Session 1 · Missouri
How to Start an LLC in Missouri (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Key facts
Lesson goals
- Where to file in Missouri and what the fee is
- Who can serve as your registered agent
- The yearly upkeep
- The services we recommend
Who we would hire in Missouri
1. Mainstay Filing: best for first-time founders
We would start a new founder with Mainstay Filing: a single $199 price pays for the filing and the registered agent, with the EIN application thrown in.
Over three years it costs $200 more than MO Registered Agent.org, but the grade rewards the extra steps it takes care of.
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for twelve months
- The EIN application
- No markup on the state fee
Marks in its favor
- The EIN step is in the price
- $199 a year pays for filing and agent
- Renewal stays at $199
Where it loses points
- MO Registered Agent.org renews for $100 less
- Missouri has no report for it to file
2. MO Registered Agent.org: best for a budget formation
For number 2 we picked MO Registered Agent.org: it forms the Missouri LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
What the price covers
- Your Missouri formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $99 a year after that
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
Where it loses points
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. Missouri Registered Agent.co: best for LLCs that stay in Missouri
For number 3 we picked Missouri Registered Agent.co: it forms the Missouri LLC for $199 and covers the agent for year one, after which the agent renews at $99.
Its prices equal MO Registered Agent.org's, so either is a sound choice.
What the price covers
- Your Missouri formation is prepared and filed
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- $199 plus the state fee
- $99 a year after that
Where it loses points
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
Our Missouri picks side by side
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | MO Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit MO Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Missouri Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Missouri Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
Starting an LLC in Missouri, one step at a time
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Step
1Settle on a name
Your first task is a name search in the records kept by the Missouri Secretary of State, because a taken name in Missouri can get your filing returned.
Jot down two backup names before you search.
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Step
2Choose a registered agent
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Missouri resident, or a corporation authorized in Missouri, whose business office is the registered office.
The address has to be a physical street address in Missouri. A P.O. box can be listed only together with a street address.
Every pick on our list includes a registered agent.
Where this comes from: Class notes: revisor.mo.gov (October 2026)
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Step
3Decide: do it yourself or hire help
Either way the state keeps $50. A filing service adds $199, and our grades show which one is worth it.
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Step
4Prepare and file the Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) is what you prepare for the Missouri Secretary of State, and the filing fee that goes with it is $50.
Where this comes from: Class notes: sos.mo.gov (October 2026)
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Step
5Get your EIN from the IRS
Wait for the state to approve the LLC, then request the EIN from the IRS. The EIN application is one of the things Mainstay Filing does for you.
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Step
6Draft the operating agreement
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
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Step
7Put the yearly deadlines on your calendar
The state does not require a yearly report from Missouri LLCs. Just make sure the registered agent stays on record.
What you will pay
| What | Who you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | State office | $50 |
| Help from a service | The provider | $199 for year one |
| State total over three years | State office | $50 |
Why this order
Homework the price handles carries 33% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in Missouri.
A close call that steps handled settled.
Test yourself on Missouri
How much does Missouri charge to form an LLC?
Filing costs $50. A service from our graded list adds $199 in year one.
Which form creates the LLC?
It is the Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1), and you hand it to the Missouri Secretary of State.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Missouri require each year?
Missouri has no recurring LLC report.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Nothing stops you from doing it yourself: the state wants $50, and you must also name a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Mainstay Filing first, then MO Registered Agent.org and Missouri Registered Agent.co; Mainstay Filing leads on homework the price handles.
Class references
- Source for RSMo 347.037: revisor.mo.gov, confirmed in August 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for Missouri formation fee: Filing fee, official source: sos.mo.gov, confirmed in October 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- Source for Missouri registered agent statute: revisor.mo.gov, confirmed in October 2026, and the reason our figures match the official ones.
- November 13, 2026: the Missouri service page for Mainstay Filing
- November 13, 2026: the pricing page for MO Registered Agent.org
- November 13, 2026: the pricing page for Missouri Registered Agent.co