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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Missouri in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, MO Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Missouri Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Missouri. What should a listener know first?

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<v Dan>Missouri has no annual report for an LLC, and a change of agent is only $10.

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<v Dan>But the state is picky about addresses, and it won't let your LLC be its own agent.

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<v Maya>What does the law require?

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<v Dan>Statute 347.030 says every Missouri LLC must continuously

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<v Dan>maintain a registered office and a registered agent for service of process.

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<v Maya>Who can be the agent?

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<v Dan>An individual who is a resident of the state and whose business office is the

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<v Dan>registered office, or a domestic or authorized foreign corporation with its business

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<v Dan>office there.

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<v Maya>Can the LLC be its own agent?

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<v Dan>No. The form says the corporation may not act as its own agent.

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<v Maya>And the Secretary of State?

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<v Dan>The statute says the Secretary of State shall not be appointed as the resident

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<v Dan>agent, with narrow exceptions.

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<v Maya>What about the address?

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<v Dan>A physical location where the agent can be served.

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<v Dan>A P.O. box only works if a street address in the same city is listed too, and a

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<v Dan>mailing store like The UPS Store is not allowed.

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<v Maya>I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

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<v Maya>Number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and it's the same $149 at

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<v Dan>renewal.

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<v Maya>What do I get?

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<v Dan>Its Missouri address on the public record instead of yours.

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<v Dan>Served papers are scanned and uploaded the same business day at no fee, and the

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<v Dan>first three government mailings a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>And if I already have an agent?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the change for you.

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<v Dan>The $10 state fee passes through at cost.

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<v Maya>The honest catch?

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<v Dan>If all you want is the lowest flat price, two agents below it charge $99.

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>It says the price hasn't gone up in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular mail a

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<v Dan>year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signup auto-enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees

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<v Dan>per filing, until you cancel.

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<v Maya>Doesn't Missouri skip the annual report?

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<v Dan>It does. Missouri LLCs file none, so check what that service would file before you

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<v Dan>pay for it.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>MO Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal.

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<v Dan>The office address on your filings, same-day scanning of legal mail, and reminders

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<v Dan>for state deadlines.

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<v Maya>Switching?

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<v Dan>Just the $10 state fee.

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<v Maya>Any catch?

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<v Dan>Formation filing is a separate service, so if you still need to form the company,

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<v Dan>that's extra.

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<v Maya>Against Mainstay?

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<v Dan>$50 less a year, $150 across three.

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a

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<v Dan>year.

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<v Maya>Fine print?

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<v Dan>The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic.

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<v Maya>If I'd already formed my company?

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<v Dan>You start at $149. Two years is $298.

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>Missouri Registered Agent.co, a flat $99.

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<v Dan>The office address, scanning of legal correspondence, and reminders for state

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<v Dan>filings.

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<v Maya>Different from number three?

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<v Dan>On the listings, no. Same price, and the same catch: formation filing is a separate

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<v Dan>service.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

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<v Dan>In the Articles of Organization, Form LLC 1, item three.

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<v Dan>It takes the agent's name and Missouri address.

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<v Maya>What does the filing cost?

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<v Dan>$50 online or $105 on paper.

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<v Maya>That's a big gap.

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<v Dan>It is, and it's the reason most people file online.

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<v Maya>Is a P.O. box okay for the agent's address?

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<v Dan>Not by itself. The form says you may not use a P.O.

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<v Dan>box unless a street address is also provided.

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<v Maya>How do I change it later?

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<v Dan>Form Corp 59, the Statement of Change of Registered Agent and Registered Office.

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<v Dan>The fee is $10.

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<v Maya>Who has to agree?

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<v Dan>The new agent. Their written consent has to be on the statement or attached to it.

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<v Maya>What does consent look like?

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<v Dan>Either an authorized signature on the form, or a separate signed letter.

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<v Dan>Online, it's an uploaded statement from the new agent saying they consent.

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<v Dan>The state also has a short form for it, the Acceptance of Appointment.

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<v Maya>Does the LLC have to approve it?

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<v Dan>The statement recites that the change was authorized by the LLC.

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<v Dan>And it's effective on filing.

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<v Maya>When is a change required?

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<v Dan>If the agent's office becomes vacant, or the agent becomes disqualified or

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<v Dan>incapacitated.

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<v Maya>What if my agent quits?

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<v Dan>The agent files Form LLC 6, a statement of resignation, with a $10 fee.

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<v Maya>Do they have to tell me?

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<v Dan>Yes. The statement represents that they gave your LLC written notice and a copy.

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<v Maya>When does it take effect?

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<v Dan>After 30 days from the state's receipt, or when you appoint a new agent, whichever

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<v Dan>comes first.

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<v Maya>So I have about a month.

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<v Dan>At most. Name the replacement with Form Corp 59 right away, and the resignation

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<v Dan>takes effect sooner.

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<v Maya>What if papers need to reach a company with no agent?

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<v Dan>Statute 347.033 lets process go to an authorized person of the LLC.

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<v Dan>If that fails, to an organizer.

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<v Maya>And if nobody can be found?

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<v Dan>Then the Secretary of State is automatically appointed as agent for as long as the

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<v Dan>default exists.

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<v Maya>That sounds risky.

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<v Dan>It is. Papers sit with the state and may not reach you in time.

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<v Dan>We found no dissolution rule for a missing agent, but the exposure is real.

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<v Maya>What does Missouri want each year?

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<v Dan>Nothing. Missouri LLCs file no annual report.

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<v Maya>So no deadline at all?

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<v Dan>No state report that restates your agent, so a stale record can sit unnoticed.

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<v Maya>Where do other state notices go?

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<v Dan>We found no official page saying.

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<v Dan>So the discipline is yours, or your agent's.

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<v Maya>What does the year cost?

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<v Dan>With Mainstay, $149. With a $99 agent, $99.

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<v Dan>The state adds nothing.

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<v Maya>That leaves the agent as the one recurring cost.

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<v Dan>And that's why the renewal price matters more here than in states with a report.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in Missouri?

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<v Dan>If you're a resident with a business office at the registered office, yes.

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<v Dan>The LLC itself can't be its own agent.

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<v Maya>What's the tradeoff?

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<v Dan>The address has to be a physical place where you can be served, and it's public.

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<v Dan>If you're not there during the day, the papers aren't taken.

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<v Maya>Can I use a home address?

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<v Dan>If it's a physical location where you can be served and it's your business office,

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<v Dan>yes. A mailbox store isn't allowed.

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<v Maya>How would a Kansas City or St.

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<v Maya>Louis owner decide?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold, is there a real Missouri office, and who files

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<v Dan>and documents the consent when you change.

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<v Maya>And your answer?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Missouri, at $149 a year.

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, MO Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then

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<v Dan>$149. Five, Missouri Registered Agent.co:

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<v Dan>$99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.