The Missouri Secretary of State business search is part of the Corporations Division’s Online Business Services. Use the free Business Entity Search to look up the key words of your name and confirm nothing on file is the same or too close.
An available name can be reserved for 60 days for $25, with up to two renewals. Missouri also requires anyone doing business under a name other than their true name to register a fictitious name with the Secretary of State, which costs just $7 and lasts five years.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Missouri (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Missouri, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Missouri registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | MO Registered Agent.org | Missouri registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Missouri Registered Agent.co | Missouri registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Missouri. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. MO Registered Agent.org
MO Registered Agent.org is a Missouri registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Missouri Registered Agent.co
Missouri Registered Agent.co is a Missouri registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Missouri name search at a glance
| Topic | Missouri (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division |
| Search tool | Business Entity Search (free) |
| Name reservation | $25; 60 days, renewable twice (180 days maximum) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $50 online; $105 paper |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $25 |
| Fictitious name (DBA) | $7 to file, renew or amend; required; five years |
| LLC annual report | None required |
Fees are from the Secretary of State’s schedule of fees and charges. Missouri is one of the cheaper states to run an LLC; Mainstay Filing’s Missouri LLC cost guide has the details.
How to do a Missouri Secretary of State business search
Missouri’s Business Entity Search covers corporations, LLCs, partnerships, reserved names and registered fictitious names.
1. Open the Business Entity Search
Go to the Secretary of State’s Business Entity Search in Online Business Services. Searching is free and doesn’t require an account, so check as many variations as you need.
2. Search the distinctive words
Enter the core of your proposed name without LLC or Inc. For “Ozark Trail Outfitters LLC,” search “Ozark Trail” so you see every similar business. The search page itself advises including designations like Inc. or LLC and punctuation only for exact-match searches, and leaving them out otherwise.
3. Review entities and fictitious names
Open close matches and check whether each is an active entity, a reservation or a fictitious name. Fictitious names don’t give exclusive rights in Missouri, and the Secretary of State notes there’s no limit on how many businesses can register the same one, but a busy DBA is still a sign of possible customer confusion.
4. Try variations
Repeat the search with plurals, alternate spellings and numbers written both ways. Then decide whether to reserve the name or file your Articles of Organization online.
The Corporations Division makes the final availability decision when it reviews your filing, so treat a clean search as a strong signal rather than a guarantee.
Missouri business name rules
- Distinguishable: a new LLC or corporate name must be distinguishable from entity names and reservations on the Secretary of State’s records.
- LLC designator: a Missouri LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “limited company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Governing law: LLCs are formed under the Missouri Limited Liability Company Act (RSMo 347.037).
- Regulated words: names suggesting banking, insurance or a licensed profession may require regulatory approval.
Need more ideas? Namechk’s business name generator suggests names to test in the Missouri search.
How to reserve a business name in Missouri
According to the Secretary of State’s business FAQ, a corporate, LLC or limited partnership name may be reserved for up to 60 days.
- Fee: $25 ($30 for a limited liability partnership).
- Length: 60 days, renewable for two additional 60-day periods.
- Maximum: after 180 days, the name leaves reserved status and the same applicant can never reserve it again. They can still use it as their entity name if it’s available.
- After expiration: anyone else may use the name or reserve it.
- How: through Online Business Services or on paper.
Because online LLC formation costs only $50, many founders skip the reservation and file Articles of Organization as soon as the search looks clear.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
Missouri’s database doesn’t include federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database before committing to a name, particularly if you’ll sell beyond Missouri.
Then make sure the name is available online. Namechk checks domains and social media usernames in one search, and the domain name generator offers alternatives if the .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Registering a fictitious name (DBA) in Missouri
Missouri requires DBA registration at the state level. Under RSMo 417.200, it’s unlawful to do business in Missouri under a fictitious name without first registering it with the Secretary of State.
- Who must file: any person or entity doing business under a name other than its true name. The Secretary of State’s example: a corporation named “Missouri Lemonade Manufacturing, Inc.” that does business as “Missouri Lemonade” must register “Missouri Lemonade.”
- Fee: $7 to create, renew, correct or amend a registration; cancellation is free.
- Term: five years. Under RSMo 417.210, a renewal may be filed within six months before expiration and continues the registration for another five years.
- No exclusivity: registering a fictitious name doesn’t secure exclusive rights, and there’s no limit to how many businesses can register the same one.
See the Secretary of State’s fictitious name FAQ for filing details.
Missouri name mistakes to avoid
- Skipping the fictitious name filing. Missouri requires it whenever you trade under anything other than your true name, including a shortened version of your LLC’s name.
- Treating a DBA as protection. Several businesses can register the same fictitious name, so it won’t stop a competitor.
- Burning through reservations. After 180 days of reservations, you can never reserve that name again.
- Paying the paper price. Online LLC formation costs $50 versus $105 on paper.
- Using a mailbox store as your registered office. The Secretary of State doesn’t accept retail mailbox addresses.
After the search: forming your Missouri business
Once you’ve confirmed the name, our Missouri LLC guide covers each step:
- File Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1): $50 online or $105 on paper.
- Appoint a registered agent with a Missouri business office (not a retail mailbox store). Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Missouri registered agent guide covers the rules.
- Register any fictitious name you’ll use ($7).
- Get an EIN and register with the Missouri Department of Revenue if needed. Missouri LLCs don’t file an annual report. Our Missouri start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Missouri?
Use the Missouri Secretary of State’s free Business Entity Search in Online Business Services. Search the distinctive words of your name without LLC or Inc., then open close matches to see whether each is an entity, a reservation or a fictitious name. The Corporations Division makes the final availability decision when you file.
How long does a Missouri name reservation last?
A Missouri name reservation lasts 60 days and costs $25. It can be renewed for two more 60-day periods, for 180 days in total. After that, the name leaves reserved status and the same applicant can never reserve it again, though they can still form an entity under it if it’s available.
Is a DBA required in Missouri?
Yes. Under RSMo 417.200, it’s unlawful to do business in Missouri under a name other than your true name without first registering that fictitious name with the Secretary of State. This applies to individuals and to corporations and LLCs. The fee is $7 and the registration lasts five years.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Missouri?
Filing Articles of Organization for a Missouri LLC costs $50 online or $105 on paper, according to the Secretary of State’s fee schedule. Missouri LLCs don’t file an annual report, which makes the state one of the cheapest places to keep an LLC in good standing.
Does a Missouri fictitious name give me exclusive rights?
No. The Missouri Secretary of State says registering a fictitious name doesn’t afford or secure any exclusive rights, and there’s no limit to the number of businesses that can register the same fictitious name. For protection, form an entity under the name or register a trademark.
How do I renew a Missouri fictitious name?
Missouri fictitious name registrations last five years. Under RSMo 417.210, you can file a renewal within the six months before the expiration date, which continues the registration for another five years. The renewal fee is $7, the same as the original filing.
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