A Missouri business entity search is done on the Business Search of the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division, inside its Online Business Services system. It holds records for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, nonprofits and fictitious names. If you are looking for a "Missouri secretary of state business search", an "MO SOS business search" or a "Missouri business lookup", this is the official free tool.
Missouri at a glanceFees are set by the state and can change. Check the official fee page before you file.
Open the official search- Office
- Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division
- Search tool
- Business Search (Online Business Services)
- Search by
- Business name, charter number, registered agent
- LLC filing
- Articles of Organization
- LLC filing fee
- $50 online, $105 on paper
- Reports
- No annual report required for LLCs
- Name reservation
- $25, 60 days (renewable to 180 days)
People use it to confirm a company is real, get its charter number, find its registered agent, see if it is in good standing and check if a new name is still open.
How to search Missouri business records
- Open the Missouri Business Search.
- Choose to search by business name, charter number or registered agent.
- For a name search, type the name and choose how the match should work from the drop down. For an exact match, type the full name with its ending and punctuation, such as "LLC".
- Tick the box for active entities only if you want to hide closed ones.
- Click the name in the results to open the business details.
Pending, rejected and some other non final records are not shown in the public results, so a filing made minutes ago may not appear yet.
What a Missouri record shows
The detail screen lists the legal name, charter number, entity type, status, date formed, registered agent and office address, and the filing history. Many filed documents can be viewed and printed as images.
- Active means the entity exists and its filings are current.
- Administratively dissolved means the state ended it, often because a required report was not filed or a registered agent was missing. It can usually be reinstated.
- Dissolved, cancelled or terminated mean the owners closed it.
- Forfeited or revoked appear on some older corporations and foreign entities that lost their right to do business.
Checking and reserving a business name
The Business Search doubles as the name check. Search the exact name and close versions of it. If nothing live comes up that is the same or too similar, the name is likely open.
To hold a name, file a name reservation. The fee is $25 and the hold lasts 60 days. It can be renewed twice for a total of 180 days, according to the Secretary of State's starting a business page. Want more choices? Try our business name generator.
Ordering a certificate of good standing
Certificates of good standing can be ordered online through the Secretary of State's Online Business Services. Open the business from the search and choose the certificate option. The state fee is $10, per the Corporations Division fee schedule. Certified copies of filings can be ordered too.
Forming an LLC in Missouri
- Check the name with Business Search.
- Name a registered agent with a Missouri address.
- File Articles of Organization with the Corporations Division. The fee is $50 online, or $105 on paper. Filing online saves money and time.
- Sign an operating agreement and get an EIN.
- Register with the Missouri Department of Revenue if you will sell taxable goods or hire staff.
Missouri stands out because a regular LLC does not file an annual report with the Secretary of State. Corporations and some other entity types do, but LLCs only need to keep their registered agent and address current. That keeps the yearly cost of a Missouri LLC low. Local business licenses may still apply in your city or county.
For the rest of the launch, read how to start a business and draft a plan with our business plan template.
Common problems
The name on the sign is not the legal name
Missouri fictitious names are registered with the Secretary of State, not with counties. Search the fictitious name in the same system to see who owns it. A fictitious name registration must be renewed every five years.
The business is administratively dissolved
Ask the owner to file for reinstatement and fix whatever caused the dissolution, such as a missing registered agent. Avoid relying on the entity until it shows active again.
Search returns too many results
Use the active only box, add more of the name, or search by charter number if you have it.
Next door: the Kansas business entity search and the Illinois business entity search. All states are on the business entity search hub.
Questions people ask
How do I do a Missouri secretary of state business search?
Open Business Search in the Missouri Secretary of State's Online Business Services. Search by business name, charter number or registered agent, then click the name for details. Searching is free.
Can I search by registered agent in the MO SOS business search?
Yes. Missouri lets you search by registered agent name, which shows every entity that lists that agent. It is useful for finding related companies.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Missouri?
Articles of Organization cost $50 when filed online and $105 on paper. Missouri does not require a regular LLC to file an annual report, so there is no yearly state report fee.
How do I get a Missouri certificate of good standing?
Order it through Online Business Services after finding the entity in Business Search. The state fee is $10. The entity must be active to receive one.
Are DBA names in the Missouri business lookup?
Yes. Missouri calls them fictitious names and they are registered with the Secretary of State. You can find them in the same search, and each registration lasts five years before renewal.