How to Incorporate in Missouri

Just like many other states, Missouri has an array of business incentives and financing options that make it enticing for businesses. Your corporation may be able to take advantage of these incentives, provided it meets qualifying criteria.

For example, the Business Use Incentives for Large-Scale Development (BUILD) helps companies embark on major investment and job creation expansions by providing low-interest loans to qualified borrowers through the issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds for the acquisition, construction, and equipping of qualified manufacturing production facilities and/or equipment.

For many entrepreneurs looking to start a larger business, MO incorporation may be the best choice. As a corporation, your business is able to buy and trade stock, and when it comes to excess profits, corporations offer more flexibility than a limited liability company (LLC). A corporation is allowed to pass income and losses to its shareholders, who report taxes on an individual tax return at ordinary levels.

It all depends on your goals. For smaller businesses, limited liability companies are usually a better option. An LLC is easier to set up and receives many of the same benefits as corporations, but with less regulation.

Learn more about forming a Missouri LLC so you can decide which business entity is right for you.

It offers you numerous advantages including, but not limited to:

It offers several advantages similar to those provided by a C Corp including, but not limited to:

In this guide, you’ll find information on naming your corporation, getting a Registered Agent, the fees you’ll need to pay, business taxes and much more. We also cover what you'll need to register your corporation and how you'll interact with the Secretary of State in Missouri.

Step 1: Choose a Unique Business Name and Complete a State Business Search

Every Missouri business must have a unique name that isn't already claimed by another business in the state. If you can't think of a name, try using our Business Name Generator to gather ideas. You'll need to follow a few naming rules, which you can read about in detail on the Missouri Corporation Names page.

Once you’ve picked a name, you’ll need to make sure it’s available in Missouri. To see whether another company in the state is using your desired business name, use our tool to do a Missouri entity search. Or, you can also carry out a name search on the state's website.

Step 2: Provide an Official Business Address for Your Corporation

All MO corporations must have a designated address. It could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your place of residence), a building where your office is located or any physical address of your choice. The address can be outside the state of Missouri and can be a P.O. Box.

You may also be able to use a virtual mailbox for your business address. Bizee can provide you with a Missouri virtual mailbox where we'll receive your mail, scan it and upload it for your online review. This can be especially helpful if you run a home-based business and don't want your home address published as part of your business public record.

Step 3: Assign a Registered Agent

Someone who receives official correspondence and is responsible for filing reports with the Missouri Secretary of State is known as a Registered Agent. Every Missouri corporation is required to have a Registered Agent.

You can fill this position yourself, assign another manager in your business or use a Registered Agent service. If your Registered Agent in Missouri is a person, they must have a physical street address in Missouri and must be available during business hours to receive important documents on behalf of your company. You'll appoint your Registered Agent when you file your Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State and formally create your corporation.

All of Bizee’s business formation packages include Registered Agent service. It’s free for the first year and just $119 per year after that. You can also access a digital dashboard to view any document we've received on your behalf.

Step 4: File Your Articles of Incorporation With the Missouri Secretary of State

Once you've gathered all the information for your corporation, you’ll need to file your Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. This will officially create your business.

Your Articles of Incorporation can be filed online via the business filing portal via the state's digital portal. It's very simple if you follow the steps provided in a helpful guide. You can also mail the form or deliver it in-person to the Office of the Secretary of State, or Bizee can file it on your behalf. The MO Corporation filing fee begins at $58 and increases depending on the dollar amount of authorized capital.

You only need to file your Certificate of Incorporation in Missouri once, but once a year or every two years after, you'll also need to file an annual or biennial registration report with the Secretary of State in MO, depending on which periodical report you've elected to file. Bizee can remind you about this every year or every two years, or we can do it for you if you have us handle the paperwork.

What are the fees and requirements to incorporate in Iowa?

*Begins at $58 and goes upward from there, depending on the dollar amount of authorized capital.

Annual Report

Step 5: Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service

You'll need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number for filing and paying taxes, submitting payroll information and payments for your employees and opening a business bank account. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or Bizee can get one for you as part of the MO corporation creation process.

