Missouri business lookup

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USA Business Search lists Missouri businesses from Foursquare open place data and owner submissions, with phone numbers, websites and addresses. Start at the Missouri hub or a city:

Both big metros cross state lines. A "Kansas City" business may be in Kansas, and a St. Louis-area company may be based in Illinois. If you can't find it in Missouri records, check the other state. Owners can claim a listing to correct it. We do not verify or endorse listed businesses.

Verify a business with the Missouri Secretary of State

The Missouri Secretary of State's Corporations Division keeps the official record. Its Business Entity Search is free and covers corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, nonprofits and fictitious names. Search by business name, charter number or registered agent.

A record shows:

• The entity's name, charter number, type and date formed.
• Status, such as Active, Administratively Dissolved or Forfeited.
• The registered agent and registered office address.
• A filings tab with images of filed documents, including annual registration reports for corporations.

A Certificate of Good Standing costs $10, according to the Corporations Division page, as of October 2026. You can order it online at any time, and online certificates carry a verification number so the recipient can confirm them.

Missouri LLCs file no annual report, so an LLC can stay "Active" for years after it stops operating. Treat an old LLC record as a starting point, not proof the business is open.

Fictitious names are filed with the state

Missouri DBAs are called fictitious names. They are registered with the Secretary of State, not the county, and they appear in the same Business Entity Search. Registration costs $7 and lasts five years, per the Secretary of State's fictitious name page, as of October 2026. The record lists the owner, whether a person or an entity, which makes it easy to see who is behind a name on a truck or sign.

Check a contractor or professional license

Missouri leaves most construction licensing to local governments. What to check depends on where the work happens:

• General contractors, plumbers and HVAC: no statewide license. Kansas City, St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Springfield and other jurisdictions license or register these trades and issue permits. Call the permit office for the address of the job.
• Electricians: the Office of Statewide Electrical Contractors offers an optional statewide license. Cities may still require their own license, but must accept the statewide one.
• Licensed professions: the Division of Professional Registration oversees about 40 boards, including architects, engineers, land surveyors, real estate, interior design and many health professions. Search licensees through the division's license search.

Because there is no state contractor registry, references and proof of insurance matter more in Missouri. Start a list with plumbers in Missouri, then confirm the local license where you live.

Can't find the business?

Sole proprietors using their own names and general partnerships don't have to file with the Secretary of State, so they won't appear unless they registered a fictitious name. Search by the owner's name as a registered agent, which often turns up small companies. For businesses on the Kansas side of Kansas City, use the Kansas business entity search. For the Metro East side of St. Louis, use the Illinois business entity search.

Starting a business in Missouri

You'll still need to register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for sales or withholding tax, and with your city for a business license.

Missouri business lookup FAQs