How Much Does an LLC Cost in Missouri?  

LLC costs in Missouri

If you’re considering establishing a Missouri LLC but you’re worried that it might be difficult or cost alot, you’re certainly not alone. Quite a few people don’t start up companies even if they would like to, primarily because of the work involved and the initial costs. They might also not know where they should start, so they focus on something else instead. While that’s perfectly understandable you should also know that it doesn’t have to be like that.

Fortunately, you can get good information and plenty of support when you really want to make your LLC creation dreams come true. One of the ways you can do that is through an LLC formation service. That will take a lot of potential pressure off of you and make it easier to form your Missouri LLC faster and with far less potential hassle. How much you’ll have to pay to form your LLC varies a lot by state, so where you live makes a difference.

Here, we’ll take a look at the costs of forming an LLC in Missouri, so you can be prepared before you get started on the formal creation of your new business venture.

General steps and costs when forming a Missouri LLC

Before you head down the road of creating your Missouri LLC, you need to ensure you’re clear on what steps to take and the cost for each one of those steps. You don’t want to get partway through the creation of your LLC and realize that costs are going to delay your plans. The more you know about it beforehand the more easily you can move from one step to the next one and keep your finances in order. That adds to your peace of mind, making the development of your Missouri LLC a more exciting and enjoyable time.

Naming your Missouri LLC

The good news for forming a Missouri LLC is that the name search is free. That means you don’t have to pay anything to find out if someone in the state of Missouri is already using the name you want for your new business. However, there are two naming areas where you might incur some costs. These are reserving a business name, which costs $25.00, and filing a DBA (doing business as) if you choose to use one, which has a cost of $7.00.

Filing articles of organization

There are two ways to file your Articles of Organization in Missouri, and they have different costs. This is presumably due to the way they’re processed. If you file online you can start as low as $50. However, if you want to file your Articles of Organization by mail you’ll need to pay $105 instead. You’ll also need to pay $10 if you file a statement of information, such as changing your business address. There may also be additional filing fees for items such as a Certificate of Good Standing, which costs $10.

Appointing a registered agent

Appointing a registered agent doesn’t have a cost if you’re doing it yourself, because you can make that appointment free of charge. If you use a registered agent service like ours though, it’s $199 yearly and can be up to $400. For many people who are unfamiliar with how to operate an LLC and are just starting one up, the cost is well worth it to reduce worry and make everything more convenient.

Creating an operating agreement

It’s completely optional to create an Operating Agreement for your LLC. You don’t have to, and you won’t be in any legal trouble if you don’t. Still, it’s recommended that you create one to increase your LLC’s protection and the protection of its members for the future. The cost can range from $0 to $1,000, depending on whether you decide to do it yourself, use our operating agreement service, or hire an attorney to create the agreement for you.

Other Annual and Additional Missouri LLC Costs

Franchise tax

Missouri is one of the states that has a franchise tax. This is a tax imposed on corporations and companies that are legally established and allowed to operate as entities within the state. Your LLC will need to file an Annual Registration Report by April 15th of every year while in operation. The filing fee for that report is $45.

The amount of the tax itself will vary, as it’s based on your assets or issued stock. If your business’ assets are less than $1 million you won’t actually need to pay any tax, but you will still have to file. Failure to file can come with penalties, even if you technically didn’t own any franchise tax, and you don’t want to get on the wrong side of the law with your business’ tax liabilities.

Business licenses & permits

Most businesses operating within the state of Missouri need a license or permit. Sometimes, they need more than one. The kind of business you have will affect what’s required. Even though there’s no statewide, general license to operate, the majority of cities and towns have regulations. That’s particularly significant if you’re operating your business out of your home, as you can be subject to additional scrutiny.

Some of the more common business licenses and permits for an LLC in Missouri include:

What expenses you can write off

The good news about LLC formation costs in Missouri is that you can write a lot of them off on your federal taxes. That’s a great way to get back a little of what you’ve financially invested in your LLC, and that allows you to feel more confident about moving forward with a business that might not make any money right away. Most businesses lose money in their first year or two, so getting something back can really. The main deductible costs include:

Missouri LLC Costs – Summary

LLC Filing Fee (Articles of Organization)

$50 – $105

Statement of Information

$10

Business License or Permit

varies by city/municipality (generally $25 – $300)

Registered Agent (Optional)

$199 – $400

Reserving a Business Name (Optional)

$25.00

Filing a DBA (Optional)

$7.00

Operating Agreement (Optional)

$0 – $1000

Franchise Tax

$45 for Annual Report + a percentage if assets over $1 million

Conclusion

Setting up an LLC in Missouri. doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful Having help, though, makes it even easier to do. When you use or LLC creation service you take all the guesswork out of the creation of your business, so you can focus on growing it for the future. Missouri is a relatively business-friendly state to set up and operate your LLC, and it has low fees and reasonable requirements for you to follow. You can get started today, and being making your dreams of owning your own business come true.

FAQs

1Why Missouri for LLC formation?

One of the benefits of choosing Missouri for your LLC formation is that the state has generally low costs for businesses that want to operate within it. You won't have a lot of unexpected expenses or difficult paperwork to deal with, and that can make it easier for you to develop and grow your business over time. That's good news for people who want to see success and may need a lower barrier to entry to get their LLC dreams off the ground.

2Why choose an LLC formation service?

Working with an LLC formation service has some big benefits, with the largest ones being convenience and peace of mind. Sure, you can handle the formation of your LLC yourself, but when you have questions or you're not sure about something, it's not always easy to get quick answers from governmental agencies. You don't want to make a mistake and miss something important, which could lead to costly problems and even put you at risk of legal issues.

3Do you need a registered agent?

If you have an LLC you need a registered agent. This is someone who lives in the state and is appointed to receive legal and other official correspondence on behalf of the LLC. That could be you, a business partner, an attorney, or someone else you've appointed who agrees to serve in that capacity. While you may not want to choose anyone other than yourself, you need someone who's fully available during normal business hours, with a legal address in the state.

4Can you live somewhere else?

Technically, you don't have to live in Missouri to have an LLC there. You can operate with a registered agent in that state, and foreign entities can have LLCs in Missouri, too. It's a little more complicated when you don't live in the state where your LLC is formed and managed, though, so you would definitely want to work with a formation service to help you through the process. That's important for legality and also for increased peace of mind.

5Is an EIN required?

You should get an EIN (employer identification number) from the IRS for your LLC. You'll need it to open a business bank account, and it's much easier to operate when you have it. You'll also feel more protected financially and be able to keep your accounts separate from what your LLC has, which can reduce your risk if something goes wrong with your business. Extra security is a good thing, and an EIN is free.