Last updated November 10, 2021

Business License in Missouri

After your Missouri LLC is approved, you’ll need to comply with federal, state, and local government license and permit requirements.

Your requirements are determined by the industry you are in and where your business is located.

Not complying with license and permit requirements is risky and can result in penalties and fines, or worse, not being allowed to conduct business.

Types of licenses you may need in Missouri

Below are some license and permits examples:

• Department of Revenue State Tax ID number
• Business operation license/business privilege license
• Sales tax license
• Seller/reseller permit
• Building permit
• Health permit
• Signage permit
• Home occupation permit
• Zoning and land use permits
• Withholding taxes (if you have employees)

Industries that are more regulated have more requirements.

Do it yourself in Missouri

Below are some resources for determining your Missouri license and permit requirements yourself:

Obtain a Missouri Tax ID Number
A state taxpayer identification number is issued by the Missouri Department of Revenue. This number can be obtained online. First, make sure you have your LLC’s EIN Number from the IRS. Then visit Missouri Department of Revenue: New Business Registration.

Business Tax Registration Forms
http://dor.mo.gov/forms/index.php?category=13

Business Tax FAQs
http://dor.mo.gov/faq/business/register.php

Local County Requirements
You’ll need to contact the county where your LLC is located to obtain the requirements. Contact info for all 114 counties can be found here:
http://www.mo.gov/government/city-county-government/counties/

MO Business Development Program Licenses and Registration Checklist
https://missouribusiness.net/article/licenses-registration-checklist/

MO Business Development Program Contacts for Licenses and Permits
https://missouribusiness.net/article/contacts-licenses-permits/

MO Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
https://labor.mo.gov/

Note: There may be more places in Missouri you need to contact.

Accounting and tax help:

We also recommend finding a local tax professional to help you. You can use Thumbtack.com or Yelp.com.

Hiring a tax professional will not only help you keep your Missouri LLC in compliance, but it will also give you an advisor to go to for other business questions.

You’ll want someone who’s a good fit for your company, makes you feel comfortable, and is willing to answer all of your questions. It should be someone you like personally as well as professionally. We recommend talking with at least 2-3 people before making your final decision.

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.