Register Your Missouri Foreign Corporation
A Missouri foreign corporation is a business that is registered to do business both in the state it was originally incorporated in and Missouri. In order to register in Missouri as a foreign corporation, you'll need to file a Missouri Application for Certificate of Authority with the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division.
It costs $155 to register a foreign corporation in Missouri. You can follow our comprehensive guide below to register as a foreign corporation on your own. If you’d rather skip the headache, we can handle the paperwork for you.
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GET STARTEDHow to Register as a Foreign Corporation in Missouri
To legally register as a foreign corporation in Missouri, your business must go through a process called foreign qualification. This tells the state of Missouri that you are legally operating within its boundaries.
Foreign qualification is not the same as starting a new business in Missouri. Your business itself is the same, but your business range expands to a new jurisdiction. Some of the steps are similar to registering a new business, but there are less of them. For example, you don’t have to create bylaws.
Below you’ll find the steps for registering as a foreign corporation in Missouri.
1. Name Your Missouri Corporation
You need to register your business name in Missouri. Having it registered in your home state is nice, but it doesn’t mean it’s available for use in Missouri. Conduct a free business name search to make sure your corporation’s name is available. If someone else in Missouri is already using it, you’ll have to come up with a new name that is available but easily linked to your current name.
If you’re not quite ready to register as a foreign business, that’s fine. You can reserve your business name in Missouri for $25 for a corporation.
Want to make sure your business name is used only by you? Consider getting a federal trademark to secure your corporate name on a national level.
2. Designate a Registered Agent
A Missouri registered agent is someone who accepts legal mail on your company’s behalf. Since the registered agent must be located within the state to receive legal mail, including lawsuits, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to act as your own registered agent in this case.
However, at Northwest, we offer comprehensive registered agent services for every state. You can simplify things by using a single registered agent.
3. Start Your Business Identity
Already have a digital presence in your home state but looking to showcase your business identity in your new state? If you’re expanding your business to Missouri, it’s important to build local trust and visibility. Start by securing a local phone number and business address—these small details can make a big impact on how your business is received by local customers.
4. Get a Certificate of Good Standing
A certificate of good standing (sometimes called a certificate of existence) shows that your corporation is in compliance with its home state and has no outstanding taxes due. The process for receiving a certificate of good standing depends on your home state. The one you submit to Missouri must be dated within 60 days of registering.
5. Submit Missouri Application for Certificate of Authority
The certificate of good standing or existence must be submitted alongside your Missouri Application for Certificate of Authority. Missouri has a separate Application for Certificate of Authority for a Foreign Nonprofit Corporation, so make sure you’re filling out the right form. For-profit corporations must pay a $155 filing fee, while foreign nonprofits must pay $25.
Your form should include:
- Corporation’s name and original jurisdiction
- Name corporation will use in Missouri
- Date of incorporation
- Period of duration, applicable only if your company has a specific end date
- Principal business address
- Name and physical address of registered agent in Missouri
- Specific business purpose
- Names and business addresses of directors and officers
- Future effective date (optional)
- Authorized signature
Note: The information you list here will go on Missouri’s public record. Don’t like the sound of that? Hire Northwest, and our information will go here.
You may submit online, by mail, or in person.
Missouri will process online flings in about one business day. Mailed filings will take the state about three to four weeks to process, plus additional time for mailing. If you submit documents in person, they’ll be processed while you wait.
Online filings also require a convenience fee for both credit cards and e-checks.
By mail or in person:
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 778 / 600 W. Main St., Rm. 322
Jefferson City, MO 65102
6. File Missouri Reports and Taxes
Your foreign corporation will now have taxes and reports to file independent of the ones filed in your home state.
Annual Reports: Your corporation can opt to file either a Missouri Annual Report or a biennial report. You must also file an initial report within one month of registering with the state.
Corporate Taxes: Missouri has a corporate tax rate of 6.25% plus the Missouri franchise tax of .0333% of taxable capital in the state.
Northwest Can Register Your Missouri Foreign Corporation
If doing things on your own sounds overwhelming, boring, or generally like not a good use of your time, we’re ready to help. Our foreign qualification package is $225 + state fees. This includes:
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Registering your business as a Missouri Foreign Corporation: We’ll file your paperwork and let you know when it’s approved.
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Serving as your business’ Missouri registered agent: We can be your RA in as many states as you want to expand into.
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Launching your business identity: We’ll get you a digital presence, including a business email address, phone service, and mail forwarding. Plus, we’ll put together a custom website with a domain, web hosting, and security in place.
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Sending reminders for your Missouri Annual Report: We can even file this for you. We’ll send you a reminder about the report 90 days before they’re due, and you can either have us file for you or opt out of the service.
Missouri Foreign Corporation FAQs
You can fill out an Application for Amended Certificate of Authority. The fee is $25 for profit corporations and $10 for nonprofits. Note that the nonprofit Application for Amended Certificate of Authority is different from the for-profit one.
There is no quick-and-easy rule about what counts as doing business in Missouri. That said, generally if you are providing services or products in exchange for money, that is conducting business.
Nope.
An officer or chairman listed on the Missouri corporation application form must sign.
County filing or publication is not necessary for foreign corporations, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.
We sure can. Our foreign qualification package is $225 + state fees. You can also add additional services, like premium mail forwarding and a custom website our experts can help you make.