Every formal business in Missouri is required by law to have a Missouri registered agent. A registered agent receives any official documents from the State of Missouri, as well as any service of process filed on a firm in a lawsuit.
In this Missouri Registered Agent guide, we’ll go over what a registered agent is, what they perform, and how to choose one.
What Is A Registered Agent In Missouri?
A Missouri registered agent is a person or corporate organization that serves as your company’s point of contact for:
All correspondence with the State of Missouri, such as the Missouri certificate of good standing, is received. The company receives all service of process in any case.
In Missouri, every formal company, such as an LLC or corporation, is required by law to have a registered agent.
In Missouri, may I act as my own registered agent?
Yes, any owner or employee of a company may serve as its registered agent in Missouri if they are above the age of 18 and have a Missouri street address.
You might also designate a member of your LLC or a friend you trust, as long as they match these standards as well.
Why Do Companies Use Missouri Registered Agent Services?
Many firms opt to employ a registered agent service when forming an LLC for the following reasons:
Compliance
A registered agent service keeps a compliance calendar and will notify you when yearly reports or other files are due, as well as assist you in submitting them.
This helps you avoid penalties and maintains your firm in good standing, both of which are necessary to preserve your limited liability protection.
If you do not reply immediately to serving of process, legal complexities, costs, or other concerns may develop. A registered agent will scan your papers, upload them to the internet, and tell you when they are ready.
Privacy
If you operate from home or a private office as your own registered agent, your address will be made public on the Missouri Business Search.
If your privacy is important to you, a registered agent service will use their own address instead of yours.
Discretion
Receiving service of process for a lawsuit at your place of business may be a delicate circumstance to have in front of your staff and customers.
To circumvent this problem, a registered agent will accept service of process and other papers at their office and deliver them to you discreetly online.
Flexibility
If you are your own registered agent, you must be accessible every working day of the year during regular business hours.
Registered agent services have real offices and people to cover certain hours, allowing them to be accessible during those times.
Hiring a registered agent service enables you to be more flexible with your working hours and locations. So go ahead and take a vacation, work from home or the office, or travel the globe knowing they’ll be there to collect your documents.
Online Data Storage
A competent registered agent service will scan your papers as soon as they arrive, maintaining a digital record of all your company documents and any service of process on a user-friendly dashboard.
If you employed an LLC creation service, you would most likely also use them as a registered agent. This implies a copy of your formation paperwork will be accessible online as well.
National Reach
If you want to grow your company into other states, such as by employing an out-of-state employee or establishing a new sales office, you must have a registered agent for your foreign LLC or other corporation.
The majority of registered agent services are available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Simply pay a little fee for the new state in which you operate, and they will transmit all of your paperwork to the same web dashboard.
What Is the Cost of a Registered Agent?
A registered agent service normally costs between $50 and $300 each year. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a little amount to pay.
In Missouri, How Do I Choose A Registered Agent?
When you finish your LLC’s Articles of Organization in Missouri, you must choose a registered agent. In Missouri, the primary LLC creation document is the Articles of Organization.
Online Registration of a Registered Agent
You may create your LLC online utilizing the Missouri Online Business Filing System at the Secretary of State’s website ($50 filing fee needed). After agreeing to the terms and conditions, you will have access to all of the materials you need to appoint a registered agent and incorporate an LLC online.
Choosing a Registered Agent by Mail
Download the Articles of Organization ($105 filing fee necessary), fill out the appropriate information, and send a physical copy to the Missouri Secretary of State to create your LLC by mail. Section 3 will need you to supply information about your registered agent.
How Do I Change My Missouri Registered Agent?
Simply complete out a Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office form and send it to the Missouri Secretary of State along with the $10 filing fee paid by check, money order, or credit card to change your Missouri registered agent.
This may be done in person or by mail.
Corporations Division, P.O. Box 778, Jefferson City, Missouri 65102
Corporations Division 600 W. Main Street, Room 322 Jefferson City, MO 65102
See our comprehensive guide on changing registered agents in Missouri.
Appointment Consent
Your new registered agent must also agree to their appointment. They may do so by signing the change form or adding a second document with their written approval.