The Articles of Organization — known as the Articles of Organization in most states — is the legal document you file with the Missouri Secretary of State in order to officially form your limited liability company (LLC).
In this guide, we’ll give you the links to the form and we’ll help you fill it out. You can also have a professional LLC service do the work for you.
Recommended: Northwest will form an LLC for you for just $29 plus state fees.
How to File the Articles of Organization in Missouri
You can download Form LLC-1 Articles of Organization from the Missouri Secretary of State website to file by mail OR file online through the Business Registration Online Portal.
In order to file your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you will need to fill out the following information:
Article 1: LLC Name
Your LLC’s name will have to be both creative and legally compliant.
You will need to make sure that your business name:
- Satisfies Missouri naming guidelines
- Is not already taken by another business in Missouri
There are certain guidelines that you will need to follow when naming your LLC:
- The name must be distinguishable from the name of any other business entity.
- You must include the words "limited company" or "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LC", "LLC", "L.C." or "L.L.C."
- The name under which the LLC transacts business in the state must be its name as set out in the Articles of Organization unless the LLC registers a DBA name under which it transacts business.
- The name may not contain the word "corporation", "incorporated", "limited partnership", "limited liability partnership", "limited liability limited partnership", or any abbreviation of one of such words.
- The name may not include any word or phrase which indicates or implies that it is organized for any purpose not stated in its Articles of Organization or that it is a governmental agency.
For a full list of naming guidelines see the Missouri naming statute.
Check Name Availability:
Do a name search with the MO SOS Business Search to check your LLC name’s availability. If you are unsure about what to name your LLC, use our business name generator to brainstorm business names.
Register Your Domain Name:
You’ll want to check that your business name (or something very similar) is available as a web domain.
Article 2: LLC Purpose
You will need to state the purpose of your LLC. But generally a limited liability company may conduct or promote any lawful businesses or purposes within this state or any other jurisdiction.
Article 3: Registered Agent Name and Address
Your Missouri registered agent can be either an individual or business entity, like a registered agent service.
If it is a business entity, it can be both a domestic entity or a foreign entity, as long as they are registered to do business in Missouri.
When it comes to individuals, keep in mind that they are legally required to be Missouri residents in order to act as your business’s registered agent.
This means that your LLC’s registered agent can be:
- Yourself
- Another LLC member
- A specialized registered agent service
Recommended: Get a year of free of registered agent services when you form your LLC with Northwest ($29 + State Fees).
Article 4: LLC Management
You must include whether your LLC will be member or manager-managed. For the latter, you will need to include the names and addresses of each LLC manager. Otherwise, you will need to provide the names and addresses of each LLC member.
Article 5: LLC Duration
Your LLC will exist in perpetuity (i.e., forever.) unless otherwise specified. If you want your LLC to exist for a specified period, you will need to note this in your Articles of Organization.
Article 6: Organizer, Effectiveness of Filing, and Execution
Finally, you will need to note who the organizer of the LLC will be. Your organizer will be required to sign your Missouri LLC Articles of Organization before filing it with the Secretary of State.
Optional: Supplemental Provisions/Information
There may be other provisions you wish to include in your Articles of Organization. It is possible to do so provided those articles do not contravene Missouri state law.
How to Submit the Articles of Organization
You can mail this form to:
The Secretary of State
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Or, you can hand-deliver it to:
The Secretary of State
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 778
Jefferson City, MO 65102
To file online, use the Business Registration Online Portal. You will need to create an account.
Steps After Filing the Articles of Organization
After you have filed your Articles of Organization, we recommend taking the following steps:
1. Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN), also known as a Federal Tax ID Number, can be thought of as your business’s Social Security number. It is used by the IRS to identify your business and ensure that it is operating legitimately.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), an LLC is required to obtain an EIN if:
- It hires employees
- It is required to file excise tax forms
- It is a multi-member LLC
- It withholds taxes for non-wage income paid to nonresident aliens
That being said, we recommend that all LLCs get an EIN so that they can open a business bank account.
You can apply for an EIN for your LLC by filing Form SS-4.
2. Create an Operating Agreement
Missouri requires all LLCs to have an operating agreement. The operating agreement is an internal document, which is not filed with the Secretary of State or any other government agency, that establishes the rules and regulations for the conduct of the company’s business and affairs, and the rights between the members and between the members and the LLC.
Recommended: Use our free LLC operating agreement template to create your very own LLC operating agreement quickly.
3. Apply for Business Licenses
After you have registered your LLC and applied for your EIN, you will want to ensure that your business remains “legitimate”. You can do this by applying for any local, state, and federal business licenses that you may need.
For a more in-depth overview, see our guide on how to get business licenses in Missouri.
4. Create a Business Website
Now is a good time to build a business website. A business website adds to your credibility, branding, marketing, and customer experience.
Your website can also be a gateway to your other platforms, including your LLC’s social media accounts, online stores, and contact information.
Recommended Service: Check out the GoDaddy Website Builder to get started.
5. Get a Business Bank Account
Next, you will want to open a separate bank account. This can offer both legal and financial benefits.
Choosing to open a business bank account can allow you to:
- Build your business credit
- Access larger business loans
- Allow you to accept credit card payments
- Offer high-yield savings accounts
Most premium online banks also come with third-party integrations, including accounting and ecommerce tools. These can help you manage your budget, automatically detract a percentage of your revenue for your LLC taxes, and expedite your online payments.
Besides the financial benefits, opening a business bank account can allow you maintain your LLC’s corporate veil by separating your personal and business finances.
Recommended: Interested in getting started? See our in-depth review of the best banks for startups and entrepreneurs in 2024.
6. Build Business Credit
When you are just starting your business, you will need to build your business credit from the ground up. The fastest way to do this is by opening net 30 accounts and getting a business credit card:
- First, you will want to open at least five net 30 accounts that report to business credit bureaus.
- Then, you can apply for an easy-approval business credit card from a company like BILL.
Taking these steps will help you increase your business’s cash flow and build business credit fast, which will be essential when you are applying for higher-end business credit cards and large business loans in the future.
See our How to Build Business Credit guide for more information.
7. Find a Business Phone System
You will also likely want to invest in a business phone system. This can go a long way in improving your credibility and can ensure that you have placed yourself in a position that always allows you to provide adequate customer service.
Most high-end business phone systems will include the following features:
- Unlimited calling
- Conference calling
- Voicemail transcription
- Toll-free and vanity phone numbers
- Team collaboration tools
- Hold music
Recommended: Check out our review of the best business phone systems to get started.
8. Get Business Insurance
As a business owner, you will also want to consider whether you will benefit from purchasing business insurance.
This will be highly dependent on your industry, amount of risk, and business operations. It can also depend on the existence — and number — of employees in your LLC.
There are several business insurance policies that you may want to consider, although this can be highly situational. Below we have provided an overview of the most common small business insurance policies:
See our Small Business Insurance article for more information.
9. Taxes and Accounting
Next, you will want to learn everything you need to know about how LLCs are taxed. This is important because LLCs are a very flexible business entity, and — depending on the situation — can choose to be taxed as:
- Pass-through entities
- C corps
- S corps
Generally speaking, we recommend talking to a professional attorney or law firm if you are in need of the most up-to-date tax advice (e.g., whether you need to pay sales tax, etc.).
Working with an accountant can help you manage all your business expenses and taxes effectively and on time, and ensure you do not face any penalties or back taxes when starting out.
Need help with accounting? Check out our review of the best accounting software.