Is it cheaper to form an LLC in Missouri or Texas?

Missouri is cheaper at formation ($50) than Texas ($300). Ongoing costs are also different: $100 vs $100 per year. Total over three years: $350 vs $600.

Can I form an LLC in Missouri if I live in Texas?

Yes, but your Texas business will almost certainly need to register as a foreign LLC in Texas too, which means paying Texas's foreign registration fee and any ongoing Texas obligations on top of the Missouri ones. The "form elsewhere to save" math usually doesn't work for operating businesses; it only works when you have no physical operations tied to any specific state.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Missouri vs Texas?

Missouri online: 1 business day; Texas online: 13 business days. Missouri does not offer paid expedite. Texas offers paid expedite from $25.

Which state has lower taxes for an LLC, Missouri or Texas?

Missouri: state income tax applies to member-level pass-through income, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax. Texas: no state income tax, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax.

Do both states require a registered agent?

Yes. Every US state (and DC) requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Missouri and Texas both have this requirement. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; most out-of-state filers use a commercial agent for $50 to $125 per year.

Do I need a written operating agreement in Missouri or Texas?

Missouri requires LLCs to adopt a written operating agreement by statute. Texas treats it as strongly recommended rather than required. In practice, any LLC with more than one member, or any LLC planning to preserve its liability shield, should have a written agreement regardless of which state it's formed in.

Which state should I pick if I run an online business from home?

Form in the state you actually live in. Your home state's Department of Revenue treats your residence as nexus regardless of where the LLC is filed, which means you owe state income tax there anyway. Forming in Missouri or Texas to escape your home state's tax doesn't work; it adds paperwork. The non-resident filings make sense when you genuinely operate nowhere in particular: international founders, purely passive holding entities, or real-estate LLCs owning property in other states.

Missouri vs Texas LLC comparison

Missouri charges $50 to form an LLC; Texas charges $300. Day-one sticker price is only part of the story, since most of the real cost comes from the annual obligations that stack up each year you keep the LLC open.

Over a rolling three-year window, Missouri runs about $250 less in total state fees than Texas. Whether that gap matters depends on whether you actually operate in one of these states or are weighing a non-resident filing.

On speed, Missouri typically clears standard online filings faster than Texas. Both states offer expedited tiers at an additional cost for filers on tight timelines.

For most small operators the choice is not really between these two states at all. It is between forming where the business actually operates and trying to route through a non-resident filing. The data below shows what each option actually costs.

Formation filing fee

Missouri $50

Texas $300

Missouri saves $250

Year 1 total estimate

Missouri $150

Texas $400

Missouri saves $250

Ongoing per year

Missouri $100

Texas $100

Tied

3-year total

Missouri $350

Texas $600

Missouri saves $250

Key differences at a glance

Missouri costs $250 less to form ($50 vs $300).
Texas has no state individual income tax; pass-through LLC income flows to members without a state layer. The other state does tax at the member level.
Texas imposes an entity-level franchise or LLC tax that applies to pass-through LLCs. Missouri does not.
Missouri requires LLCs to adopt a written operating agreement by statute. The other state treats it as recommended rather than required.
Missouri has no annual report filing at all. Texas requires an annual (or biennial) report every reporting period.

Where each state fits

For most filers, forming in the state you actually operate from is the right call. The side-by-side below shows where the two states meaningfully diverge.

What each state offers that the other does not

Only Missouri

No entity-level franchise or LLC tax
No annual report

Only Texas

Paid expedited tier
No state income tax
Operating agreement not statutorily required

Both states

Online filing
No publication requirement

Three-year cost, side by side

Rough estimate of the state-facing cost to form and keep an LLC through three years. Both totals include a $100 per year registered-agent estimate.

Missouri Texas

Year 1

$150

$400

Year 2

$250

$500

Year 3

$350

$600

Running total includes the one-time filing fee and annual ongoing costs (report fee or franchise tax plus a $100/year registered agent estimate).

