Finding the right registered agent for your business can make the process of starting and running your business significantly smoother. The right registered agent will remind you of every important deadline and give you all the necessary compliance tools to help you avoid any fees and fulfil the legal requirements of the state. To help you find the right registered agent for your Missouri business, we have compiled a list of our top eleven recommendations for the best Missouri registered agent services.
If you don’t want to shift through eleven recommendations, here are our top 3 picks for the best Missouri registered agents and all the features they offer.
Best Missouri Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Missouri Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Harrisonville |
| Swyft Filings | $149 a year | Not stated |
| Missouri Registered Agent LLC | $40 a year | Harrisonville |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Springfield |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Harrisonville |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Jefferson City |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agents Inc. | $200 a year | Not stated |
Apart from providing you with individual recommendations, we’ll also go over all the necessary steps to register a business in Missouri and provide you with an FAQ section.
But before we get into all of that, let’s first cover the role of a registered agent.
What is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent, also known as a statutory agent or a resident agent, is an individual or a company that receives legal and government correspondence and notices on your business’s behalf. Once they receive the documents, they forward them to you in a timely manner.
Does Missouri Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, in the state of Missouri, every LLC and corporation is required to appoint a registered agent during the formation process.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Now that we defined the purpose of a registered agent, it’s time to go over all the benefits you can enjoy if you appoint one.
- You don’t have to use your private address and share it publicly – instead, you can use your registered agent’s;
- Your business will be more organised overall;
- If you ever want to grow your business in other states, you can easily expand it without changing registered agents;
- You won’t have risk being in potentially embarrassing situations with clients;
- Your business will remain compliant at all times and you won’t have to risk being fined;
- Registered agents allow for a more flexible schedule and more freedom in terms of travelling.
1. IncFile
IncFile’s commitment to providing exceptional service at an affordable price makes them our top recommendation for the best Missouri registered agent service. Having helped over 800,000 businesses stay compliant throughout the years, you know you’ll be in good hands. Their registered agent service offer includes:
- Access to your correspondence on a personal dashboard
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
They’re diligent about sending you compliance reminders, ensuring that you stay on track with every due date you might have.
Moreover, IncFile offer an excellent deal – anyone who hires them for their formation services can enjoy a complimentary year of registered agent services! After that, the price is only $119, making them a great option for entrepreneurs and start-ups with a smaller budget to work with.
Apart from offering registered agent services, IncFile offer:
- Amendment
- Foreign qualification
- Business licenses and permits
- Certificate of good standing
- Virtual address
- Trademarking
- EIN Number
- Tax consultations
2. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is another well-known name is the business. Rated as #1 on sites like Forbes and MarketWatch, they offer great customer support and outstanding compliance tools, like:
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Document scanning
- Fast turnaround
Moreover, the sign-up process is smooth and their interface is user-friendly, which is always a plus.
One of our favourite aspects of ZenBusiness is their $5K Grant Program. With it, they support struggling entrepreneurs to start their businesses and make their dreams come true by donating a portion of their income to this project.
Moreover, customers really love how knowledgeable and supportive their customer support team is.
A year of registered agent services with ZenBusiness will cost you $199. You have the option of upgrading their registered agent services to unlock additional features, like annual report alerts and two filing changes a year.
Other services offered by ZenBusiness include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business license reports
- Worry-free compliance
- Banking and finances
- Domain name and website
- EIN Number
- Taxes and accounting
- Annual reports
3. Northwest
Northwest ensures that you meet all the legal requirements for your Missouri business. Apart from being known as one of the best registered agent services across the United States, they’re also renowned for their excellent customer support. Here are all the perks you can access if you hire their registered agent service:
- Mail forwarding
- Scanned documents
- Compliance alerts
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Document storage
Their yearly fee is only $125, making them among the most affordable registered agent services on our list. Additionally, if you hire them for more than four states, you can lower your yearly fee to $100.
One of Northwest’s strong suits is its customer support known as Corporate Guides – a team of experts ready to help you whenever you need guidance with something compliance-related.
During your first year with Northwest, you will receive free access to their compliance calendar, which will make it easier than ever to track important deadlines and avoid any fees.
With their Privacy by Default feature, your data and personal information will remain protected – an important feature for any registered agent service.
