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Best Missouri LLC Formation Service in 2026
Missouri is one of the few US states with no annual report requirement for LLCs. Combined with a $50 online filing fee and immediate online approval, MO is genuinely cheap to form in and even cheaper to maintain. The formation service you pick decides how fast you get to EIN, banking, and compliance peace-of-mind — which matters more than any state fee here.
Quick verdict
| Service | Best for | Filing fee (MO) | Service fee | Reg. Agent | EIN included | Non-US friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doola | Non-US founders, one-person company | $50 | from $297 (Starter) | ✅ 1 yr | ✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Northwest | US residents wanting privacy | $50 | $39 + state | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$50) | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| ZenBusiness | US residents, low budget | $50 | $0 (Starter) | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$99) | ⭐⭐ |
| LegalZoom | Brand recognition | $50 | $0 (Basic) | $249/yr | ❌ (+$79) | ⭐⭐ |
| Bizee (formerly IncFile) | US residents, free starter | $50 | $0 + state | ✅ 1 yr | ❌ (+$70) | ⭐⭐ |
| DIY (Missouri SOS) | US founders with SSN | $50 | $0 | ❌ ($125+/yr separately) | DIY (free with SSN) | ⭐ |
Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC + EIN (with SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction.
Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — code
LLCCLASS10gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.
Missouri LLC basics
- Filing fee: $50 online ($105 by paper — penalty for paper filing)
- Annual report: NONE — Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report. Zero ongoing state fee.
- State income tax: Pass-through; Missouri personal income tax tops out around 4.7% on Missouri-sourced income
- Privacy: Missouri's Articles of Organization do NOT require listing members or managers. Registered Agent's address is public, but member privacy is strong relative to most states.
- Processing: Immediate approval online; 3–4 weeks by mail
This combination — no annual report + member privacy + immediate approval — makes Missouri one of the underrated states for a long-term hold LLC. If you have any Missouri business connection (Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield), it's worth a hard look. See our best state for LLC comparison.
Service-by-service breakdown
1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Missouri LLC
- Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
- What's included: LLC filing + EIN (handles SS-4 paper filing for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent (1 year) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
- Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders (EIN bottleneck), same-day filing approval for US founders
- Why we use it: With no MO annual report, the Doola fee is entirely about EIN + RA + bank. Doola owns the EIN paper-filing path that's otherwise a 6–12 week mailbox vigil.
- Caveat: If you have US SSN + address, the value of Doola's Compliance tier drops because there's no annual report to track.
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2. Northwest Registered Agent — best for US residents who value privacy
- Pricing: $39 service fee + $50 state filing + $125/yr registered agent (after year 1)
- What's included: LLC filing + 1 year registered agent + privacy-by-default
- EIN: NOT included, +$50
- Why pick: Pairs well with Missouri's already-private filing — Northwest's name appears, not yours
- Why skip for non-US: No SS-4 paper filing
3. ZenBusiness — US founders on a budget
- Pricing: Free Starter (state fee only), Pro $199, Premium $349
- EIN: +$99
- Caveat: Renewal upsells in year 2; in Missouri there's no annual report so their Pro tier brings less value than in other states
4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive
- Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
- EIN: +$79
- Why pick: Brand for US investor optics
- Why skip: Overpriced for what Missouri's lean compliance actually requires
5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — free starter
- Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
- EIN: +$70
- Caveat: Compliance tracking weak — fine in Missouri since there's no annual report, less fine if you also have foreign-state registrations
6. DIY — for founders with US SSN, address, and patience
- Cost: $50 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent + EIN free via IRS online (with SSN)
- Why pick: Missouri's no-annual-report rule plus immediate online approval makes DIY genuinely viable here
- Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper filing is the kill switch
Step-by-step Missouri LLC formation
- Choose a name — must include "Limited Liability Company", "Limited Company", "LLC", "L.L.C.", "LC", or "L.C." Check the Missouri Business Entity Database Search.
- Designate a Registered Agent — must have a physical Missouri street address. PO boxes not allowed.
- File Articles of Organization — $50 online to the Missouri Secretary of State (Business Services Division). Immediate approval online; $105 if you file on paper.
- Get EIN from IRS — free online for US residents with SSN (5 minutes). Non-US founders file SS-4 by fax/mail (4–8 weeks).
- Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank; 3-hour approval once your LLC and EIN are clean.
- No annual report — Missouri is one of the few states with no recurring filing requirement for LLCs. Your only annual carry is the registered agent (~$125/yr) and any city/county license.
- Local licenses — Kansas City and St. Louis both require business licenses; check your specific city.
FAQ
Does Missouri really have no annual report?
Yes. Missouri eliminated the LLC annual report requirement years ago and has not reinstated it. You still file an Articles of Amendment if information changes, but there's no recurring annual filing.
Is Missouri better than Wyoming for non-US founders?
Generally no for pure online businesses — Wyoming has stronger banking acceptance and well-known privacy. Missouri's edge is genuinely cheap formation + no annual report, useful if you have actual Missouri business activity.
Why does Missouri charge $105 for paper filing but $50 for online?
The state aggressively pushes online filing through its Business Services portal because it's automated end-to-end. Just file online — it's also faster (immediate vs. 3–4 weeks).
Are LLC members listed publicly in Missouri?
No. The Articles of Organization do not require listing members or managers — a real privacy win versus states like Alaska or Maryland. Only the Registered Agent and Organizer addresses appear on public filings.