How Much Does a Missouri LLC Cost? Fees for 2026
A Missouri LLC costs $50 to file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) online, or $105 by paper, with the Missouri Secretary of State. That is the only mandatory state cost to form the LLC. Missouri LLCs pay no annual report fee. Optional costs include a $25 name reservation, a $7 fictitious name (DBA), and a $10 registered agent change.
Quick Answer
- Formation fee
- $50 online / $105 paper (Form LLC-1, 2026)
- Annual report
- $0 - none required for LLCs
- Name reservation
- $25 (optional)
- Fictitious name (DBA)
- $7 (optional)
- Registered agent change
- $10
- Agency
- Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division
The One Cost You Cannot Avoid: The Filing Fee
The single mandatory cost to create a Missouri LLC is the fee for Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), filed with the Missouri Secretary of State. The Secretary of State's Schedule of Fees and Charges sets the Chapter 347 LLC fee at $50 for online filing and $105 for paper filing. The Form LLC-1 cover page itself states the $105 paper filing fee. Filing electronically through the Business Services portal is both cheaper and faster, which is why most founders file online. For the step-by-step process behind this fee, see how to form an LLC in Missouri.
That $50–$105 charge is the entire state cost to bring the LLC into existence. There is no separate certificate fee, no publication requirement, and - importantly - no annual report or franchise-tax-style renewal fee for Missouri LLCs. Everything else below is optional or situational.
Missouri LLC Cost Table (2026)
The table lists the Secretary of State fees a Missouri LLC may encounter, each verified against the official Schedule of Fees and Charges (Chapter 347 and general fees). Amounts are set by the state and are effective for 2026.
| Item | When it applies | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization - online (Form LLC-1) | Required to form | $50 |
| Articles of Organization - paper (Form LLC-1) | Required to form (paper) | $105 |
| Reservation of name | Optional, before filing | $25 |
| Fictitious name (DBA) registration | Optional, if using a trade name | $7 |
| Change of registered agent / office | When you switch agents | $10 |
| Amendment to Articles of Organization | To change the record | $25 |
| Certificate of good standing | Optional (banks, loans) | $10 |
| Notice of Winding Up | To begin dissolution | $25 |
| Articles of Termination | To finish dissolution | $25 |
| Annual report | Not required for LLCs | $0 |
Why There Is No Annual Report Fee in Missouri
Missouri is one of the more affordable states to keep an LLC because it does not charge an annual report or annual registration fee for limited liability companies. The Secretary of State's fee schedule imposes an annual registration report fee on corporations (Chapter 351) - $20 online, with a higher paper fee based on authorized shares - and on nonprofit corporations, but the Chapter 347 LLC section lists no such recurring filing. In practice, this means once your LLC is formed, you owe the Secretary of State nothing on a yearly basis simply to stay in existence.
The recurring costs that do exist are tax-driven and are covered in Missouri LLC taxes and filing. Do not confuse "no annual report" with "no ongoing obligations" - you still keep a registered agent on file and file federal and state tax returns.
Registered Agent Cost
Every Missouri LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Missouri street address under section 347.030 RSMo. You can serve as your own registered agent for $0 if you have a qualifying address and are available during business hours. Alternatively, you can hire a commercial registered agent service, which charges a recurring annual fee set by the provider (LegalGlass does not endorse or sell any service).
The only Secretary of State charge tied to the agent is the $10 fee to file a change of registered agent or registered office. Budget for this if you expect to move or switch providers. For the underlying rules, see the national registered agent overview.
Optional and Situational Costs
Several costs are optional and depend on how you run the business:
- Name reservation - $25. If you want to lock in a name before filing, you can reserve it with the Secretary of State.
- Fictitious name (DBA) - $7. Register a trade name that differs from your LLC's legal name. See what is a DBA.
- Certificate of good standing - $10. Often requested by banks or lenders.
- Federal EIN - $0. The IRS issues an EIN free of charge; you never need to pay for one.
- Operating agreement - $0 to draft yourself. Missouri does not file it, and section 347.081 RSMo says the members "shall adopt" one. Legal drafting fees, if you hire a lawyer, vary.
Missouri also runs a Startup for Soldiers program that waives the Secretary of State filing fee for new businesses created by active duty military members and the Missouri National Guard.
Ongoing Tax Costs
Taxes, not state filing fees, are the main ongoing cost of a Missouri LLC. By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership, so profits pass through to the members' individual returns. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you must register with the Missouri Department of Revenue and collect the state sales and use tax of 4.225% plus applicable local rates. A Missouri retail sales tax account generally requires a bond, which is a real up-front cost.
If your LLC elects to be taxed as a corporation, Missouri's corporate income tax rate is 4% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. Many owners instead consider an S-corporation election to manage self-employment tax. Register for the taxes you owe through the Department of Revenue using Form 2643.
How Missouri Compares
Missouri's formation fee sits in the low-to-middle range nationally, and its lack of an annual report fee makes the long-run cost of maintaining an LLC low. States such as Texas charge a higher $300 formation fee but likewise have no flat annual report fee, while others impose recurring annual fees or franchise taxes. For a national baseline and a state-by-state view, see how much an LLC costs.
When you total realistic first-year costs for a simple Missouri LLC filing online, the state charge can be as little as the $50 filing fee if you act as your own registered agent and draft your own operating agreement - one of the leaner setups in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Missouri?
$50 to file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) online, or $105 by paper, with the Missouri Secretary of State. That is the only mandatory state formation cost, and there is no annual report fee.
Does a Missouri LLC have an annual fee?
No. Missouri LLCs have no annual report or annual registration fee, unlike Missouri corporations. Recurring costs come from taxes, an optional registered agent service, and local licenses.
Why is online filing cheaper than paper in Missouri?
The Secretary of State sets the Chapter 347 LLC Articles of Organization fee at $50 online and $105 on paper. Filing through the Business Services portal is both cheaper and faster.
How much is a registered agent in Missouri?
You can be your own agent for free with a physical Missouri address. Commercial services charge an annual fee they set. Changing your agent later costs $10 with the Secretary of State.
What taxes does a Missouri LLC pay?
Profits pass through to the members by default. Sales of taxable goods carry the 4.225% state sales and use tax plus local rates, and an LLC taxed as a corporation pays 4% corporate income tax.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Missouri
- Missouri registered agent requirements
- Missouri LLC taxes and filing
- Business license in Missouri
- How to dissolve an LLC in Missouri
- How much does an LLC cost? (national)
- How to get an EIN
Sources
- Missouri Secretary of State - Schedule of Fees and Charges (PDF) ($50 online / $105 paper LLC; $25 name reservation; $7 fictitious name; $10 registered agent change; $25 amendment; $10 good standing; $25 winding up and termination; corporation annual registration $20 online).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Form LLC-1, Articles of Organization (PDF) ($105 paper filing fee on the form).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Start a Business (online filing of articles of organization).
- Missouri Secretary of State - Business Services online filing and search.
- Missouri Revised Statutes - § 347.030 RSMo, Registered agent and office required.
- Missouri Revised Statutes - § 347.081 RSMo, Operating agreement ("shall adopt").
- Missouri Revised Statutes - § 347.039 RSMo, Articles of organization, contents.
- Missouri Department of Revenue - Sales and Use Tax (4.225% state rate).
- Missouri Department of Revenue - Corporation Income Tax (4% rate for tax years on or after Jan 1, 2020).
- Missouri Department of Revenue - Register a Business (Form 2643 tax registration).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- Legal Information Institute (Cornell) - Limited liability company (LLC).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws and fees change; verify current amounts with the Missouri Secretary of State and Missouri Department of Revenue before acting.