Their Missouri office is located in Harrisonville, Cass County.
They also offer other services, such as:
- Mail forwarding
- Virtual office
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking
- Phone service
- Payment processing
- Annual report filings
4. Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings excel at personalized customer support and rapid processing speed. Their registered agent service comes with appealing benefits, such as:
- Access to an online account
- Document storage
- Expert handling of all your documents
Their yearly fee is $149 a year. Their pricing remains transparent and you’ll never have to worry about encountering hidden fees.
The other services offered by Swyft Filings include:
- Foreign qualification
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Amendment
- Business dissolution
- EIN Number
- Registered agent change
- Withdrawal
5. Missouri Registered Agent
At $40 a year, Missouri Registered Agent is one of the cheapest registered agent services available in this state. In return, you’ll get to enjoy a plethora of perks, such as:
- An online account
- Timely reminders of annual reports
- Document notifications
- Document scans
In addition, their pricing remains the same each year and there are no additional charges.
They also offer the following services:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Credit card processing
6. InCorp
InCorp is a great registered agent service for anyone who is interested in a multi-year deal. Their regular pricing is $129, but if you use their multi-year service, you will pay as low as $87 annually. The benefits included in this package are:
- Legal notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Access to their Entity Management System
InCorp prides itself on protecting its clients from identity theft, all thanks to its EntityWatch technology.
Their Missouri office is located in Springfield.
Apart from registered agent services, they also provide:
- Copyright
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Foreign qualification
- Apostille service
- Articles of amendment
- EIN Number
- UCC search
- Trademarking
- DBA filing
7. Harbor Compliance
Another registered agent service we invite you to consider is Harbor Compliance. With over 35,000 satisfied customers, Harbor Compliance knows how to help any business remain compliant during the year. If you hire them, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
- Customizable notifications
- Pre-filled state forms
Customers greatly appreciate their fast processing speed, which allows you to receive all your important documents as fast as possible.
Their yearly fee is $99, and you can get an additional 10% discount if you use their multi-year service.
Their Missouri office is located in Harrisonville.
Here are the other services offered by Harbor Compliance:
- Amendments
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Business licenses
- Registration
8. CSC Global
Our next two recommendations suit larger businesses that don’t mind spending a little extra on a comprehensive registered agent service. CSC Global is a premium nationwide registered agent service that includes the following tools:
- Access to their SOC-2 facilities
- Annual compliance reminders
- Access to an online personalized dashboard
- Electronic delivery of all your documents
They’re dedicated to ensuring the safety of their clients and protecting them from any third parties. Their data security is among the best.
You can find their Missouri office in Harrisonville.
- CSC Global also provide:
- UCC
- Corporate filings
- Real estate and recording
- Digital brand services
- Entity management
- Legal management
9. LegalZoom
LegalZoom specialises in a wide range of services in the legal field. Having helped over 2 million businesses throughout the years, you know you’ll be in good hands. Their registered agent service includes various compliance tools, such as:
- Mail alerts
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Annual report reminders
- Access to their Compliance Calendar
Thanks to their compliance tools, you can easily track all your deadlines and avoid being charged any fees.
In addition, LegalZoom offer $1M for identity theft insurance, protecting your business and allowing you to grow it worry-free. Plus, they have expertise in IP protection and trademark registration.
Another thing we love about LegalZoom is that they offer to change your current registered agent and cover any fees in the process.
Their yearly fee costs $299, but if you purchase their formation package, the first year will cost you only $249.
LegalZoom’s additional services include:
- Trademarking and copyright
- Power of attorney
- Incorporation
- EIN number
- Business formation
- Taxation
- Annual reports
- Residential lease
- Business registration
- Foreign qualification
10. Registered Agent Net
Another on our list of registered agent services under $100, Registered Agent Net offer an appealing array of features for the price of $89 a year. The features include:
- Same-day document delivery
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Two-year price guarantee
The abovementioned compliance tools allow you to get regular reminders of your renewals, as well as help you keep track of all your business information. Before any due date, you will be notified via mail.
Other services offered by Registered Agent Net include:
- Corporate filings
- Annual report services
- A change of registered agent
11. Registered Agent Inc.
Last but not least, Registered Agent Inc. is an outstanding nationwide registered agent service that boasts the following perks:
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Professional filer tips
- Compliance reminders
- Digital notifications
On top of that, various positive reviews attest to the intuitive design of their website and the user-friendly interface.
