In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Missouri
A Missouri Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Missouri Secretary of State, Business Services Division, for LLCs, corporations and other registered entities. Order it online through the Secretary of State’s business entity search: find the entity, request the certificate and pay. The fee is $10 for every entity type. After payment, the certificate PDF is available to view and print from the order summary, and it carries a verification number.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: Missouri Secretary of State, Business Services Division (Corporations)
- Fee: $10 for all entity types
- How to order: Online through the Secretary of State business entity search
- Turnaround: PDF available from the order summary right after payment
- Free status check: Secretary of State business entity search
- What keeps you in good standing: LLCs: no annual report, but keep a registered agent on record. Corporations: Annual Registration Report ($20 online) and franchise taxes
Missouri keeps this simple: one $10 Certificate of Good Standing for every entity type, ordered online and printed the moment you pay. Missouri LLCs also file no annual report, so their main ongoing duty is keeping a registered agent on record. Corporations have more to track. This guide covers the order steps and the rules for each. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Missouri Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Missouri Certificate of Good Standing is the Secretary of State’s official confirmation that an LLC, corporation or other entity is registered in Missouri and in good standing on the Business Services Division’s records. Certificates ordered online carry a verification number, so the recipient can confirm the document is genuine.
Who asks for one:
- Banks opening an account for a Missouri LLC or corporation
- Other states’ filing offices, when a Missouri entity registers there as a foreign entity
- Lenders and SBA loan underwriters
- Payment processors and marketplaces verifying a seller
- Buyers and their attorneys during an acquisition
- Missouri licensing boards and local permit offices
The Secretary of State publishes a step-by-step guide, Ordering a Certificate of Good Standing.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Missouri
Missouri certificates are ordered online through the Missouri Secretary of State business entity search. The official pages do not describe a mail or in-person route.
- Open the business entity search and search by business name.
- Select your LLC or corporation from the results and confirm the status reads in good standing.
- Choose the option to order a Certificate of Good Standing.
- Pay the $10 fee.
- Open the order summary, then view and print the certificate PDF.
- Save the PDF and share the verification number with the recipient if they want to confirm it.
Missouri Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
The Secretary of State’s Schedule of Fees and Charges (marked 01/2025) lists the Certificate of Good Standing at $10 under General Fees. It is one fee for all entity types, with no separate online fee and no expedite fee listed.
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, LLC | $10 | PDF available right after payment |
| Online, corporation | $10 | PDF available right after payment |
| Online, other registered entities | $10 | PDF available right after payment |
| Expedite | None listed | Not applicable |
How to Check Missouri Good Standing Status for Free
The Missouri business entity search is free. Search by business name to see the entity’s status before you pay for a certificate. If a corporation shows as administratively dissolved, fix that first.
Our Missouri business entity search guide explains the search fields and status terms.
How a Missouri LLC Stays in Good Standing
Missouri LLCs file no annual report, per the Secretary of State’s business FAQs. A Missouri LLC still needs to:
- Keep a registered agent and registered office in Missouri on record.
- Update the Secretary of State when the registered agent or registered office changes.
- Keep its state tax accounts current with the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Missouri corporations have more to track. They file an Annual Registration Report, due by the end of the month in which the corporation was incorporated or qualified. The fee is $20 online and $45 on paper, with a $15 late fee for each 30-day period. The Secretary of State administratively dissolves a corporation for failure to file the report, pay franchise taxes, or maintain a registered agent or registered office, after 60 days’ written notice. The Secretary of State’s corporations general information page covers these rules.
Compare Missouri’s requirements with other states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Missouri Business Is Not in Good Standing
For a Missouri corporation that has been administratively dissolved, the fix is a rescission of dissolution with the Secretary of State:
- Search the business entity record to confirm the status.
- Request a Certificate of Tax Clearance from the Missouri Department of Revenue on Form 943. It is valid for 60 days, so file the rescission within that window.
- Prepare the cure documents, such as the missed Annual Registration Reports or a registered agent update.
- File the rescission of dissolution and pay the $55 basic fee.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing once the record shows the corporation in good standing.
For a Missouri LLC that cannot get a certificate, search the record and contact the Business Services Division about what the record shows. Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC explains the general process.
Missouri Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Good Standing covers the entity’s registration record. The Missouri Department of Revenue issues a separate tax clearance, a certificate stating a corporation has no tax due. You request it on Form 943 by mail or fax.
Corporations need the DOR Certificate of Tax Clearance to rescind an administrative dissolution, and buyers or lenders can ask for it to confirm no Missouri tax is owed. Details are on the Department of Revenue tax clearance FAQ. When a bank or another state asks for proof that the entity exists, send the $10 Secretary of State certificate instead.
Using a Missouri Certificate in Another State
When a Missouri LLC or corporation registers to do business in another state, that state’s filing office asks for a current Certificate of Good Standing from Missouri. Order the $10 certificate right before you file, since the PDF is ready as soon as you pay. For how the two documents relate, read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Missouri Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much is a Missouri Certificate of Good Standing?
The Secretary of State charges $10. The fee is the same for every entity type, and no separate online fee or expedite fee is listed.
How do I get a Certificate of Good Standing in Missouri?
Order it online through the Secretary of State’s business entity search. Find the entity, request the certificate, pay $10, then view and print the PDF from the order summary.
Can I order a Missouri Certificate of Good Standing by mail?
The official Secretary of State pages describe online ordering only. The online certificate is available right after payment and carries a verification number.
Do Missouri LLCs file an annual report?
No. The Secretary of State’s FAQ states that LLCs file no annual report. Corporations file an Annual Registration Report, $20 online or $45 on paper.
What is a Missouri Certificate of Tax Clearance?
It is a Department of Revenue certificate stating a corporation has no tax due, requested on Form 943 by mail or fax. A dissolved corporation needs it to rescind the dissolution, and it is valid for 60 days.
Fees verified against official Missouri sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Missouri Secretary of State site before you order.
