
If you have not already started a company, the first step in applying for a Missouri business license is to do so.

The Missouri state government website maintains a list of cities and a list of counties with respective websites so you can find more information on business licensing for your local municipality with ease. Jefferson City requires a general business operating license for every business in the city and requires additional licenses for certain types of businesses such as liquor sellers, craft/trade shows, sidewalk vendors and vehicles for hire.

Your business will also likely need to obtain a business license from the local city or county government in which your business is registered and operates. For a full list, head to the Missouri Division of Professional Registration’s website. You must apply for the sales tax license, sometimes colloquially called a “seller’s permit,” with the Missouri Department of Revenue if you “are engaged in business in Missouri, and intend to sell or lease taxable goods or services.” For more information about the sales tax license, visit the Missouri Department of Revenue.Īdditionally, your business may also need to acquire licensing if engaged in a specific field, including accounting, appraisals and other types of financial work, any type of health profession, tattoo parlors, veterinary clinics, both pro boxers and pro wrestlers and any business working in the construction or design industry. The most common license nearly every business must obtain is the sales tax license. When opening a business in Missouri, you will likely need to acquire at least one, if not a few different business licenses and permits. Required Licenses and Permits in Missouri You may, however, be required to obtain a specialty business license from certain state regulatory agencies, depending on the field or industry your business works within. As with many other states in the U.S., the only business license regulated at the state level in Missouri is the sales tax license, sometimes commonly called a seller’s permit. Most local governments in Missouri require business licenses on a city or county level.
