Making sure that your business has met all of the licensing requirements
can be one of the most difficult tasks for a new business owner. Working
through the maze of federal, state and local government regulations
can be both confusing and time consuming.
This section is a guide through the process of obtaining necessary
licenses and provides information on the most common types of licenses.
There is also a special search function that allows you to enter your
type of business and obtain a listing of the state licenses, fees, permits
and regulations.
It is essential that you also check with your local government, generally
the city clerk or county clerk, about local licensing issues.
Following is information on state requirements to conduct business
in Missouri.
Sales Tax Number
Any business making retail sales must obtain a Missouri Retail Sales
License from the Missouri Department of Revenue. A bond, based on
projected monthly gross sales, must be posted at the time of application.
The minimum bond amount is $25. Generally, a wholesaler or manufacturer
will be required to obtain a seller's valid permit that shows exemption
from sales tax for retail purchases.
An application form can be obtained from the Missouri Department
of Revenue. A PDF version of the application and instructions is available
online: MO
Sales Tax Registration, 2643
You can also obtain the application form by fax from the department
(see next paragraph for details). Request Forms by Fax Document No.
1149 -- a complete package of registration materials; note that this
document is 14 pages long.
The Missouri Department of Revenue also maintains a "Forms by Fax"
service that permits you to obtain, by fax, many tax forms you will
require. To use this service, simply dial 573/751-4800 from your fax
machine's handset and follow the instructions to request the forms
you need. The forms will be faxed immediately to your fax machine.
For the four-page Master Document List, showing the form request numbers
for all forms, request Document No. 1.
If you have a personal computer equipped with a modem and basic communications
software you can obtain tax information from the Missouri Department
of Revenue's Bulletin Board System MODOR BBS. To access this resource,
please dial 573/751-7846. On your initial log-in, the system will
prompt you for your name and other information to establish your Account.
You will then choose a password for future access to the system. Use
of the system is free of charge; only normal telephone line charges
apply. The BBS will be updated and expanded regularly, so the Department
encourages users to check its contents frequently.
For assistance with particular tax matters, please contact your nearest
Missouri Department of Revenue Taxpayer Services Office, at one of
the following locations:
Cape Girardeau - 573/290-5852
3102 Blattner Drive, Suite 102 |
Kansas City - 816/889-2920
615 East 13th Street, Room B2 |
Columbia - 573-884-3814
1500 Vandiver Drive, Room 113 |
St. Joseph - 816/387-2230
525 Jules, Room 314 |
Jefferson City - 573/751-7191
2108 Williams |
St. Louis - 314/877-0177
3256 Laclede Station Rd., Suite 101 |
Joplin - 417/629-3070
1110 E. Seventh Street |
Springfield - 417/895-6474
149 Park Central Sq., Rm 313 |
Regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Employer Identification
Number (EIN)
Every employer maintaining an office or transacting any business in
Missouri and making payment of wages to a resident or nonresident
individual must obtain a Missouri Employer Tax Identification Number,
which is required by federal law if you are an employer, partnership
or corporation. Some entities, such as financial institutions, also
require a business to have an identification number. The application
form (SS-4) is available from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
An Online
Application - EIN is also available.
Motor Vehicle
Licensing, Registration
Missouri state law defines a commercial motor vehicle as a motor vehicle
designed or regularly used for carrying freight and merchandise, or
more than eight passengers. Vanpools (used to transport employees
to and from work) and shuttle buses (used to transport customers to
and from your place of business) are not included in this definition
and may be registered as "regular" motor vehicles. Under this definition,
all trucks are commercial vehicles in Missouri because they are designed
to carry freight.
A commercial motor vehicle whose operations are confined solely to
a 25-mile area around a single municipality is defined as a "local
commercial vehicle." These definitions are used to determine registration
fees for the various types of vehicles. Unless your commercial vehicle
is licensed for less than 12,000 lbs., and is not regularly used for
commercial purposes, you must display the following information on
your vehicle or vehicles:
- The name of the owner
- The address from which you operate the vehicle, or the number
issued to the carrier by the Missouri Division of Transportation
- If it is a local vehicle, the word "LOCAL."
