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Missouri's register of corporations, LLCs, partnerships and fictitious names sits with the Secretary of State's Corporations Division. The free lookup is Business Entity Search in the Business Services online portal. You can search it without logging in. The search runs by business name, registered agent or charter number, and there is a name availability option too.
Using the four tabs of the Missouri LLC and corporation search
Pick one of four tabs: Business Name, Registered Agent, Name Availability or Charter No. A name search then offers five match types:
- Includes names
- Starting With
- All Words
- Any Word
- Exact Match
You can also tick Only Active Corporations to limit the results. The Secretary of State's tip on punctuation is specific. Exact Match searches should include the corporate designation (Inc., LLC and so on) and the punctuation. For every other match type, leave them out.
The charter number is the most precise key, and you need it to file a registration report online. The registered agent tab helps when you know who receives legal papers but not the company name. Our registered agent lookup guide explains what that tells you and what it does not.
What a Missouri entity page shows
When you select a result, you can view the entity's general information, its contacts and its filings. You can also order copies or certificates from the same page. Images of filed documents can be viewed online: open the entity and choose Filings next to the General Information tab. LLC articles list each organizer, so the filed images are one way to see who formed a company. Our business owner lookup guide covers other ways to find the people behind a company.
Missouri uses administrative dissolution for corporations. The Secretary of State can dissolve one for failing to file an annual report, failing to pay franchise taxes, failing to keep a registered agent or office, or for fraud upon the state. Written notice by mail comes first, and the corporation then has 60 days to fix or explain the problem. Other entity types can have their registration cancelled for failing to keep an agent. See our business entity status guide.
Naming a Missouri LLC or corporation
The LLC Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) require one of these endings: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LC, L.C., L.L.C. or LLC. A for-profit corporation's name must contain corporation, company, incorporated or limited, or end with one of their abbreviations. Every new name must be distinguishable from any other foreign or domestic entity registered in Missouri.
You can check a name by phone, but phone searches are only preliminary and do not guarantee the name. The Name Availability tab in Business Entity Search is the self-service route. Our guide on checking LLC name availability has tips on testing variants.
A reservation costs $25, or $30 for a limited liability partnership. It holds the name for 60 days and can be renewed twice for 60 days each, up to 180 days in total. After the third period runs out, the same party can never reserve that name again. A voluntarily dissolved corporation's name cannot be taken by another entity until one year after dissolution.
Fees and upkeep for Missouri companies
Missouri LLCs have little upkeep with the state. The Secretary of State's FAQ says LLCs do not file an annual report. Forming one costs $50 online or $105 on paper. The paper Certificate of LLC for a foreign LLC is also $105. All fees include a $5 technology fee.
Corporations carry more upkeep. The minimum incorporation fee is $58, which covers $30,000 or less of authorized shares. Above that, the base fee rises by $5 for each extra $10,000 of shares. A foreign corporation pays $155 for a certificate of authority. Every corporation files an annual registration report. Filing online saves $25 per report for a for-profit corporation. Late reports cost an extra $15 for each 30-day period. To reinstate after dissolution, you need a Certificate of Tax Clearance from the Department of Revenue, and it is only valid for 60 days.
Proof of status is a Certificate of Good Standing for $10, ordered online any time on the General Services page. Online certificates carry a verification number so anyone can confirm they are genuine. Our certificate of good standing guide compares other states. For a $55 fee, the office will also preclear documents before you file them.
Missouri bulk data
For more than a few records, you run individual searches or order copies through the portal. Fees above come from the Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Starting a company here? Read our guide on how to start an LLC in Missouri, the Missouri registered agent rules and a Missouri operating agreement guide.
DBA and assumed names in Missouri
Missouri calls a DBA a fictitious name, and you register it with the Secretary of State, not a county office. The fee is $7 to create, renew, correct or amend one. Cancelling has no fee. The Secretary of State accepts the filing online through the Business Services portal.
The rule is simple. Anyone doing business under a name other than their true name must register it. The Secretary of State gives the example of a person trading as a lemonade stand, and a corporation that sells under a shorter brand name. Both file.
A registration is a record, not ownership of the name. The Secretary of State says it gives no exclusive rights, and there is no limit to how many businesses can register the same fictitious name. An LLC name works differently: it must be distinguishable from any entity registered in Missouri. Read DBA vs LLC before you choose.
We did not check whether any county recorder also takes filings, so we do not describe a county step. To find a fictitious name, run the search above and see our DBA search guide. The general filing steps are in how to file a DBA. If you want a Missouri LLC first, start with the Missouri LLC guide. Licenses are a separate topic: see the Missouri business license page.
Also see our guides to the Missouri business license.