What it costs under your specific situation

The table below runs the same LLC through four common scenarios. "Non-resident" rows assume a typical home-state foreign LLC registration adds about $200 per year of stacked cost; the real number depends on which state you live in and ranges from $50 to over $800 depending on jurisdiction.

Scenario	Year 1	Each year after	3-year total
You live in Missouri, business operates there No foreign LLC registration needed. You pay Missouri fees only.	$150	$100	$350
You live in Texas, business operates there No foreign LLC registration needed. You pay Texas fees only.	$400	$100	$600
Non-resident forming in Missouri with operations elsewhere You pay Missouri's fees plus a typical home-state foreign LLC registration of about $200 per year.	$350	$300	$950
Non-resident forming in Texas with operations elsewhere You pay Texas's fees plus a typical home-state foreign LLC registration of about $200 per year.	$600	$300	$1,200

Missouri vs Texas: full comparison

Dimension	Missouri	Texas
Online filing Can you file the formation document online?	Yes	Yes
Online approval time Standard, non-expedited	1 business day	13 business days
Expedited option Paid fast-track filing	Not offered	$25
Annual report Required in addition to tax	None	Required, $0
State-imposed annual tax Franchise, privilege, or LLC tax minimum	None	None
State income tax On pass-through LLC income at member level	Yes	No
Publication requirement Newspaper publication after formation	No	No
Operating agreement Required by state statute	Required by statute	Recommended, not required
Foreign LLC fee Cost to register as a foreign LLC in this state	$105	$750
State sales tax General statewide rate	4.2%	6.3%

Taxes in Missouri and Texas

How each state handles entity-level tax on LLCs. Pass-through classification means member-level income tax also applies at each member's residence state.

Missouri tax

No entity-level franchise tax on LLCs. State income tax applies to member-level pass-through income. Corporate rate 4.0%.

Texas tax

No entity-level franchise tax on LLCs. No state income tax.

Ongoing compliance

The recurring filings each state requires after formation.

Missouri

No annual state filing. Registered agent required in Missouri.

Texas

Annual report $0, due 05/15 each year. Registered agent required in Texas.

Formation process, side by side

What actually happens from the moment you start filing to the moment you're in good standing. Use this as a checklist.

Missouri

Check business-name availability on the Missouri entity search.
Appoint a registered agent with a physical Missouri street address.
File Articles of Organization of a Limited Liability Company (LLC 1) for $50.
Wait for approval. Online typically 1 business days. No paid expedite offered.
Adopt a written operating agreement (statutorily required in Missouri).
Apply for a federal EIN (free from the IRS).
Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances.
No annual state filing required in Missouri.

Texas

Check business-name availability on the Texas entity search.
Appoint a registered agent with a physical Texas street address.
File Certificate of Formation: Limited Liability Company (Form 205) for $300.
Wait for approval. Online typically 13 business days. Paid expedite from $25.
Adopt an operating agreement (recommended, not required by Texas statute).
Apply for a federal EIN (free from the IRS).
Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances.
File your first annual report and pay $0 when it comes due.

Before you pick either state

A few things that apply no matter which state you choose. These trip up enough first-time filers that they're worth stating explicitly.

Registered agent is non-negotiable. Both Missouri and Texas (and every other US state) require every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in the state of formation. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; otherwise a commercial agent runs $50 to $125 per year. Using your own home address makes it part of the public record.

Forming elsewhere does not escape your home state's tax. If you live and operate a business from your home state, forming the LLC in Missouri or Texas does not avoid your home state's income tax. The moment you transact business at home, your home state requires a foreign LLC registration, and state tax liability follows your residence regardless of where the entity sits on paper.

EIN applications are free. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers directly at no cost. Any service charging you to "get your EIN" is reselling a free form submission. Single-member LLCs with no employees technically don't need one for federal tax, but nearly every bank requires an EIN to open a business account.

Operating agreement matters more than the state you pick. A well-drafted operating agreement governs member ownership, management, profit splits, buy-sell terms, and dissolution. Without one, your LLC runs on the state's default rules, which are rarely what you want. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require a written one by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended.

