How to Form an LLC
1. Find a Business Name
- Business Search: bsd.sos.mo.gov
Use the Missouri Business Entity Search Engine to verify whether your desired LLC name is available. If it is not being used by another LLC, it will say “No records to display.”
Under state law, your business name must end with the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” or either abbreviation without periods.[1]
2. Select a Registered Agent
A business entity in Missouri is required to select and maintain a registered agent. The agent may be either an individual who is a resident of this state or a corporation authorized to transact business in this state.[2]
3. Register the LLC
There are two ways to apply for the registration of your LLC: online or by mail.
Option 1: File Online
Go to bsd.sos.mo.gov to access the state’s Business Registration Online Portal.
Click the indicated link to create an online account. You will be prompted to create a username, password, and two security questions. Then, provide your name, address, phone number, and email address.
After verifying your email address, sign into your new account and select “Create LLC” on the dashboard to begin the process.
Enter your LLC name and a name reservation number, if any.
Complete the required fields by providing your LLC’s structural information.
Indicate whether your registered agent is an individual or an organization, then search for them by entering their name. Select your agent from the search results.
Enter the name and address of the person who will be signing the articles of organization. If there is more than one organizer, be sure to add all of them.
Provide your business’s primary address.
After reviewing the application thoroughly, provide the name and title of the person who will be signing this document. Add as many as needed. Then, you may pay the filing fee of $50 electronically.
Option 2: File By Mail
Complete the appropriate form and send the document to the provided address with an enclosed payment.
Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company – For in-state entities
Filing fee: $105 check or money order made payable to the Missouri Secretary of State
Mailing address: Corporations Division
PO Box 778 / 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Application of Registration for a Foreign Limited Liability Company – For out-of-state entities
Filing fee: $105 check or money order made payable to the Missouri Secretary of State
Mailing address: Corporations Division
PO Box 778 / 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322
Jefferson City, MO 65102
4. Obtain an EIN
- Apply Online: www.irs.gov
- Apply by Fax/Mail: Form SS-4
Every LLC must apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS in order to begin operating.
5. Write an Operating Agreement
In Missouri, limited liability companies are legally required to adopt an operating agreement.
Download: PDF, MS Word, OpenDocument
6. Choose a Tax Classification
Below are the most common types of LLC tax classification:
- LLC – As an LLC, a sole proprietorship or partnership is considered a “pass-through entity,” which means all profits are taxed as income for the members/owners.
- S-Corporation – All business profits and losses are sent to the shareholders, who must pay income tax. To file as an S-corp, an LLC must file IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation.
- C-Corporation – All business profits and losses are filed as a separate corporate entity. To file as a C-corp, an LLC must file IRS Form 8832 within 75 days of formation.
7. File Annual Renewal
In Missouri, limited liability companies must file a registration report every year or every two years, with certain requirements. It may be filed online or by mail.[3]