Missouri Articles of Organization: Cost & Filing (2026)

Q: How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Missouri?

The Missouri Secretary of State charges $50 to file Articles of Organization online and $105 to file the paper form (Form LLC-1). Online filing is both cheaper and faster. There is no separate annual report fee for a Missouri LLC.

Q: Does a Missouri LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Under RSMo Chapter 347, every Missouri LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Missouri. The agent can be an individual Missouri resident or an authorized business entity with a Missouri street address, and is named on the Articles of Organization.

Q: Does Missouri require an LLC annual report?

No. Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report or annual registration. That is unusual among the states and saves an annual fee, but you must still keep a registered agent, file taxes, and update the state if your agent or address changes.

Q: How long does Missouri LLC approval take?

Online Articles of Organization filed through the Secretary of State's business portal are typically processed quickly, often the same day or within a few business days. Paper filings by mail take longer. Processing times vary with volume.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You form a Missouri LLC by filing Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Missouri Secretary of State. The fee is $50 to file online and $105 by paper. You must name a Missouri registered agent, and - unlike most states - a Missouri LLC files no annual report. A federal EIN from the IRS is free.

Quick Answer

Form: Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1)
Filing fee: $50 online / $105 paper (2026), to the Secretary of State
Agency: Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Registered agent: Required - Missouri resident or authorized entity
Annual report: None required for Missouri LLCs
EIN: Free from the IRS

Missouri Agency and Form: Secretary of State, Form LLC-1

A Missouri LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The form is designated Form LLC-1. Filing this document - and the Secretary of State's acceptance of it - is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence under the Missouri Limited Liability Company Act (RSMo Chapter 347). Note that the Secretary of State's official fee schedule lists this filing under "Certificates of Limited Liability Company," but the form you complete is titled Articles of Organization; they are the same filing. This guide covers the Missouri process; for the national overview, see how to form an LLC and Articles of Organization.

What the Articles of Organization Must Include

Under RSMo § 347.039, the Missouri Articles of Organization must state:

The name of the LLC, which must contain "Limited Liability Company," "LC," "L.C.," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable from names already on file.
The purpose for which the LLC is organized.
The name and Missouri street address of the registered agent and the registered office.
Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed.
The events, if any, on which the LLC will dissolve (many LLCs choose perpetual duration).
The name and address of each organizer.

Missouri also allows a single-member LLC and permits a series LLC. The Articles of Organization are public and are separate from the internal operating agreement, which Missouri does not require you to file but strongly rewards you for having.

The management election on the form matters more than it looks. In a member-managed LLC every member has authority to act for the company; in a manager-managed LLC only the named managers do, and members become more like passive investors. That choice shapes who can sign contracts and bind the LLC, so decide it deliberately rather than checking a box at random. The duration field lets you choose a perpetual existence, which is what most LLCs want, or tie the company's life to a specific event or date. Because the Articles of Organization are a permanent public record, keep the contents accurate and file an amendment (Form LLC-12, $25) if the name, management structure, or registered agent later changes.

How to File the Missouri Articles of Organization

Filing Form LLC-1 is a short, well-defined process:

Choose and check your name. Confirm the name includes an LLC designator and is distinguishable from existing entities using the Secretary of State business search. You may reserve a name for $25 if you are not ready to file.
Appoint a registered agent. Name a Missouri registered agent with a physical Missouri street address who consents to serve.
File Form LLC-1. Submit the Articles of Organization online for $50 or by paper/mail for $105 to the Secretary of State.
Adopt an operating agreement. Missouri does not file it, but the state's LLC act expressly contemplates one governing the members' rights and duties.
Get an EIN and register for taxes. Apply for a free EIN and register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for any sales/use tax or employer withholding you owe.

Because online filing is both cheaper and faster, most new Missouri LLCs file the Articles of Organization through the Secretary of State's online business portal. For the complete state walk-through, see how to form an LLC in Missouri.

Missouri LLC Filing Fees (2026)

The core cost is the Articles of Organization fee, which depends on how you file. The table lists the state fees most new LLCs encounter, verified against the Missouri Secretary of State fee schedule. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are set by the state.