Licensing: You do not need to have your vehicle inspected if:
- Your commercial vehicle is used for interstate commerce and is
registered with the Missouri Highway Reciprocity Commission.
- You have a registration receipt showing that the license plate
being renewed was properly transferred within the past six months.
- The vehicle was originally issued a registration for less than
one year.
- You are registering a vehicle that has not been in Missouri in
the past 60 days.
You will need a statement saying that the vehicle has not been in
Missouri and that you will have the vehicle inspected within 10 days
of bringing it to Missouri. When driving your commercial vehicle,
you must abide by Missouri law concerning license plates, license
plate lights, load projections from the vehicle, towlines, and slow
moving vehicle signs. These laws are found in Chapter 301 of the Revised
Statutes of Missouri.
You can find a brief summary of these and other motor vehicle and
driving laws in the Missouri Driver Guide, published by the Missouri
Department of Revenue. For a copy, contact:
Division of Motor Vehicle & Driver Licensing
Room 470, Truman Office Building
301 West High Street
Jefferson City MO 65101
dlbmail@dor.mo.gov
(573) 751-4600
The guide is also available online at: www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/dlguide/
Commercial Drivers Licensing
Missouri drivers who transport people or property for hire must carry
a Class A, B, C or E drivers license. The class you and your drivers
require depends on the class of vehicle you intend to use commercially.
If you are hiring drivers who will be driving class A, B or C vehicles,
you should obtain a Commercial Drivers Licensing manual from the Missouri
State Highway Patrol or Missouri
Motor Vehicle and Drivers Licensing.
Occupational
Licenses
The state of Missouri licenses or certifies a variety of occupations
and activities. The following list provide information on the more
common occupations, the administering agency and a phone number for
additional information on licensing requirements:
|
Occupation:
|
Administering Agency:
|
Phone:
|
|
Accountant
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0012
|
|
Adult Day Care Program
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-3082
|
|
Amusement Rides
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2930
|
|
Animal Care Facility
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-2540
|
|
Apiary (Beekeepers)
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5505
|
|
Architects
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0047
|
|
Athletic Trainers
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0144
|
|
Athletics
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0243
|
|
Audiology Clinical
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0144
|
|
Barber
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0805
|
|
Bedding Permit
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6102
|
|
Beverage Manufacturer
|
|
573/751-6090 |
|
Boat Towing
|
U.S. Coastguard
|
314/539-3091
|
|
Boiler/Pressure Inspection
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2930
|
|
Caterers Permit (Temp. Liquor License)
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2333
|
|
Certified Pesticide Private
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5504
|
|
Child Placing Agency
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-4920
|
|
Chiropractor
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-2104
|
|
Commercial Wildlife Permits
|
Dept. Of Conservation
|
573/751-4115
|
|
Cosmetology
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-1052
|
|
Day Care Facility
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-2450
|
|
Dead Animals, Disposal Of
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-2540
|
|
Dentists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0040
|
|
Drivers Training School
|
Dept. Of Higher Education
|
573/751-2361
|
|
Drug Distributors License
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-9056
|
|
Dry Cleaning
|
Dept. Of Natural Resources
|
573/526-6627
|
|
Egg Processors
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5639
|
|
Elevator Inspections
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2930
|
|
Embalmers & Funeral Directors
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0813
|
|
Endowed Care Cemeteries
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0035
|
|
Engineers
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0047
|
|
Family Day Care Home License
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-2450
|
|
Fireworks Permit
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2930
|
|
Fishing Permit (Commercial)
|
Dept. Of Conservation
|
573/751-4115
|
|
Food Establishment
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6090
|
|
Frozen Dessert License
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6090
|
|
Funeral Directors
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0813
|
|
Gas/Kerosene Distributors
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-4278
|
|
Geologists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/526-7625
|
|
Grain Warehouse/Grain Dealer
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-4112
|
|
Greenhouse
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5505
|
|
Group Day Care
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-2450
|
|
Healing Arts
