Missouri Business Bill of Sale
Missouri requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Missouri business bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Missouri Department of Revenue looks for, matching the fields on Form 1957. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Business details
Price and terms
How to sell a business in Missouri
A business bill of sale transfers the tangible and intangible assets of a small business, such as equipment, inventory, furniture, the trade name, customer list and goodwill, from the seller to the buyer at closing. It is the document that goes with the purchase agreement and is what the buyer shows to banks, landlords and the state when the business changes hands.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the Missouri business bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the serial number.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Missouri does not require a notary.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the business.
- Hand over the business and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the description against the business itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Attach an inventory and equipment list as a schedule for anything beyond a one-line description.
- Say clearly whether the buyer assumes any debts, leases or contracts.
- Both parties sign in their capacity (owner, member, president) if an entity is involved.
- This is the bill of sale, not the purchase agreement. For a sale above a few thousand dollars, have a lawyer draft the purchase agreement and use this as the closing document.
Why a bill of sale matters for a business
- Transfers the assets at closing in one signed document.
- Lists exactly what is and is not included, which prevents post-sale fights.
- Needed to transfer the DBA, licenses, lease and utility accounts.
- Supports the buyer's asset basis for taxes and the seller's gain calculation.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
Missouri at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Required in common cases
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- Form 1957
- Where the buyer registers
- Missouri Department of Revenue (dor.mo.gov/motor-vehicle)
- Buyer's deadline to title
- 30 days from the sale
- License plates
- Stay with seller
Missouri sellers must report a sale within 30 days using the Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957); the bill of sale is also required when the title does not show the price. Form 1957 only needs to be notarized for rebuilt-vehicle parts or when the Department asks. Buyers have 30 days to title and plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Missouri forms
- Missouri Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Missouri Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Missouri Boat Bill of Sale
- Missouri Trailer Bill of Sale
- Missouri Firearm Bill of Sale
- Missouri Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Missouri RV Bill of Sale
- Missouri ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Missouri Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Missouri Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Missouri Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Missouri Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Missouri Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Missouri Equipment Bill of Sale
- Missouri Tractor Bill of Sale
- Missouri Horse Bill of Sale
- Missouri Dog Bill of Sale
- Missouri Livestock Bill of Sale
- Missouri General Bill of Sale
Business Bill of Sale in other states
Missouri business bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a business in Missouri?+
Missouri requires a bill of sale in common situations, such as when the title does not show the purchase price. Missouri sellers must report a sale within 30 days using the Notice of Sale (Form 5049) or Bill of Sale (Form 1957); the bill of sale is also required when the title does not show the price. Form 1957 only needs to be notarized for rebuilt-vehicle parts or when the Department asks. Buyers have 30 days to title and plates stay with the seller. Missouri publishes Form 1957 for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a Missouri business bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Missouri does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a business bill of sale in Missouri?+
No. Businesses are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.
Is a business bill of sale the same as a purchase agreement?+
No. The purchase agreement sets the deal: price, terms, representations, non-compete. The bill of sale is the closing document that actually transfers the assets. Small deals sometimes use the bill of sale alone; larger ones should have both.
Does it transfer the LLC or corporation?+
No. This transfers assets. Selling the entity itself is a membership-interest or stock sale and needs different documents. Most small-business sales are asset sales.
Do I need to notify the state?+
Usually the DBA (assumed name) and any licenses or permits have to be reassigned or re-filed, and some states have bulk-sale notice rules. Check with the secretary of state and your accountant.