Registered agent for a Missouri LLC
Data last updated: Apr 22, 2026The quick read on Missouri registered agents
Every Missouri LLC is legally required to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The role is to receive service of process (lawsuit papers), state tax notices, and other official government mail on the LLC's behalf. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Missouri and meet the requirements, or hire a commercial service for typically $99 to $299 per year.
Missouri-specific rules matter. The statute is Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.030. The registered agent's address goes on the public state record, so most owners who want privacy use a paid service to keep their home address off the record. Owners who live in the state and don't mind the public listing often save $100 to $250 per year by serving as their own agent.
Who can serve as a registered agent in Missouri
Missouri allows an individual resident of Missouri or a corporation or other business entity (domestic or foreign) authorized to transact business in Missouri to serve as registered agent under § 347.030. The registered office must be a physical Missouri street address, identical to the agent's business office, and available during business hours to accept service of process.
Missouri does not operate a separate commercial registered agent registry, so any qualifying individual or entity can serve without a dedicated commercial-agent filing. National services (Northwest, CT Corporation, Bizee) serve Missouri LLCs through their standard Missouri foreign entity authorizations. The LLC's own member or manager can serve as RA if they meet the residency or entity-authorization rule, which is the norm for Missouri-based single-member LLCs.
One Missouri quirk worth flagging: the state requires an operating agreement by statute under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.081, one of just five states with that mandate. The agreement itself doesn't get filed, but it must exist.
What Missouri requires of a registered agent
- Physical street address in Missouri
Not a PO box, not a mail-drop. The address becomes part of the public record visible on the Secretary of State's business entity search.
- Available during business hours
Typically 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The agent has to be physically present (or have staff present) to accept service, not just reachable by phone or email.
- At least 18 years old and a resident or registered entity
Individual agents must be 18+ and reside in Missouri. Entity agents must be registered to transact business in Missouri.
- Written consent on file
Missouri requires the registered agent to consent in writing to serve. Formation services handle this automatically when you sign up. For an individual agent, a simple signed consent letter suffices.
Missouri statute and change-of-agent rules
| Statute | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.030 |
| Change of registered agent form | Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1A) |
| Change filing fee | $10 |
| Online filing | Accepted |
| Processing time | 1 business day |
| Commercial agents must register separately | No |
Choosing the right registered agent in Missouri
Missouri has no annual report and no franchise tax on LLCs, making it one of the cheapest states in the country to maintain an LLC long-term. The RA service fee is effectively the only recurring state-level cost, which makes the DIY case compelling for Missouri residents. Serving as your own agent from a stable address saves $100 to $250 per year and brings the LLC's ongoing state cost to roughly zero.
For paid services, Northwest at $125 per year is the usual pick for Missouri and handles the $10 change-of-agent filing for free when you switch. Bizee at $119 is marginally cheaper. ZenBusiness at $99 is the cheapest national option. Kansas City and St. Louis law firms sometimes offer RA service at $75 to $150 per year as part of broader corporate-services engagements. The Missouri formation page covers the full bsd.sos.mo.gov filing flow and the statutory operating-agreement requirement.
Registered agent services that operate in Missouri
National commercial registered agent services operate in all 50 states plus DC, so every provider below accepts Missouri LLCs. Sorted by annual renewal cost. Click the service name for the full review.
| Service | Annual renewal | Trustpilot | Review count |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $99/yr | 4.8 | 28,984 |
| Bizee fka Incfile | $119/yr | 4.7 | 25,227 |
| MyCorporation | $120/yr | 3.7 | 279 |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $125/yr | 3.8 | 217 |
| CorpNet | $149/yr | 4.9 | 1,205 |
| doola | $197/yr | 4.6 | 2,005 |
| Tailor Brands | $199/yr | 4.7 | 14,203 |
| BizFilings | $220/yr | 4.5 | 170 |
| Inc Authority | $249/yr | 4.9 | 46,831 |
| LegalZoom | $249/yr | 4.6 | 30,014 |
| Rocket Lawyer | $250/yr | 4.5 | 9,717 |
| Firstbase | $299/yr | 4.8 | 1,045 |
If you let your Missouri registered agent lapse
Missouri's lapse mechanics are unusually punishing for an otherwise cheap state. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.163, the Secretary of State can administratively cancel an LLC that fails to maintain a registered agent for 60 or more consecutive days. Because Missouri has no annual report cycle to surface compliance problems, a silent RA vacancy is an easy way to lose good standing without realizing it. Reinstatement via Application for Rescission of Cancellation costs $55 plus restoration of the RA designation. Processing runs 1 to 2 weeks through bsd.sos.mo.gov. While the LLC is cancelled, the limited liability shield is compromised and the entity loses standing to sue in Missouri courts.
