LLC is fully formed with no additional steps.

Can a non-US resident form a Missouri LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a Missouri LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Missouri address (Brendat provides this) and must apply for an EIN by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with the complete process.

Ready to Start Your Missouri LLC?

$50 to form, $0 annual report forever, operating agreement included, 4.8% flat income tax. Brendat handles everything, Articles of Organization, operating agreement, EIN, and registered agent.

Form My Missouri LLC

$149 + $50 $149 + $50 MO fee · Operating agreement included · $0/yr forever