Agency contacts

Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division

Website: www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations
Phone: (573) 751-4153
Email: corporations@sos.mo.gov
Mail: 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

Texas Secretary of State, Business & Commercial Section

Website: www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/index.shtml
Phone: (512) 463-5555
Email: corpinfo@sos.texas.gov
Mail: P.O. Box 13697, Austin, TX 78711-3697
Office: James Earl Rudder Office Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin, TX 78701
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central, Monday to Friday

Missouri Department of Revenue

Website: dor.mo.gov
Phone: (573) 751-3505
Mail: Missouri Department of Revenue, Harry S Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Office: Harry S Truman State Office Building, 301 West High Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central, Monday to Friday

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts

Website: comptroller.texas.gov
Phone: (800) 252-1381
Mail: P.O. Box 13528, Capitol Station, Austin, TX 78711-3528
Office: Lyndon B. Johnson State Office Building, 111 East 17th Street, Austin, TX 78774
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central, Monday to Friday

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to form an LLC in Missouri or Texas?

Missouri is cheaper at formation ($50) than Texas ($300). Ongoing costs are also different: $100 vs $100 per year. Total over three years: $350 vs $600.
Can I form an LLC in Missouri if I live in Texas?

Yes, but your Texas business will almost certainly need to register as a foreign LLC in Texas too, which means paying Texas's foreign registration fee and any ongoing Texas obligations on top of the Missouri ones. The "form elsewhere to save" math usually doesn't work for operating businesses; it only works when you have no physical operations tied to any specific state.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Missouri vs Texas?

Missouri online: 1 business day; Texas online: 13 business days. Missouri does not offer paid expedite. Texas offers paid expedite from $25.
Which state has lower taxes for an LLC, Missouri or Texas?

Missouri: state income tax applies to member-level pass-through income, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax. Texas: no state income tax, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax.
Do both states require a registered agent?

Yes. Every US state (and DC) requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Missouri and Texas both have this requirement. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; most out-of-state filers use a commercial agent for $50 to $125 per year.
Do I need a written operating agreement in Missouri or Texas?

Missouri requires LLCs to adopt a written operating agreement by statute. Texas treats it as strongly recommended rather than required. In practice, any LLC with more than one member, or any LLC planning to preserve its liability shield, should have a written agreement regardless of which state it's formed in.
Which state should I pick if I run an online business from home?

Form in the state you actually live in. Your home state's Department of Revenue treats your residence as nexus regardless of where the LLC is filed, which means you owe state income tax there anyway. Forming in Missouri or Texas to escape your home state's tax doesn't work; it adds paperwork. The non-resident filings make sense when you genuinely operate nowhere in particular: international founders, purely passive holding entities, or real-estate LLCs owning property in other states.

Full state guides

MissouriOpen Missouri LLC guide →
TexasOpen Texas LLC guide →

More Missouri and Texas comparisons

More Missouri vs ...

More Texas vs ...

