How to Look Up an LLC in Missouri (2026)
To look up an LLC in Missouri, search the Secretary of State's Business Search tool. Search by business name, registered agent, name availability or charter number.
The tool covers corporations, LLCs and other entities on file with the state. It's free to search and doesn't require an account.
This guide covers every search method. It also shows how to check a name against Missouri trademarks. And it covers who to call when a search comes back empty.
Quick Summary
- Missouri assigns each LLC a charter number. Use it for a quick, exact-match search once you have it.
- Small businesses make up 99.4% of Missouri businesses, per the SBA [1]. Confirm your name is free before you file.
- Reach the Corporations Division toll-free at 1-866-223-6535 if the search tool doesn't answer your question.
| Search Method | What to Enter | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| By business name | The company name, with a match type (Includes Names, Starting With, All Words, Any Word or Exact Match) | General lookups when you only know the name |
| By registered agent | The agent's first and last name, or an organization name | Finding entities tied to a known agent |
| By name availability | The name you're considering for a new LLC | Checking whether a name is open before you file |
| By charter number | The Missouri charter number, once you have it | Confirming a specific, already-known entity |
How to Search for an LLC in Missouri
The Secretary of State's Corporations Division runs Missouri's Business Search tool. All four search methods below start on that same page.
1. Search by Business Name
Type the name into the search bar. Then pick a match type:
- Includes Names
- Starting With
- All Words
- Any Word
- Exact Match
Exact Match needs the corporate designation (Inc., LLC and similar) and any punctuation. Every other match type works better without them.
To run the search, do the following:
- Go to the Missouri Business Search page.
- Choose a match type from the drop-down menu.
- Check "Only Active Corporations" to filter out dissolved or revoked entities.
- Click Search, then open a result.
- Each result shows the business name, charter number, entity type, status, formation date and registered agent.
2. Search by Registered Agent
Enter a first and last name, or an organization name, in the Registered Agent field. Use this when you know an entity's agent but not its exact business name.
3. Search by Name Availability
Choose Name Availability from the drop-down, then type the name you're considering. The search checks it the same way as a business-name search does.
4. Search by Charter Number
If you already have the charter number, enter it directly. Missouri assigns every corporation, LLC and limited partnership a unique charter number.
A charter-number search returns the same result fields as any other method. Open a result's General Information tab for the entity's domesticity, home state and duration.
How to Read Your Search Results
Active means the entity is current and in good standing. Missouri corporations get Administratively Dissolved for missing an annual report. Missouri LLCs don't file one.
Instead, the state can cancel an LLC's registration for failing to keep a registered agent. It can also cancel for unpaid filing fees [2]. Revoked or Withdrawn means the entity no longer operates in Missouri. Uncheck "Only Active Corporations" to see these records too.
Contact the Corporations Division
The Corporations Division takes questions the search tool can't answer, by phone or email:
- Phone: (573) 751-4153
- Toll-free: 1-866-223-6535
- Email: corporations@sos.mo.gov
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Central Time
Branch offices in St. Louis, Kansas City and Springfield keep the same hours and toll-free number, so any of them can take your call.
Certificates and Copies
A Certificate of Good Standing costs $10. A certified copy of a filed document costs $10 online, or $10 plus 50 cents per page by mail. Non-certified copies run 50 cents per page.
How to Check If a Business Name Is Trademarked in Missouri
A clear Missouri business name search is not the same as a clear trademark. Run both checks before you settle on a name.
Federal Trademark Check (USPTO)
Search the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), run by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A Missouri-only search never picks up marks registered elsewhere.
State Trademark Check
Missouri doesn't run a self-service online trademark search. Call or email the Corporations Division to ask about a name before you file a state application. Registration is effective for 10 years and can be renewed [3].
Reasons to Perform a Missouri LLC Search
Performing an LLC lookup in Missouri is useful for more than just naming a new business:
- Confirm a name is free before you start an LLC in Missouri, since a rejected filing costs you time.
- Look up an agent's name to see which entities they represent, a quick cross-check when you're picking from the best registered agent services in Missouri.
- Confirm a business is active before you sign a contract or agree to a partnership.
- Check a charter number against public records before you rely on it in a filing or an application.
FAQs
How Do I Find Out Who Owns a Missouri LLC?
To find out who owns a Missouri LLC, search the Business Search tool by name or charter number, then open the record for the registered agent on file.
How Much Does It Cost to Use the Missouri Business Search Tool?
There is no cost to search the Missouri Business Search tool. You only pay a fee if you order a certified copy or a Certificate of Good Standing.
How Do I Reserve a Missouri LLC Name Before I File?
Reserve a Missouri LLC name by filing a name reservation with the Secretary of State for a $25 fee. This holds the name while you prepare your formation paperwork.
Does a Missouri LLC Have to File an Annual Report?
No, Missouri doesn't require an LLC to file an annual report. Only Missouri corporations file one. An LLC just needs to keep a current registered agent on file.
References:
- https://advocacy.sba.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Missouri_2025-State-Profile.pdf
- https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=347.183
- https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=417.026
