Starting your own LLC (Limited Liability Company) in Missouri is fun and exciting. You’ve worked hard on the concepts of your new business, and you’re finally ready to make everything official.
What comes next, is a series of steps that Missouri requires to ensure your company meets certain standards. You’ll need to appoint a person in charge, file your Articles of Organization, and check which taxes fit your design.
Wallach & Associates, P.C. can assist with your business formation by guiding you through these steps and advising you on the options that will benefit you the most. If you’re ready to found a startup in Missouri, call our office today.
Choose a Name for Your LLC
Your LLC’s name must be unique and not too similar to other businesses registered in Missouri. It must end with “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” or their abbreviations (LLC, L.L.C., ltd., ltd. liability co.). You can check the availability of your chosen name on the Missouri Secretary of State’s website.
Appoint a Registered Agent
A registered agent is a person or business that agrees to receive legal papers on behalf of your LLC if legal action needs to be taken. The only requirement is that the registered agent must have a physical address in Missouri. Therefore, you could pick yourself, or a legal-savvy friend, or you could have our law firm, Wallach & Associates, P.C., itself become the registered agent.
File Articles of Organization
You need to file the Articles of Organization with the Missouri Secretary of State. This can be done online or by mail. The form requires basic information about your LLC, such as its name, purpose, registered agent’s name and address, and the names of any people who helped you submit the forms. There is also a filing fee, which can vary depending on the specifics of your business.
Create an Operating Agreement
Although it’s not required by the state, creating an Operating Agreement is a good practice for any successful business. It’s an internal document that outlines the ownership and operating procedures of your LLC. It can help with the decision-making process and reduce the potential for misunderstandings between your partners. Missouri statutes do provide default terms if you don’t. If you ignore creating your own Operating Agreement, however, you’re running on Missouri’s default statutes. And for issues like “What happens when a member resigns?” or if he or she was the “Managing Member,” then “Who now runs the business?” those “default statutes” may provide for something you wouldn’t want at all.
Get an EIN
If your LLC has more than one member, or if you plan to hire employees, you’ll need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This can be done online and you probably can do this yourself. However, there are some possible quirks in the results, depending on how you answer certain questions on the IRS’s online EIN application.
Register for Missouri Taxes
Depending on the nature of your business and where your LLC is located, you may need to register for one or more forms of state taxes with the Missouri Department of Revenue. This could include sales tax, employers’ withholding tax, or a franchise tax.
Let Wallach & Associates Help You Start a Business in Missouri
At Wallach & Associates, P.C., we have years of experience helping people like you realize their dreams. We’ll guide you through the business formation process from start to finish, and then stay on to assist you with the contract negotiations and legal disputes you may encounter. Call our St. Louis, Chesterfield, or Maryland Heights offices today at (314) 308-2900.
