ZenBusiness reviews its own products and services and compares them to others in the industry.
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If you’re looking for an excellent Missouri LLC service then choose ZenBusiness. We’ve already formed 700,000+ businesses since 2017!
If you want a socially conscious Missouri LLC service with a service discount, choose ZenBusiness.
Northwest Registered Agent charges $225 (plus state fee) for LLC filing services. That said, Northwest’s personalized customer support is a feature that could make their prices worth paying for some entrepreneurs.
Overall, Northwest does have some points in its favor. However, keep in mind that it charges $225 (plus your state’s required fee) for its LLC filing services.
Want to learn more? See this Northwest LLC review.
LegalZoom is one of the biggest names in the industry, with millions of customers served and frequent advertising efforts. LegalZoom provides an LLC filing package for free (plus the state’s fee).
LegalZoom is a huge company, so while it offers extended support hours, the quality of its customer support may vary a bit from representative to representative.
Want to learn more? See this LegalZoom LLC review.
Incfile/Bizee offers LLC formations for free, as long as you pay your state’s fee. Incfile and ZenBusiness have some similar characteristics, but there are also some significant differences that set the two apart.
If you’re looking for a cheap LLC formation service in Missouri and ZenBusiness doesn’t feel right for some reason, Incfile/Bizee could be worth a closer look.
Want to learn more? See this Incfile/Bizee LLC review.
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*Processing times are based on receiving complete information. ZenBusiness processing times do not include Secretary of State processing times, which can vary.**SPECIAL OFFER – Get Starter for $0 plus state fees. Includes one optional free year of Worry-Free Compliance that renews at $199/yr.† ZenBusiness is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC.
Technically speaking, you don’t have to use an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness or LegalZoom. These services are incredibly helpful, but you can save money by completing the process yourself.
You can read our complete guide to DIY an LLC setup in Missouri, but here’s a quick look at the process:
Every LLC in Missouri needs a name that’s memorable and gives potential clients a good idea of what goods or services are available. The name also needs to be unique — both for legal reasons and so your business stands out from the competition.
As we’ve mentioned in this guide, every LLC needs an agent who can accept service of process on your behalf. In all states, you can act as your own registered agent as long as you have a physical address in the state. That said, we generally recommend that you appoint someone else (like an online service) to act as your agent.
This document, once filled out and filed, officially forms your business in the state of Missouri. You’ll need to provide some important information, including your contact information, your business address, signatures for your LLC’s members, and more. Missouri has a $105 filing fee.
Setting up the LLC is as easy as 1-2-3; it’s the maintenance requirements that are a bit more complicated:
If you have employees, you’ll need to get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. Then there are state-specific taxes, too. Your Missouri income tax burden will depend on how your business is taxed. Individuals pay at a rate between 1.5% and 5.4%. The corporate rate currently sits at 4%. Many businesses will also need to account for the sales tax (4.225%). You can learn more about these and other tax types at the Missouri Department of Revenue.
The Missouri Secretary of State doesn’t administer state-level general business licenses; instead, general licenses are administered by the local county clerks. Contact yours to learn if a license is required in your area. You may also need to obtain professional licenses for you and your employees, such as those administered by the Missouri Division of Professional Licensing.
Even single-member LLCs should create a “master document” that sets out how the business will operate, both now and in the future.
Every business with 5 or more employees needs to maintain workers’ compensation insurance and a commercial vehicle policy for company-owned vehicles. You may also want to get a general business liability policy, too.
You should sign up for a business bank account so you can write checks and make purchases in the name of the business instead of pulling from your personal accounts (a legal no-no).
This is just the tip of the iceberg, though. For more detailed guidance, we recommend contacting an attorney or checking out the full Missouri LLC Formation Guide.
LLCs are formal legal entities that are typically taxed similarly to sole proprietorships and general partnership vs LLC, in that the owners include any company profits or losses into their personal returns — the LLC itself does not owe income taxes. An LLC may also elect to be taxed like a corporation, although this is not a very common option. For more a more in-depth description see: What is an LLC?
In addition to the costs of a business formation service or hiring an attorney (which are optional, as we’ve discussed), there are quite a few other required and optional expenses when forming and maintaining a Missouri business. You cannot form an LLC in Missouri without filing the Articles of Organization, the document that officially registers your LLC within the state. Missouri strongly encourages filing online because that keeps the filing fee at just $55 (mailed-in filings cost $105).
While LLCs in most other states need to file annual or biennial reports (and this requirement applies to Missouri corporations), LLCs in Missouri are exempt from this requirement. Read more about Missouri costs – Missouri LLC costs.
FAQ's
Where Can I Get More Information About Forming LLCs in Missouri?
We invite you to take a look at our comprehensive guide to forming a limited liability company in Missouri. This article walks you through the LLC formation process in this state step by step, ensuring that you don’t miss any crucial elements.
How Can I Search Missouri’s Business Name Database?
One of the most important steps in forming a Missouri LLC is choosing a business name. Once you come up with ideas for your name, you should search through the state’s business entity search tool to make sure your desired name is available. For more information on conducting a business name search in Missouri, check out Missouri business search on the topic.
Where Can I Find the Missouri Articles of Organization?
In Missouri, you can either file your Articles of Organization online through the Secretary of State’s filing system, or you can print off a hard copy that you can fill out and file by mail or in person.
What Are Missouri’s Ongoing LLC Maintenance Requirements?
Most states require LLC owners to file Missouri annual reports and/or franchise taxes, but Missouri is one of the few exceptions to this rule. In this state, there are no annual report requirements, and no other regular filings required by the state. Missouri is arguably the simplest state to maintain an LLC in.
Where Can I Get Information on Licensing for My Missouri LLC?
To find out which permits and licenses are applicable to your business, head on over to the Missouri Professional Registration and Licensing website, where you can find extensive information about licensing requirements in this state.
How Quickly Can Missouri Form My LLC?
Missouri has some of the fastest formation speeds in the nation, as their online filing system can approve your LLC formation almost instantly. If you want to file by paper for some reason, it’ll take 5-10 days, and it will also cost you more than double the fee.
Which Company Provides the Best Missouri Registered Agent Service?
If you want more details about what these companies can offer in this state, or you’d like to take a look at some other options, check out our complete guide to Missouri registered agents.
How Can I Dissolve My Missouri LLC?
Unfortunately, not all businesses last forever. If the time comes when you need to close your LLC’s doors, you’ll need to do so in a manner consistent with the state’s regulations. That’s why we wrote our guide to Missouri LLC dissolutions, so you can complete the process in a compliant manner.
What if I Need to Expand a Business From Another State to Missouri?
If your LLC already exists in another state, you don’t actually need to “form” it in Missouri. Instead, you’ll need to foreign qualify the business in this state. This process is somewhat similar to LLC formation, but there are some crucial differences as well. Take a look at our guide to foreign qualifications in Missouri for more information.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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