50-State Employment Services Industry Licensing Guide
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Missouri Employment Agency

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Licensing requirements for Missouri employment, staffing and talent agencies.

This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Missouri for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.

Companies that provide employment services in Missouri must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.

Company Licenses

Missouri Employment and Business Support Services Company Licenses

Missouri Employment Agency License

Not required



Employment Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Missouri.

Missouri Professional Employer Organization Full Registration

Agency:Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division
Law:

MO Stat. § 285.715

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • General Partnership
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Partnership
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Financial Requirements:

Applicants must maintain positive working capital as defined by generally accepted accounting principles.

Bond Requirements:

PEOs that do not meet the working capital requirements can instead provide a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities with a minimum market value equaling the deficiency plus $100,000.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

MO PEO Full Application

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$500

Required Attachments:
  • A list by jurisdiction of each name under which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • A statement of ownership, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person that, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent or more of the equity interests of the PEO
  • A statement of management, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person who serves as president, chief executive officer, or otherwise has the authority to act as senior executive officer of the PEO
  • A financial statement setting forth the financial condition of the PEO or PEO group. At the time of
    application for a new license, the applicant shall submit the most recent audit of the applicant, which shall
    not be older than 13 months

Registration Renewal

Form:

MO PEO Full Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually within 6 months after the end of the registrant's fiscal year.

Required Attachments:
  • A list by jurisdiction of each name under which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • A statement of ownership, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person that, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent or more of the equity interests of the PEO
  • A statement of management, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person who serves as president, chief executive officer, or otherwise has the authority to act as senior executive officer of the PEO
  • Audited financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year

Missouri Professional Employer Organization Full Registration - Group

Agency:Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division
Law:

MO Stat. § 285.715

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • General Partnership
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Partnership
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Financial Requirements:

Applicants must maintain positive working capital as defined by generally accepted accounting principles.

Bond Requirements:

PEOs that do not meet the working capital requirements can instead provide a bond, irrevocable letter of credit, or securities with a minimum market value equaling the deficiency plus $100,000.

Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

MO PEO Group Application

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$500 application fee + $250 per PEO entity in the PEO group.

Required Attachments:
  • A list by jurisdiction of each name under which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • A statement of ownership, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person that, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent or more of the equity interests of the PEO
  • A statement of management, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person who serves as president, chief executive officer, or otherwise has the authority to act as senior executive officer of the PEO
  • A financial statement setting forth the financial condition of the PEO or PEO group. At the time of application for a new license, the applicant shall submit the most recent audit of the applicant, which shall not be older than 13 months

Registration Renewal

Form:

MO PEO Group Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$250 renewal fee + $125 per PEO entity in the PEO group.

Due:

Annually within 6 months after the end of the registrant's fiscal year.

Required Attachments:
  • A list by jurisdiction of each name under which the PEO has operated in the preceding five years, including any alternative names, names of predecessors, and, if known, successor business entities
  • A statement of ownership, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person that, individually or acting in concert with one or more other persons, owns or controls, directly or indirectly, twenty-five percent or more of the equity interests of the PEO
  • A statement of management, which shall include the name and evidence of the business experience of any person who serves as president, chief executive officer, or otherwise has the authority to act as senior executive officer of the PEO
  • Audited financial statement for the most recently completed fiscal year

Missouri Professional Employer Organization Limited Registration

Agency:Missouri Secretary of State - Corporations Division
Law:

MO Stat. § 285.715

Eligible Entity Types:

  • Corporation
  • General Partnership
  • Sole Proprietorship
  • Limited Liability Company
  • Limited Partnership
Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:Not Set
Notes:

A PEO is eligible for limited registration provided that the PEO:

  • Completes a limited registration form;
  • Is domiciled outside of Missouri and is licensed or registered as a PEO in another state;
  • Does not maintain an office in Missouri or directly solicit clients located or domiciled within this state; and
  • Does not have more than fifty covered employees employed or domiciled in Missouri on any given day.
Exam Required?Not Set
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

Initial Registration

Form:

MO PEO Limited Application

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$250

Required Attachments:
  • A list of all other states in which the Applicant Professional Employer Organization is registered
  • Proof of registration/certification from other states in which the Applicant Professional Employer Organization is currently licensed

Registration Renewal

Form:

MO PEO Limited Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail or emailed to PEO@sos.mo.gov

Agency Fee:

$250

Due:

Annually within 6 months after the end of the registrant's fiscal year.

Required Attachments:
  • A list of all other states in which the Applicant Professional Employer Organization is registered
  • Proof of registration/certification from other states in which the Applicant Professional Employer Organization is currently licensed

Missouri Talent Agency License

Not required



Talent Agency licensure is not required on the State level in Missouri.

Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.

Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.

Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.

Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)

American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.

National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.

National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment industry.

Revised June 09, 2021. Complete data last reviewed March 12, 2018.
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