Missouri · Corporation
How to Start a Corporation in Missouri
In Missouri the number of shares you authorize sets your filing fee, and filing the yearly report online costs less than half the paper price.
See the stepsShort answer
File Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation (Corp. At checkout that is $59.41 for Missouri plus $123.75 for our formation, $183.16 before card processing. 41) with the Missouri Secretary of State for $58 if you authorize $30,000 or less in shares. Then plan for the annual registration report: $20 online or $45 on paper.
Last checked .How do I incorporate in Missouri, step by step?
Missouri sets the filing fee by the stock you authorize. The base price is $58 for $30,000 or less, and above that the fee rises by $5 for every additional $10,000. The form is cheap, but the share count you write on it decides the bill. A small corporation can keep authorized capital at or under $30,000. Filing the annual registration report online is the cheaper route every year.
Choose and check the name
Check your name against the Secretary of State's business entity search before you file. Missouri lets you reserve a name for a fee while you prepare your Articles. A name that matches one on record can get the filing rejected. See the Missouri name search guide.
Name a registered agent
Every corporation needs one in the state (the rule). Ours is $74.25 a year.
File articles of incorporation of a for profit corporation
File the Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation (Corp. 41) with Missouri. The fee at our checkout is $59.41. Details are below.
Adopt bylaws
Bylaws are the board's rules: how directors are elected, how meetings run and how officers are chosen. Every corporation we form includes them.
Name directors, officers and issue shares
A Missouri board has 1 or more individuals, and the corporation needs a president and a secretary. 6 Hold an organizational meeting, record it in minutes, and issue stock to the owners.
Get an EIN
The EIN is the corporation's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it free at irs.gov.
Register for state taxes
Register with Missouri Department of Revenue: register your business online for sales/use and withholding tax. 9
File the annual report
Put the first deadline on your calendar before you file anything else. See the Missouri annual report page and the filings below.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Missouri?
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| State fees (what our checkout charges) | $59.41 | At filing |
| Our formation, bylaws included | $123.75 | At filing |
| Total for the filing | $183.16 | Before card processing |
| With our registered agent for a year (Formation + Registered Agent) | $237.61 | At filing |
| With the Day-One Bundle | $281.41 | At filing |
| Annual Registration Report (each year) | $20 7 | annually |
| Registered agent after the first year | $74.25 a year | Optional |
Card processing is added at checkout and shown before you pay. State fees: $58 articles + an electronic payment convenience fee the state charges but does not list by amount; the other $1.41 is not itemized. 1 2
Missouri at a glance
| Question | Missouri |
|---|---|
| Formation filing and state fee | Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation (Corp. 41), $58 3 |
| Name rule | Must contain Corporation, Company, Incorporated or Limited, or end with an abbreviation of one of those words 4 |
| Registered agent | Registered office in Missouri and a registered agent (a resident individual whose business office is the registered office, or an authorized corporation) 5 |
| Directors and officers | At least 1 director; officers: president and secretary (one person may hold two or more offices unless the articles or bylaws say otherwise) 6 |
| Annual report | Annual Registration Report, $20, due annually 7 |
| Corporate income tax | 4% flat 8 |
Do I need a registered agent in Missouri?
A Missouri corporation must keep a registered office and a registered agent in the state. 5 You can be your own agent if you have a street address in the state and are there in business hours, but the address goes on the public record. Ours, through our partner Registered Agents Inc, is $74.25 a year, or $178.20 with the formation. Missouri registered agent rules.
What goes in the Missouri articles of incorporation of a for profit corporation?
Missouri files a for-profit corporation on Articles of Incorporation (Corp. 41). The fee depends on authorized capital.
Which annual reports and franchise taxes will a Missouri corporation owe?
Each year Missouri expects an annual registration report, and the state notes that it lists your corporate positions. Missing it can lead to administrative dissolution. The fee schedule also lists a biennial option, so check it if you would rather file less often.
How do I start an S corp in Missouri?
A corporation is a C corporation unless it elects otherwise. An S corp is a tax election, not another kind of entity. The order is plain: form the corporation, get the EIN, then file IRS Form 2553 within 2 months and 15 days after start of the tax year the election takes effect (or any time in the prior tax year) 11. Missouri follows the federal S election: an S corporation is not subject to Missouri's corporation income tax, and its shareholders are taxed instead. 10
We file Form 2553 for $165. Run your own numbers in the calculator or read Missouri: S corp or C corp.
Should I form a corporation or an LLC in Missouri?
Shares, a board and officers. The usual choice when you plan to raise money from investors or issue stock options.
Fewer formalities and flexible ownership. Often the simpler choice for one owner or a small team.
Compare the two: How to start an LLC in Missouri.
Raising venture money? Investors usually ask for a Delaware C corporation, which you then register in Missouri as a foreign corporation. See how to start a corporation in Delaware.
What do I do after filing in Missouri?
- Adopt the bylaws and hold the first board meeting; write minutes.
- Issue stock to the owners and keep a stock ledger.
- Get the EIN, open a business bank account and keep money separate.
Form your Missouri corporation
We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee ($59.41), with bylaws included. Add the registered agent for $178.20 in all, or take the Day-One Bundle at $222.
Common questions
How much does it cost to incorporate in Missouri?
$58 if your authorized shares total $30,000 or less, plus $5 for every additional $10,000.
How much is the Missouri annual registration report?
For a general business corporation, $20 online or $45 on paper, when filed on time.
What is the Missouri Articles of Incorporation form?
Corp. 41, Articles of Incorporation of a For Profit Corporation.
What happens if a Missouri corporation skips the annual report?
It can lead to administrative dissolution, after which the corporation can no longer carry on its day-to-day business.
Sources 11 links, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Missouri: Articles of incorporation, $58. sos.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Missouri: Electronic payment convenience fee. sos.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Missouri charges $58 to file Articles of Incorporation when authorized shares total $30,000 or less, and adds $5 for every additional $10,000 of authorized shares. sos.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Missouri corporation's name must contain the word corporation, company, incorporated or limited, or end with an abbreviation of one of them. revisor.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Missouri corporation must keep a registered office and a registered agent in the state. revisor.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Missouri board has 1 or more individuals, and the corporation needs a president and a secretary. revisor.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Missouri general business corporation pays $20 to file its annual registration report online or $45 on paper. sos.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Missouri taxes C corporation income at a flat 4%, starting from federal taxable income. dor.mo.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- A Missouri business registers for its state taxes through the Department of Revenue's online business registration. dor.mo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Missouri follows the federal S election: an S corporation is not subject to Missouri's corporation income tax, and its shareholders are taxed instead. revisor.mo.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- IRS: Form 2553 instructions irs.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
Last verified Nov 7, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.