Business owners in Missouri are faced with a new registration deadline due to a change in state law.
If you run a business in Missouri with a fictitious name, like John’s Pizza Shop or Jane’s Clip ‘n Sip, and you registered with the Secretary of State’s Office before Aug. 28, 2004, you’re going to need to reregister by Aug. 28, 2009.
Though the registry goes back to the early 1900s, Carnahan says even fictitious names filed more recently may be unused. The Small Business Administration estimates only 31 percent of new businesses survive more than seven years. Right now, some of those names were registered that long ago but are still off limits to new business owners. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan says a new law will clear many of them out.
Carnahan says fictitious names can be registered any time of the year, but that registration will expire five years from that date.
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan says her office has more than half a million fictitious names in its database. Until now, business owners had to register only once and then forget about it.
The registration fee is $7 and can be done online.
"We are working hard to inform Missourians about this new requirement," Carnahan says. "I encourage any individual or business using a fictitious name that was filed on or before August 28, 2004 to complete this filing before the August 28, 2009 deadlines I also recommend they save time by filing online. Since taking office, online business filings have directly saved Missouri business owners over $10 million dollars and taxpayers millions more."
Carnahan says the new renewal requirement will help streamline government services and improve the quality of information available through the Secretary of State’s office.
If a business fails to file its renewal on time, their registration will expire making them unable to legally do business in Missouri. However, their fictitious name may be reregistered at anytime without a penalty.
To look up your expiration date, visit www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/soskb/csearch.asp .
To renew online, visit the link above and click on "renew": www.sos.mo.gov/BusinessEntity/BusinessEntitiesOnline/Help/MO/NoticeFictitious.aspx?dtm=368287037037037 in the left column.
To download the registration form: www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/forms.asp
Organizations and businesses without access to the Internet can call the Corporations Division at (866) 223-6535 to request a paper copy of the form. Questions related to fictitious name registrations should be directed to the Corporations Division of the Secretary of State’s office.
Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]
