How to search Missouri records
- Search by business name, charter number or registered agent.
- Open the "Filings" tab to view all documents, including amendments.
- Use the fictitious name search on the same site to find DBAs, which Missouri registers at the state level.
Open the official Missouri search
Missouri SOS, corporation and LLC search
Missouri Secretary of State Business Search
The Missouri Secretary of State business search is run by the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division through its Business Entity Search. Related queries such as "Missouri Secretary of State business entity search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its charter number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Missouri Entity Search
An entity search of the Missouri business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Missouri has no recurring report, so addresses and officers on an older record can be out of date. Treat good standing as a separate check.
Missouri Company Lookup
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Missouri corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Missouri LLC Lookup
Run the Missouri LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the charter number. Forming a Missouri LLC costs $50 with no recurring report fee. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Missouri Business Name Search
A Missouri business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Missouri lets you hold a name for 60 days for $25. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Missouri fictitious names are registered with the Secretary of State and searchable in the business entity search.
Missouri Business License Search
A Missouri entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Missouri UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Missouri businesses are filed with the Secretary of State. A filing shows a lender's claim on the company's assets, and it must be searched under the exact legal name on the entity record. The UCC lien search guide explains how to read one.
Missouri Tax ID Lookup
A Missouri tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Missouri tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
No annual report for LLCs
Missouri does not require LLCs to file an annual report, so an LLC that forms correctly can stay in good standing for years with no further state filing. The trade-off is stale data: addresses and registered agents on Missouri LLC records may be years old, so confirm the agent before serving papers. Corporations still file annual registration reports.
Missouri filing facts
| Record number | Charter number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $50. Online Articles of Organization ($105 on paper). |
| Recurring filing | No annual report for LLCs |
| Due | Not required for LLCs. Corporations file annual registration reports. |
| Name reservation | $25 for 60 days |
| Agency phone | 573-751-4153 |
What a Missouri LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Three-year state total | $50 | ||
Fictitious names expire
Missouri registers fictitious names with the Secretary of State, and they expire after five years unless renewed; see DBA. Online LLC formation costs $50 versus $105 on paper. Because there is no annual report, an active Missouri LLC says little about whether the business still operates; the LLC lookup guide covers other ways to check.
Checking a Missouri LLC with no reports
With no annual report, a Missouri LLC record may still show the organizer and agent from formation day. Read the filing history for amendments, check fictitious names for current brands, and confirm the agent before relying on the address. For a deal, ask the company to file a fresh amendment updating its agent and address.
How Missouri compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | $50 | $0 | None | $25 |
| Kansas | $160 | $50 | Yearly | $30 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 | Yearly | $25 |
| Arkansas | $45 | $150 | Yearly | $22.50 |
Before you rely on a Missouri result
- Missouri fictitious names expire after five years unless renewed.
- Because LLCs file no annual report, confirm the current registered agent before serving papers.
Bulk Missouri business data
Not offered.
Searching beyond Missouri
Registries next to Missouri: Kansas business search, Illinois business search, Arkansas business search.
Missouri business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Missouri?
The state filing fee is $50. Online Articles of Organization ($105 on paper). Keeping the LLC on file then averages $0 a year in state fees.
When is the Missouri annual report due?
Missouri has no recurring report for LLCs. Corporations file annual registration reports.
Can I reserve a business name in Missouri?
Yes. A name reservation costs $25 and holds the name for 60 days.
Do Missouri LLCs file annual reports?
No. Missouri LLCs have no annual report, though corporations file annual registration reports.
Is the Missouri business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Entity Search costs nothing. The Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Missouri?
The Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division. Its business line is 573-751-4153, and its free search is the Business Entity Search.
What number identifies a business in Missouri?
Missouri assigns each entity a charter number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Missouri businesses?
No bulk download is offered. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
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