Every LLC in Missouri must designate someone to serve as its registered agent. The initial designation occurs when you apply to the state to set up an LLC, corporation, or other business entity. The registered agent serves an important purpose. They have a constant presence in the state where they may receive important documentation on behalf of the LLC, including:
You, as the business owner, may serve as its registered owner. A registered agent service can offer advantages, though. Perhaps above all else, using a registered agent service like Tailor Brands allows you to focus on building, running, and growing your business. Even if you initially designate yourself as the registered agent, you can change that designation at any time. This article will provide some excellent reasons you should do so.
This section will cover (can be in bullet points) the requirements for a registered agent in Missouri – (above 18 years old, local state address, etc.)
A registered agent in Missouri must meet the following criteria:
You must designate a registered agent and list a registered office in your Articles of Organization when you create a new LLC in Missouri. The downloadable Articles of Organization form, LLC 1, contains a field for the registered agent and registered office. It asks for the following information:
The document states that you may not use a P.O. Box unless you also include a street address for the registered office.
Existing businesses that are expanding into Missouri must designate a registered agent and registered office in form LLC 4, Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company. Like form LLC 1, it asks for the following:
The registered agent does not need to sign either form to indicate their consent to the appointment. The filing fee for either form is $105.00.
If filing the forms by mail, you can send them to the Missouri Secretary of State Corporations Division, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
If filing them in person or by courier, take or send them to the Corporations Division’s office at 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
You can also file these documents and make the registered agent appointments online through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Registration Online Portal by following these steps:
An LLC’s registered agent can resign by filing form LLC 6, Statement of Resignation of Registered Agent of Limited Liability Company. The form asks for:
The LLC can appoint a new registered agent after resignation or replace a current registered agent by filing form Corp. 59, Statement of Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office. This form asks for the following information:
If filing the forms by mail, you can send them to the Missouri Secretary of State Corporations Division, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
If filing them in person or by courier, take or send them to the Corporations Division’s office at 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
You can also file these documents and make the registered agent appointments online through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Business Registration Online Portal by following these steps:
Please be aware that if your registered agent resigns, you must appoint a new registered agent as soon as possible using one of the above methods. Failing to appoint a registered agent could be grounds for involuntary dissolution. This would mean that your LLC would lose the legal right to do business in Missouri.
Yes, you can act as your own registered agent, provided you meet the legal requirements to serve in that capacity, i.e. you must be at least 18 years old with a street address in Missouri. Anyone who meets the legal requirements and agrees to serve as the registered agent may do so. It could be anyone from your LLC, a family member, a friend, or anyone else.
If you are starting a Missouri LLC in Missouri, chances are that you will meet the criteria to be a registered agent. You might have an issue serving as the registered agent if you live in another state and are registering your LLC as a foreign business in Missouri.
Even if you are eligible and qualified to be the registered agent for your LLC, there may be reasons you do not want to. You created an LLC to be a business owner, not necessarily to serve as the point of contact for the state government and process servers. Having someone else be your LLC’s registered agent allows you to focus your attention on the reasons you started the LLC in the first place.
Designating a registered agent service for your LLC can have significant benefits. Someone else will manage deadlines and paperwork for you. You can operate an out-of-state business in Missouri without needing your own street address in the state. You can maintain a consistent address for official correspondence even if your business has to move locations.
The following are only a few of the potential benefits of using a registered agent service for your Missouri LLC:
You probably didn’t start an LLC so you could be the state’s point of contact for official correspondence. Whatever your reason for becoming a business owner, a registered agent service can take administrative pressure off of you. You can focus on running your business while the registered agent service receives official correspondence, logs it, and keeps it in a secure location.
A registered agent service can keep you up-to-date on the state’s filing requirements. This can be invaluable, considering that those requirements can sometimes change with little warning. They will send you updates and reminders so you won’t miss critical filing deadlines. They can also keep backups of critically important documents so you’ll never have to worry about losing them.
Registered agents must be reasonably available during regular business hours in case process servers and others need to find them. With a registered agent service, someone else will be available for you. You can maintain business hours that fit your particular business needs, work from wherever is convenient for you, and go on vacation without worrying about missing anything important.
A registered service takes paperwork off your plate by receiving correspondence and managing filings for you. They can sift through the mail that comes to your registered address, identifying the important official documents and sifting out the junk mail.
You can serve as the registered agent for your Missouri LLC, but before you decide to do so, consider the benefits of a registered agent service like Tailor Brands. Serving as a registered agent means keeping track of various requirements under state law. Failing to stay on top of those requirements can lead to late fees and other penalties. You almost certainly did not start an LLC so you could spend time focusing on Missouri business regulations. Let us handle those details so you can get to work on your business.
An LLC must appoint a new registered agent as soon as possible after the previous registered agent resigns. Resignation becomes effective on the earlier of:
After thirty days, the LLC will be without a registered agent. The Secretary of State may eventually subject them to administrative dissolution, terminating their authority to operate in Missouri.
No, the new registered agent must consent in writing to the appointment.
This portion of our website is for informational or educational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and the information on this website does not constitute legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos on this page.
Products
Resources
©2025 Copyright Tailor Brands
