Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name. Missouri registers fictitious names with the Secretary of State, not the county, and the law asks for the filing within five days of starting to use the name.
Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.
Step 1 of 6: Set up the business
1Set up the business
2Register for tax
3Approve the space
4Get the permits for your kind of business
5Alcohol permits
6Before the first hire
Issued by Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division.
Sources and dates
RSMo 417.200 to 417.230; Secretary of State fictitious name registration (form Corp. 56) and schedule of fees. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.
Questions about opening here.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Yes. Needed whenever a sole proprietor, LLC or corporation trades under any name other than its legal or registered name.
Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division.
Step 1 of 6, set up the business. It is the first step.
Who needs a fictitious name registration (DBA) in Missouri?