Item	Form	Fee (2026)	Agency
Articles of Organization - online	Form LLC-1 (online)	$50	Secretary of State
Articles of Organization - paper	Form LLC-1 (paper)	$105	Secretary of State
Name reservation (60 days)	Reservation of Name	$25	Secretary of State
Amendment of Articles	Form LLC-12	$25	Secretary of State
Change of registered agent / office	Change form	$10	Secretary of State
Annual report	Not required for LLCs	$0	-
Federal EIN	IRS Form SS-4	$0 (free)	IRS

For the full running cost of a Missouri company over time, see how much a Missouri LLC costs. If you searched for a "certificate of formation," Missouri does not use that term - see Missouri certificate of formation for why.

Missouri Registered Agent Requirement

A Missouri registered agent is the person or entity your LLC designates to receive service of process, tax notices, and official correspondence. RSMo § 347.030 requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Missouri. You name the initial agent directly on the Articles of Organization. The agent must be either an individual who is a Missouri resident, or a domestic or foreign entity authorized to do business in Missouri, and must have a physical Missouri street address - a post office box alone is not enough. You may act as your own agent, name a member, or hire a commercial registered agent. To change agents later, file the change form with the Secretary of State for a $10 fee. Failing to maintain a registered agent can lead the state to administratively act against the LLC, so keep the agent current. See Missouri registered agent and the national registered agent overview.

No Annual Report: A Missouri Advantage

Unlike most states, Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report or pay an annual registration fee to the Secretary of State. Missouri corporations must file an annual registration report, but LLCs are exempt. This lowers ongoing paperwork and cost, but it does not mean a Missouri LLC has no obligations. You must still maintain a registered agent, file federal and Missouri tax returns, and notify the Secretary of State of changes such as a new registered agent or a name change. For details on what Missouri does and does not require each year, see Missouri annual report.

EIN, Taxes, and Licenses After Formation

A federal EIN is issued free by the IRS and is used to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment. Missouri has a state income tax that flows through to members, and if your LLC sells taxable goods or provides taxable services you must register for sales and use tax with the Missouri Department of Revenue before making sales. Missouri has no general statewide business license, but many cities and regulated professions require their own licenses, so check local rules and see business licenses and business tax. When it is time to close, file to wind up and terminate the LLC - see how to dissolve an LLC in Missouri, which in Missouri is a two-step filing (a notice of winding up, then articles of termination, each $25).

Opening a business bank account is usually the next practical step after formation. Banks typically ask for the stamped Articles of Organization, your EIN confirmation letter, and, for a multi-member LLC, the operating agreement showing who is authorized to act. Because Missouri does not mail annual reminders to LLCs, build your own calendar for federal and state tax deadlines and for any local license renewals, since there is no yearly state filing to prompt you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Missouri?

$50 to file online and $105 by paper (Form LLC-1), paid to the Missouri Secretary of State. There is no annual report fee for LLCs. See Missouri LLC cost.

What form creates a Missouri LLC?

Form LLC-1, the Articles of Organization, filed with the Missouri Secretary of State's Corporations Division under RSMo Chapter 347.

Does a Missouri LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Every Missouri LLC must maintain a registered agent and registered office in Missouri. The agent is named on the Articles of Organization.

Does Missouri require an LLC annual report?

No. Missouri LLCs file no annual report or annual registration, though corporations do. You still keep a registered agent and file taxes.

How long does Missouri LLC approval take?

Online filings are usually processed quickly, often the same day or within a few business days; paper filings take longer. Times vary with volume.

Sources

Missouri Secretary of State - Business Fees & Forms (Form LLC-1 Articles of Organization; related LLC forms).
Missouri Secretary of State - Schedule of Fees and Charges (PDF) (LLC certificate/articles: $105 paper, $50 online; fictitious name $7; name reservation $25).
Missouri Secretary of State - Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1 (PDF) (required contents; $105 paper fee stated on form).
Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division General Information (filing methods and processing).
Missouri Secretary of State - Business Filing Resources (online business filing portal).
Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 347.020 (LLC name requirements).
Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 347.030 (registered agent and registered office).
Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 347.039 (Articles of Organization; formation).
Missouri Revisor of Statutes - RSMo § 347.037 (effect of filing; existence of the LLC).
Missouri Department of Revenue - Business Tax Registration (sales/use tax and employer withholding).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Missouri Secretary of State and Missouri Department of Revenue before acting.