Their registered agent services cost $200 annually.
Registered Agent Inc. also offer the following services:
- Incorporation
- Start-up formation
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
How Do I Register a Business in Missouri?
Now it’s time to delve into all the steps required to register a business in Missouri.
Find a Name for Your Missouri Business
The first step to registering a business is finding the right name for it. You’ll need the name of your business to file the necessary documents with the state.
While you have creative freedom in naming your business, there are also some things to keep in mind. For starters, make sure your name is unique and represents your business accurately and the service/goods you offer. To ensure that no other business operates under the same name, it’s useful to do a business name search at this stage of the registration process.
If you have come up with the perfect name and you want to ensure that no other business takes it while you’re setting up all your documentation, you have the option to reserve your name on the Missouri Secretary of State website for 180 days. The application fee for a name reservation is $25.
Depending on what type of business structure you choose, your business name has to contain a certain word or abbreviation that represents its structure, such as “Limited”, “Corporation”, or “L.L.C”.
Choose a Business Structure
Another important decision you need to make before you file the necessary documents is to decide on a business structure. The four most popular business structures in Missouri are:
- Sole proprietorship
- Partnership
- LLC
- Corporation
The business structure you choose will impact the types of obligations you have with the state on an annual basis, how much forming the business will cost you, and whether or not your personal assets will be at stake. If you’d like to protect your assets, choosing a corporation or an LLC is a good idea.
File Articles of Organization
If you decided on an LLC, a mandatory step you need to complete is filing articles of organization with the state of Missouri. This document details information such as the location of your business, its members, and the name of the registered agent, so, at this stage, you’ll need to have chosen a registered agent.
The cost of filing articles of organization is $105.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, you decided to opt for a corporation, you need to file articles of incorporation with the state of Missouri. This document has a similar purpose to articles of organization and it costs $58 to file.
Obtain an EIN
Any business that plans on hiring employees, or is taxed separately from its owner, needs to obtain an Employee Identification Number. The application for an EIN is conducted online, on the IRS website, and is free of charge.
Even if your business doesn’t require you to legally obtain an EIN, there are various benefits to doing so. For instance, you will find it much easier to open a bank account or get a loan. Additionally, it adds a layer of security to your business because it prevents identity theft.
Get all the Necessary Licenses and Permits
The state of Missouri doesn’t require a general business license, but, depending on the location of your business and the industry you’re in, you might need to obtain various licenses and permits for your Missouri business.
Businesses that sell goods in the state of Missouri need to obtain a retail sales tax license, also known as a seller’s permit. You can apply for this type of license online using Form 2463.
If you work in a specific area, particularly in the health, safety, childcare, and food sector, you might need a professional or occupational license. The Missouri Division of Professional Registration website has useful information about specific licenses for various types of businesses. Alternatively, you can also do an online business license search to determine the types of licenses you’ll need for your business.
Many licenses vary depending on the location of your business, so check with your local city or county to see if you’ll need any additional licenses.
FAQs
Where Can I Do a Minnesota Business Entity Search?
You can do a Minnesota Business Entity Search on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Minnesota?
The cost of registering a corporation in Minnesota is $58, while the cost of registering an LLC is $105.
How Much Is a Registered Agent in Missouri?
The cost of a Missouri-registered agent depends on several different factors, like the type of company you hire and the features they offer. You can hire a registered agent for as low as $40, while some registered agent services can cost up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Missouri?
Yes, the state of Missouri allows you to be your own registered agent, as long as you fulfil the requirements, like being a resident of the state, being at least 18 years of age, and being available during normal business hours.
A Word of Farwell
We hope you found our article on the best Missouri registered agent services informative.
If you’d like to hire the best of the best when it comes to providing registered agent services, our top recommendations are IncFile, ZenBusiness, and Northwest. These come with many amazing features, like mail forwarding, document scanning, access to an online digital dashboard, and compliance reminders, all of which will help you stay compliant.
For those looking for more affordable recommendations, we invite you to consider Harbor Compliance, Missouri Registered Agent LLC, and Registered Agent Net.
Leave a Reply