Bookkeeping Permit Requirements in St. Louis, MO

Complete permit and license guide for starting a bookkeeping in St. Louis, St. Louis City, Missouri.

Verified 2026-08-28 6 stops $75–$250 est. 1–3 weeks to register business and obtain all required licenses
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Not legal advice. Requirements may change — always verify with your local government authority before applying. Key agencies and fees on this page were re-checked against official government sources on .

Federal — start here

2 stops

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you have employees or operate as an LLC or corporation. Free from the IRS, obtained instantly online. Sole proprietors without employees may use their SSN, but an EIN is recommended for privacy and professional credibility.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online application)

  2. IRS Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN)

    Required for any paid preparer who prepares or assists in preparing federal tax returns for clients. If your bookkeeping practice includes any federal tax return preparation, you must obtain and renew your PTIN annually. Bookkeeping-only services (no tax return preparation) do not require a PTIN.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online at IRS.gov)

State of Missouri

2 stops

  1. Missouri Business Registration

    Bookkeeping and accounting service businesses operating in Missouri must register with the Missouri Secretary of State (or equivalent) if structured as an LLC, corporation, or partnership. Sole proprietors operating under a trade name must file a DBA (Doing Business As) registration with the Missouri Secretary of State (fictitious name registration, RSMo Chapter 417). An LLC is strongly recommended for liability protection.

    Official government source

    $50 (LLC online) / $105 (LLC paper); corporations from $581–5 business days (online filing)

  2. Missouri Sales/Use Tax Registration (if applicable)

    Bookkeeping and accounting services are generally not subject to sales tax in most states as a professional service. However, if the business sells any tangible goods (e.g., software on physical media, printed reports) or if Missouri specifically taxes business services, a seller's permit or sales tax license may be required. Verify with the Missouri Department of Revenue.

    Official government source

    Free (no registration fee; the sales-tax bond requirement was repealed effective 2018-08-28)Immediate–1 week (online)

City of St. Louis / St. Louis City

2 stops

  1. St. Louis Graduated Business License

    All businesses operating within the City of St. Louis must obtain a Graduated Business License (GBL) from the License Collector's Office. For a bookkeeping or accounting service this is an administrative registration; prerequisites are a Statement of Clearance from the Collector of Revenue (city taxes paid) and an Occupancy Permit (or Home Occupancy Waiver if home-based). The license year runs June 1-May 31 and must be renewed annually, with the tax graduated by number of St. Louis employees.

    Official government source

    $200/year minimum (0-2 employees; graduated up by employee count). Initial fee $200, or $100 if starting January-May.1–2 weeks

  2. St. Louis Home Occupancy Waiver (if home-based)

    Bookkeeping businesses operated from a residence in the City of St. Louis require a Home Occupancy Waiver from the Building Division Zoning Section, confirming the business activity is compatible with residential zoning; some waivers require a zoning conditional use hearing. Typical home-occupation restrictions (limited client traffic, no exterior signage) apply, and low-impact online bookkeeping businesses generally qualify.

    Official government source

    $501–3 weeks

Terminus

Open for business — est. $75–$250 · 1–3 weeks to register business and obtain all required licenses

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