Missouri filing agency
Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division
- Website
- www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations
- Phone
- (573) 751-4153
- corporations@sos.mo.gov
- Corporations Division, Missouri Secretary of State, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, MO 65102
- Office
- Corporations Division, 600 W. Main Street, Missouri State Information Center, Room 322, Jefferson City, MO 65101
- Hours
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central, Monday to Friday
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who can be a registered agent for a Missouri LLC?
An individual resident of Missouri with a Missouri street address, or a corporation or business entity (domestic or foreign) authorized to transact business in Missouri. PO boxes don't qualify as the registered office. The LLC's own owner or manager can serve if they meet the residency or entity-authorization rule.
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How much does a Missouri registered agent service cost?
National services run $99 to $249 per year, with ZenBusiness at $99, Bizee at $119, and Northwest at $125 as the common mid-tier options. Because Missouri has no annual report and no franchise tax on LLCs, the RA service fee is the only recurring state-level cost, making DIY uniquely attractive here.
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Can I be my own registered agent in Missouri?
Yes, if you reside in Missouri, have a Missouri street address, and are available during business hours to accept service. Your name and address appear on the public business entity search at bsd.sos.mo.gov. Self-serving is viable for Missouri residents and brings the LLC's ongoing state cost to roughly zero.
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What does it cost to change my Missouri registered agent?
$10 total ($5 base fee plus $5 technology fund surcharge) for the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1A), filed with the Secretary of State. Online filing through bsd.sos.mo.gov typically processes same-day or next business day.
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What happens if my Missouri LLC's registered agent resigns?
You have 60 days to designate a replacement before the Secretary of State can administratively cancel the LLC under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.163. Because Missouri has no annual report, a silent RA vacancy is easy to miss. Reinstatement costs $55 and takes 1 to 2 weeks through the Rescission of Cancellation process.
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Does Missouri really have no LLC annual report?
Correct. Mo. Rev. Stat. Chapter 347 imposes no periodic report requirement on LLCs, and the SoS fee schedule has no annual report line for Chapter 347 entities. This is unusual among U.S. states and makes the registered agent requirement the primary recurring compliance obligation.
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Does Missouri require an operating agreement?
Yes. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.081 mandates that members of a Missouri LLC 'shall adopt' an operating agreement. The agreement isn't filed with the state and can be written, oral, or implied, but it must exist. Missouri is one of only five states with this statutory requirement (along with California, Delaware, Maine, and New York).
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Do I need a registered agent for a Missouri LLC?
Yes. Missouri law requires every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Missouri and availability during business hours. There is no exception for inactive or small LLCs. If the LLC loses its registered agent and doesn't designate a replacement within the state's grace period, Missouri begins administrative dissolution of the entity.
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How much does a registered agent service cost in Missouri?
National services range from $99 per year (ZenBusiness) to $299 per year (Firstbase). The $190 average is close to the market median. Missouri-based local registered agent services also operate in the state, typically pricing between $50 and $150 per year.
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How do I change my registered agent in Missouri?
File Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office (Form LLC-1A) with Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The fee is $10. Online filing is accepted. Processing takes about 1 business days. Most formation services handle this paperwork for free when you sign up.
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Is the registered agent fee tax deductible?
Yes. Registered agent fees are an ordinary and necessary business expense deductible on the LLC's federal tax return (Schedule C, Form 1065, or 1120/1120-S depending on tax treatment). Missouri state tax treatment follows federal on this deduction. Keep the invoices with your tax records.
Related
Sources
- Statute: revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=347.030 · verified April 22, 2026
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.030 (Registered office and registered agent) under the Missouri Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 347) requires every LLC to continuously maintain a registered office and registered agent in Missouri. - Change of agent: www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Business/fees.pdf?v=2025 · verified April 22, 2026
Missouri SOS Schedule of Fees and Charges (revised 01/2025), Chapter 347 LLC filings: Certificate Amending or Restating Registered Agent filing fee is $10 ($5 base plus $5 technology fund). Online filing available through bsd.sos.mo.gov; processing typically same-day or next business day. - Penalty: revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=347.163 · verified April 22, 2026
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 347.163 authorizes administrative cancellation of an LLC for failure to maintain a registered agent for 60+ days. Section 347.171 governs Application for Rescission of Cancellation; fee is $55 under the SoS fee schedule. Missouri does not require LLC annual reports, so the registered agent obligation is the primary state-level compliance burden. - Commercial agent registration: www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations · verified April 22, 2026
Missouri Secretary of State Corporations Division does not publish a commercial registered agent registry for LLCs. Any qualifying individual or entity may serve without a separate commercial-agent filing.