Notary Public Permit Requirements in St. Louis, MO

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

Verified 2026-08-28 5 stops $50–$200 est. 2–4 weeks to complete all steps and receive commission
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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

1 stop

  1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

    Required if you operate as an LLC/corporation or have employees. Sole proprietor notaries with no employees may use their SSN.

    Official government source

    FreeImmediate (online)

State of Missouri

3 stops

  1. Missouri Notary Commission

    Apply for a Missouri notary commission through the Secretary of State. Must be 18+, a Missouri resident, and obtain a $10,000 surety bond. Commission lasts 4 years.

    Official government source

    $25 (filing fee) + bond cost2–3 weeks

  2. Missouri Notary Surety Bond ($10,000)

    Required for all Missouri notaries. The bond protects the public against losses caused by notary errors or misconduct.

    Official government source

    $30–$60 for 4 years1–3 days

  3. Notary Errors & Omissions Insurance (Recommended)

    While not required in Missouri, E&O insurance protects notaries from financial losses due to unintentional mistakes. Coverage of $25,000–$100,000 typically costs $40–$80/year. The National Notary Association offers bundled packages.

    $40–$80/yearImmediate

City of St. Louis / St. Louis City

1 stop

  1. St. Louis Graduated Business License (if operating a notary business)

    If you operate a standalone notary business (notary signing agent services, mobile notary, etc.) in the City of St. Louis, you need a Graduated Business License from the License Collector's Office, which applies to all non-exempt businesses operating in the city. If notarization is incidental to another employer's business (e.g., you notarize as a bank employee), a separate license for you personally is generally not required.

    Official government source

    $200/year minimum (0-2 employees; graduated up by employee count)1–3 weeks

Terminus

Open for business — est. $50–$200 · 2–4 weeks to complete all steps and receive commission

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Official Sources

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