Missouri Articles of Organization

How to file your Missouri Articles of Organization: 

You’ll need to gather the following information about your prospective LLC to prepare and file your State of Missouri Articles of Organization.

Step 1: Select your LLC’s official name

First, you must state the name of your LLC for the Articles of Organization in Missouri. You can choose just about any name you’d like as long as you follow Missouri’s LLC naming rules. In Missouri, LLC names must contain one of the following terms:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• LLC
• L.L.C.
• LC
• LLC

The name you select must also be distinguishable from the names of other Missouri businesses. Check with the Secretary of State for more detailed rules for naming your LLC.

Then, you’ll check with the Secretary of State in Missouri to see if the name you’d like is available. Because name availability can change from moment to moment, you may want to reserve your prospective name. You can file a Name Reservation request with a filing fee online or by mail. 

We take the hassle out of selecting and reserving your new name for your Articles of Organization for an LLC in Missouri. Our Business Name Checker quickly searches business names. Plus, our Name Reservation Service will reserve your name so that no one else will take it while you prepare your Missouri LLC Articles of Organization. 

Step 2: State the LLC’s purpose

Your Missouri Articles of Association must state the purpose of your LLC. You may state a specific purpose related to the business you plan to do, or you can state a general purpose. If you’d like to state a general purpose, you may say that you’ll generally conduct business activities legally permitted in Missouri.

Step 3: Provide the name and address of your registered agent

Next, you’ll need to state the name and address of your registered agent. A registered agent is a person or entity that agrees to accept legal documents, or service of process, on behalf of your LLC. A person or a registered agent company can act as your LLC’s registered agent. The registered agent must have an address in Missouri and accept legal documents during regular business hours. 

We offer a Missouri Registered Agent service so that you won’t have to worry about finding a registered agent on your own.

Step 4: Decide how the LLC will be managed

Next, you’ll decide how the LLC will be managed and indicate that in your Articles of Organization. Essentially, this means that you must state who will be managing your LLC’s ongoing business and who can legally obligate the company. 

A Missouri LLC can be member-managed or manager-managed. In a member-managed LLC, the members of the LLC manage the business and can legally bind the LLC. A member-managed LLC is the most common.

In a manager-managed LLC, the members select managers who will take care of the business’s daily operations. This is useful if some of the LLC members would like to be passive investors rather than have to worry about the day-to-day business operations of the LLC.

Step 5: Describe the duration of the LLC

In the Articles of Organization for an LLC in Missouri, you must also state the duration of your LLC. The LLC duration is how long it will last. You can say that the LLC will be in perpetual duration, which means that it will last until the members decide to dissolve it. You can also limit how long it will last or select an event that will cause it to end. Most Articles of Organization in Missouri state that the LLC will have a perpetual duration.

Step 6: Provide the names and addresses of your organizers

Next, you must state the name and address of your LLC’s organizers for your Articles of Organization in Missouri. The LLC organizer is the person who prepares and files formation documents with the Secretary of State like Articles of Organization. 

Step 7: Select the type of LLC you’re forming

You must select the type of LLC you’re forming in the Articles of Organization for an LLC in Missouri. You may form a regular business LLC or create a series LLC.  If you want to set up a series LLC, you must fill out and attach a specific form to your MO LLC Articles of Organization.

Creating a series LLC is essentially like setting up a bunch of smaller LLCs under the umbrella of a primary LLC. Each series has its own members, managers, and assets. One of the benefits of a series LLC is that it can be protected from any claims against the parent LLC or its series LLC siblings if it’s properly set up.

Step 8: Choose a filing date

Missouri Articles of Organization for an LLC are effective on the date filed with the Secretary of State. You can, however, select a future date for your LLC to become effective. The future date you choose must fall within 90 days of filing.

Step 9: Attach any needed forms 

Lastly, you’ll attach any additional documents that you’ll need to complete your State of Missouri Articles of Organization. For example, if you’ve decided to start a series LLC, you must fill out and attach a form provided by the Missouri Secretary of State. You must include one of these forms for each LLC in the series.

Where to file your Missouri Articles of Organization

After you’ve compiled the above information, you’re now ready to file your Missouri Articles of Organization for your LLC. You’ll file the Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office.

In Missouri, you can file Articles of Organization online or by mail. Be sure to include your filing fee. If you’re filing the Articles of Organization by mail, be sure to sign them and include an address where the Secretary of State can send the proof of registration. 

What are the next steps? 

You’ll have to complete additional steps after filing your MO LLC Articles of Organization to comply with the Missouri regulations.

Create an Operating Agreement

Missouri requires that all LLCs have an operating agreement. An operating agreement describes the details of how your LLC will operate.  It includes information such as:

• The LLC management structure
• The duties and responsibilities of the managers or members
• Any restrictions on the transfer of a member’s interest in the LLC
• The method of voting
• How profits and losses are allocated to the members
• The LLC’s tax selections

Although Missouri requires an LLC to have an operating agreement, you don’t need to file the operating agreement with the Missouri Secretary of State.

If you’re confused about creating an operating agreement for your LLC, we offer an Operating Agreement Template to help guide you. 

Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) 

After filing your Missouri LLC Articles of Organization, you’ll need to apply for an EIN with the Internal Revenue Service. An EIN is a tax identification number for a business entity. Your LLC will need an EIN even if it doesn’t have employees because this is the number you’ll use for all of your tax-related filings.

We offer an EIN Number service to help you quickly and easily apply for an EIN for your new Missouri business.

Register your Missouri LLC with other governmental agencies

After you file your Articles of Organization for an LLC in Missouri and receive an EIN, you may need to register with the Missouri Department of Revenue. You can register with the Department of Revenue either by mail or online.

Depending on your LLC’s business, you may need to apply for licenses and permits. You can check with the Missouri Department of Registration and your locality to determine what licenses your business may require.

We can help! 

Preparing and filing your State of Missouri Articles of Organization can be complicated and time-consuming. You have to navigate the many different laws and regulations to ensure your Missouri LLC is legally valid.

We can help. We take the burden of forming your LLC off your back with our Missouri LLC Formation service and help you run your business effectively with additional services like ZB Money. Plus, with our Worry-Free Compliance service, you can rest assured knowing that your LLC will remain compliant with ongoing regulatory requirements while you focus on running your business.