The cost to form an LLC for a Saint Louis business starts with the $50 Missouri filing fee. Add annual fees, a registered agent, and local Saint Louis business taxes below.
Last updated: May 2026 · Data: MIT Living Wage Calculator, C2ER, U.S. Census, BLS, IRS, state and city sources
Missouri charges a $50 filing fee to form an LLC, with no annual report fee (a franchise/margin tax filing may apply). Missouri has been reducing its top income tax rate, which fell to 4.8% for 2024. The state allows a deduction for federal income taxes paid, which effectively reduces the state tax burden.
| Cost Item | Amount | When Due |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Filing Fee | $50 | One-time at formation |
| State franchise / margin tax | Only above revenue threshold | Annually |
| Registered Agent Service | $49 to $300/year | Annually |
| Local Saint Louis Business License / Tax | Varies by industry | Annually |
| Operating Agreement | $0 to $500 | One-time (recommended) |
| EIN (Federal Tax ID) | Free | One-time (IRS.gov) |
Missouri does not levy a statewide local business income tax, but St. Louis applies its 1% earnings tax to business net profits earned in the city and adds a payroll expense tax and business license. Budget for the earnings tax and these costs on top of the Missouri LLC filing fee.
St. Louis sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with an economy built on healthcare and bioscience (including a major plant-science cluster), financial services, aerospace and defense led by Boeing, brewing, and higher education at Washington University.
| Local Metric | Saint Louis (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Metro population | 300,000 |
| County / jurisdiction | the City of St. Louis |
| Cost of living index (US avg = 100) | 86 |
| MIT living wage, single adult | $19.00/hour |
| MIT living wage, one earner supporting a family of four | $38.50/hour |
| Applicable minimum wage | $12.30/hour |
| Average rent, 1-bedroom | $1,100/month |
| Average rent, 2-bedroom | $1,350/month |
| Median home price | $230,000 |
| Median household income | $52,000/year |
| Combined sales tax rate | 9.679% |
| Effective property tax rate | 1.2% of value/year |
Local figures are 2026 estimates compiled from the MIT Living Wage Calculator, the C2ER Cost of Living Index, U.S. Census and Zillow housing data, and city and county sources. Verify current figures before relying on them.
The LLC filing fee is set by Missouri at $50, since LLCs are formed at the state level. You also need a registered agent (about $49 to $300/year), and any local Saint Louis business license or tax. Missouri does not levy a statewide local business income tax, but St. Louis applies its 1% earnings tax to business net profits earned in the city and adds a payroll expense tax and business license. Budget for the earnings tax and these costs on top of the Missouri LLC filing fee.
Missouri does not levy a statewide local business income tax, but St. Louis applies its 1% earnings tax to business net profits earned in the city and adds a payroll expense tax and business license. Budget for the earnings tax and these costs on top of the Missouri LLC filing fee.
Plan for the state franchise/margin tax if applicable, registered agent renewal (about $49/year), and any local Saint Louis business license or tax. The calculator above totals these for you.
LLCs are registered with the Missouri Department of Revenue at the state level, not the city. You then comply with local Saint Louis requirements such as a business license, zoning, and any city business tax. There is no separate city-level LLC filing.
If your business actually operates in Saint Louis, forming in Missouri is usually simplest. Forming in Delaware or Wyoming while operating in Saint Louis typically forces you to register as a foreign LLC in Missouri anyway, paying fees in both states.