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How to Check If an LLC Name Is Available in Missouri

Last verified: November 2, 2026 · Sources are cited at the bottom of this page.

The short answer

Short answer: Missouri's official search is the Secretary of State's Business Entity Search at bsd.sos.mo.gov. It is free and needs no login. The trap: Missouri's fictitious name (DBA) registration gives no exclusive rights at all — anyone can register the same fictitious name, and an LLC can still be formed under it — so a DBA filing neither protects your name nor blocks someone else's.

The official search

The registry is run by the Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division.

The database covers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and other entities registered with the Secretary of State, domestic and foreign, plus reserved names.

The portal's own instructions give the single most useful tip for this search: Exact Match searches should include corporate designations (like "llc") and punctuation — for every other kind of search, leave them out. Running an Exact Match without the designator can make a taken name look free.

The search form also lets you limit results to active entities only. The portal offers other search types besides the default Business Name search — including a dedicated Name Availability check and searches by registered agent and charter number — so confirm the type in the Search dropdown before relying on a result. Telephone name checks are also offered, but the Secretary of State warns they are "only preliminary and do not guarantee the availability of the name."

A results list typically shows the entity name, charter number (Missouri's entity ID), type, status, and formation date; a detail record typically adds duration, principal office address, registered agent and office address, and filing history. The Secretary of State does not publish an ownership roster — LLC members are not listed as owners on the public record.

Step by step

  1. Open the Business Entity Search at bsd.sos.mo.gov and leave the search set to Business Name.
  2. Enter your name without "LLC" and run a broad search first, using the "Includes names" matching option, to surface existing names containing your words.
  3. Search the most distinctive word on its own. A full-name search can miss a conflict built around the same key word with a different second word.
  4. Run an Exact Match as a final check — this time with "LLC" and punctuation included, exactly as the portal instructs, to see whether your precise name is on file.
  5. Check every entity type, and use the Name Availability search type if it is offered in the dropdown. Your name must be distinguishable from corporations, limited partnerships, and reserved names too, not just LLCs. Uncheck "Only Active" to see inactive names that may still matter.
  6. If nothing conflicting appears, the name is probably available — but only the Secretary of State's review of your filing is definitive.

Missouri's name rules

The rules are in RSMo § 347.020 of the Missouri Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 347).

Designator. The name must contain the words "limited company" or "limited liability company," or the abbreviation "LC," "LLC," "L.C.," or "L.L.C."

Distinguishable. The name must be distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State from the name of any corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability limited partnership that is licensed, organized, reserved, or registered in Missouri as a domestic or foreign entity. Two narrow exceptions exist: the other holder consents in writing and files to change its own name, or you file a court decree establishing your prior right to the name.

Prohibited terms. A Missouri LLC name may not contain "corporation," "incorporated," "limited partnership," "limited liability partnership," "limited liability limited partnership," or "Ltd." — or any abbreviation of those words. Note "Ltd." is banned here even though some states allow it. The name also may not imply the LLC is organized for a purpose not stated in its articles, or that it is a governmental agency.

Reserving a name. Under RSMo § 347.025, you can reserve the exclusive right to an available name by filing an application (Form BE-1) with the Secretary of State. The fee is $25 and the reservation lasts 60 days, renewable twice — 180 days maximum. After 180 days the name leaves reserved status, and the person who held it for the maximum may not reserve that name again, though they can still form the LLC under it if available. A reservation is optional — it does not establish an LLC.

What the search can't tell you

If the name looks available

File Articles of Organization (Form LLC 1) with the Secretary of State, online through the Missouri Business Filings portal at bsd.sos.mo.gov, or by mail on the paper form.

Ongoing: there is no annual report.

FAQ

Is the Missouri LLC name search free? Yes. The Business Entity Search is free and requires no login.

Does Missouri require an annual report for LLCs? No — the Secretary of State's FAQ answers that question directly: "No." LLCs have no annual report, fee, or recurring filing deadline, though corporations do file an annual registration report.

Does registering a fictitious name (DBA) protect my Missouri business name? No. The Secretary of State states that a fictitious name registration "does not afford or secure any exclusive rights to the name," and any number of businesses may register the same fictitious name.

How much does it cost to form a Missouri LLC? The Articles of Organization (Form LLC 1) filing fee is $50 online or $105 on paper.

How long can I reserve a Missouri LLC name? A reservation costs $25 and lasts 60 days. It can be renewed twice, for a maximum of 180 days total — after that, the same applicant cannot reserve the name again.

Sources

Run the check now

Use the workflow tool below — it is pre-set to Missouri and builds your printable checklist with the official links.

Name-Check Workflow Tool

Pick your state, choose your entity type, and type the name you want. The tool builds your step-by-step checklist — the official search, the trademark check, the domain check, and your filing options. It runs entirely in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.