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0098
|
|
Hearing Aid Dealers/Fitters
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0240
|
|
Highway Excavation Permits
|
Dept. Of Transportation
|
573/751-4994
|
|
Home Health Agency
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6336
|
|
Hospital License
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6303
|
|
Inspected Meat/Poultry Plant License
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/522-1242
|
|
Insurance: Agent & Broker
|
Dept. Of Insurance
|
573/751-3518
|
|
Interior Designers
|
Professional Registration
|
573/522-4683
|
|
Interpreters For The Deaf
|
Professional Registration
|
573/526-7787
|
|
Junk/Salvage Yard
|
Dept. Of Transportation/Right Of Way Section
|
573/751-2841
|
|
Land Surveyors
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0047
|
|
Landscape Architectural
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0877
|
|
Liquor License
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2333
|
|
Livestock Market
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-2539
|
|
Loan Broker
|
Div. Of Finance
|
573/751-4243
|
|
Lodging Establishment
|
Dept. Of Health
|
573/751-6090
|
|
Long Term Care Facility
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/526-8506
|
|
Marital And Family Therapists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0870
|
|
Martial Arts
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0243
|
|
Massage Therapists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/522-6277
|
|
Mentally Ill, Day Program For
|
Dept. Of Mental Health
|
573/751-4024
|
|
Milk Products Processor
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5639
|
|
Milk Products Distribution
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5639
|
|
Milk, Raw: Exports Of
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-3830
|
|
Milk, Raw: Brokerage License
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-3830
|
|
Mobile Homes, Manufacturer
|
Economic Development
|
573/751-2557
|
|
Modular Units, Manufacturer
|
Economic Development
|
573/751-2557
|
|
Moisture Measuring Devices
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-3440
|
|
Motor Carrier Services
|
Mo Dept. Of Transportation
|
573/751-7100
|
|
Motor Vehicle Inspection Sta.
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-3313
|
|
Motor Vehicle Salvage
|
Dept. Of Revenue
|
573/751-4469
|
|
Motor Vehicle Dealer Regis.
|
Dept. Of Revenue
|
573/751-8638
|
|
Nursery Dealer
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5505
|
|
Nursing
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0681
|
|
Occupational Therapists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0877
|
|
Optometry
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0814
|
|
Police Officer
|
Highway Patrol Academy
|
573/526-6174
|
|
Perfusionists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0098
|
|
Pesticide Dealer License
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5504
|
|
Pesticide Applicator License
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5504
|
|
Pharmacy
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0091
|
|
Physical Therapists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0144
|
|
Physicians Assistants
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0144
|
|
Physicians
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0098
|
|
Podiatry
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0873
|
|
Professional Counselors
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0018
|
|
Proprietory School Certification
|
Dept. Of Higher Education
|
573/751-2361
|
|
Psychologists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0099
|
|
Qualified Fuel Ethanol
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/522-1955
|
|
Real Estate Agents
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-2628
|
|
Real Estate Appraisers
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0038
|
|
Residential Care Agency
|
Dept. Of Social Services
|
573/751-4920
|
|
Respiratory Care Practitioners
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0877
|
|
Scale Inspection
|
Dept. Of Agriculture (Weights & Measures)
|
573/751-4278
|
|
Social Workers, Clinical
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0885
|
|
Speech Pathology
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0885
|
|
Surface Mining Permits
|
Dept. Of Natural Resources
|
573/751-4041
|
|
Swine Quarantined Feedlot
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-4358
|
|
Tattoo Artists
|
Professional Registration
|
573/526-8288
|
|
Theatrical Booking Agencies
|
Div. Of Labor Standards
|
573/751-3403
|
|
Timber, Treated, Dealer
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5502
|
|
Timber, Treated, Producer
|
Dept. Of Agriculture
|
573/751-5502
|
|
Veterinary Medical
|
Professional Registration
|
573/751-0031
|
|
Well Drilling Permit
|
Dept. Of Natural Resources
|
573/368-2165
|
|
Wildlife Collectors
|
Dept. Of Conservation
|
573/751-4115
|
|
Wine License
|
Dept. Of Public Safety
|
573/751-2333
|
Selling to the
State of Missouri
Businesses that wish to sell their product or service to state government
agencies, must register with the Office
of Administration, Division of Purchasing as a state vendor. Contact
the Division of Purchasing at 573/751-2387 and request a "Vendor's
Registration Packet." You will need to indicate if you wish to sell
a product or provide a service.