Step 6: Write Bylaws

A set of rules that govern how a corporation will be run, bylaws detail how many directors the corporation will have, whether the board of directors will have annual meetings and what the voting requirements will be, among other things.

Some states legally require companies to create bylaws, and the state of Missouri is one of them. You don't need to file your bylaws with the Secretary of State, but keep them with your other business records.

It's always a good idea to write and follow bylaws to protect your business from any future changes and events.

Types of MO Corporations

C Corporation

When you file to start a corporation, by default, it's a C Corp. This is the choice for large businesses that will trade shares in the stock market. A Missouri C Corporation will offer you several liability protections, but it will also be required to adhere to numerous strict rules and regulations. It will also likely have a substantial amount of administrative overhead, and won't enjoy as many tax advantages as other corporation types

Learn more about C Corporations.

S Corporation

Technically, an S Corporation isn't a business entity the way LLCs and C Corporations are. It's a tax filing status. An LLC or a C Corporation can be an S Corporation. It's just a matter of filing a form with the IRS.

The main reason to file as an S Corp is to save money on self-employment taxes. To get an idea of how much money you might save, use our S Corp Tax Calculator.

If you want your Missouri C Corporation to be treated as a Missouri S Corporation, file the IRS Election by a Small Business Corporation form, also known as Form 2553 or an S Corp Election form.

Consult with your tax advisor or accountant to determine whether this is your best option.

Learn more about S Corporations.

Compare S Corp vs. C Corp to learn the benefits and drawbacks of both, and decide which one will best suit your needs.

Professional Corporation

Some states, including Missouri, allow certain occupations to form Professional Corporations. Missouri Revised Statutes, Title 23, Chapter 356, § 356.021 defines a Professional Corporation in Missouri as:

"...a corporation for profit subject to the provisions of sections 356.011 to 356.261"

Check with the Secretary of State to confirm whether your business should and can be a Professional Corporation.

Close Corporation

Put simply, a Close Corporation is one that has a limited number of shareholders, and isn't publicly traded.

Usually, Close Corporations are exempt from corporate requirements, such as having a board of directors and holding annual meetings. Per Missouri Revised Statutes Title 23, Chapter 351, § 351.805, a Missouri Close Corporation can operate without a board of directors.

This entity is often chosen by family-owned businesses to prevent non-family members from establishing or claiming any ownership of the company.

Foreign Corporation

If your business operates in another state and you want to expand into Missouri — or vice versa — you’ll need to form a Foreign Corporation.

Learn more about Missouri Foreign Corporation registration.

Nonprofit Corporation

Charitable organizations can incorporate as nonprofit corporations. This means all the profits they generate are donated to the organization supported by the charity, minus administrative costs.

A nonprofit corporation is also exempt from federal and state taxes, allowing more of the profit to benefit the charity.

Note: Everything in this guide applies to for-profit corporations, and mostly to C Corps and S Corps. Items listed as requirements for forming a corporation may or may not also apply to nonprofits.

Limited Liability Company

Depending on the kind of business you want to start, or your personal circumstances and goals, an LLC may be a better option. For example, you may only want to build a small business that you yourself will run with just a few employees and you may not need the options to buy and sell stock.

A Missouri LLC is generally a better option for smaller businesses. It's easier to set up, but it still offers you certain advantages you'd get from a corporation. You can even have your LLC treated as an S Corporation for tax purposes to save you money.

Regardless of which direction you decide to go, we can help you with your Missouri business registration.

Learn more about limited liability companies.

Sole Proprietorship or Partnership

Because there's no real setup to do, these types of businesses are the simplest to set up. If you don't choose to form a separate business entity, by default, you'll have either a sole proprietorship (just you) or a partnership (you and one or more other people).

Neither of these options provide you with any special benefits or liability protections and can leave your personal assets vulnerable. For these reasons, we don't recommend them.

Compare business entity types to decide which one is best for you.

Helpful Resources from the State of Missouri