Sources

Filing fee: www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Business/fees.pdf?v=2025 · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri SOS Schedule of Fees and Charges (revised 01/2025), Chapter 347 Limited Liability Companies: Certificates of Limited Liability Company (domestic online) $50.00; Certificates of Limited Liability Company (domestic or foreign, paper) $105.00. Includes $5 Technology fund component. Mo. Rev. Stat. 347.179(1) sets the base fees as $45 online / $100 paper; the $5 tech surcharge brings totals to $50/$105.
Expedited filing: www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/forms · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri SOS Corporations Division does not publish an expedited service tier for LLC filings. Online filings through bsd.sos.mo.gov are typically processed immediately or within one business day at the standard $50 fee, so there is no separate expedite option. A $55 Pre-Clearance Examination is available for reviewing a document for form and legal adequacy before submission (Schedule of Fees and Charges, General Fees) but does not accelerate filing itself.
Operating agreement requirement: revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=347.081 · verified April 21, 2026
Mo. Rev. Stat. 347.081(1) provides that the member or members of an LLC 'shall adopt' an operating agreement. The statute uses mandatory language (shall adopt) and describes permissible contents, making Missouri one of the handful of states (with California, Delaware, Maine, and New York) that statutorily require an operating agreement. The agreement does not need to be filed with the SOS and may be in any form, but it must exist.
Foreign LLC registration fee: www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Business/fees.pdf?v=2025 · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri SOS Schedule of Fees and Charges (01/2025): Certificates of Limited Liability Company (domestic or foreign)(paper) $105. Foreign LLCs must file the Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company (LLC 4) by paper; Missouri does not publish an online filing path specifically for foreign LLC registration.
Business name search: bsd.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/BESearch.aspx?SearchType=0 · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri SOS Business Entity Search. Confirm name distinguishability before filing the LLC 1.
Corporate income tax rate: dor.mo.gov/taxation/business/tax-types/corporation-income/ · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri Department of Revenue Corporation Income Tax page: the corporate income tax rate is a flat 4% for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020 (Chapter 143 RSMo). Applies to LLCs electing C-corp treatment.
Sales tax rate: dor.mo.gov/taxation/business/tax-types/sales-use/ · verified April 21, 2026
Missouri Department of Revenue Sales/Use Tax page: state sales and use tax rate is 4.225% (3.0% General Revenue, 1.0% Education, 0.125% Conservation, 0.10% Parks/Soils). Local jurisdictions add their own sales tax on top; combined rates typically range from 5% to over 10%.
Filing fee: www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/forms/205_boc.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Secretary of State Form 205 Certificate of Formation for an LLC. $300 filing fee stated on form instructions. Authority: Texas Business Organizations Code §4.152 (formation fees).
Filing fee: www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml · verified April 21, 2026
SOSDirect service charges a 2.7% convenience fee on credit-card transactions on top of the $300 state fee. The stated filingFee of $300 is the statutory fee exclusive of the payment-processing surcharge.
Expedited filing: www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/options.shtml · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Secretary of State expedite service: $25 per document for expedited processing (typically 2 business days). Applies to paper filings mailed or delivered to the SoS. SOSDirect online filings are normally processed within a few business days without a separate expedite fee.
Annual report fee: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/ · verified April 21, 2026
Texas LLCs file an annual Franchise Tax Report and Public Information Report with the Comptroller by May 15. No separate filing fee for the PIR. Under SB 3 (88th Leg., 2nd C.S., effective for reports due in 2024 and later), entities with total revenue at or below the no-tax-due threshold no longer file a No Tax Due Report but still file the PIR.
Franchise tax: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/franchise/ · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Tax Code Chapter 171 (Franchise Tax). No-tax-due threshold raised to $2.47 million for reports due 2024 forward (SB 3, 2023). Rates: 0.375% retail/wholesale margin; 0.75% other. EZ computation 0.331% on revenue up to $20M (no deductions). Confirm current threshold on Comptroller site each year.
Operating agreement requirement: statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BO/htm/BO.101.htm · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Business Organizations Code §101.052 authorizes a company agreement (Texas's term for an operating agreement). Not required to be in writing or filed; LLC may operate under default statutory rules.
Foreign LLC registration fee: www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/forms/304_boc.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Secretary of State Form 304 Application for Registration of a Foreign LLC. Filing fee $750. Authority: TBOC §9.001.
Publication requirement: statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/BO/htm/BO.3.htm · verified April 21, 2026
Texas does not require newspaper publication for LLC formation. TBOC Chapter 3 governs formation filings without any publication requirement.
Business name search: mycpa.cpa.state.tx.us/coa/ · verified April 21, 2026
Texas Comptroller Taxable Entity Search (the broadly-used search for Texas business entities). SOSDirect also offers a paid name search for $1 per request.
Sales tax rate: comptroller.texas.gov/taxes/sales/ · verified April 21, 2026
Texas statewide sales and use tax rate is 6.25%. Local jurisdictions may add up to 2% for a maximum combined rate of 8.25%.

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