Auctioneer License Requirements in Missouri
County-level license. Missouri licenses auctioneers at the county level — you get the license from your county collector and it is valid statewide.
What Online Auctioneers Need to Know
The statute is silent on online auctions, and how counties treat an online-only operation is unverified — verify with your county collector. Given the modest cost of a county license, most operators simply get it.
The Rules in Missouri
Missouri has no state auctioneer board. Under RSMo chapter 343, auctioneer licenses are issued by the county collector and are valid statewide. The chapter covers license mechanics and little else.
There is no Missouri statute requiring a written consignment contract, an escrow account, or a settlement deadline. County bond requirements vary, so check with your county collector when you apply.
Requirements at a Glance
- County auctioneer license from your county collector, valid statewide (RSMo ch. 343)
- County bond requirements vary — verify with your county
- No written-contract statute or settlement deadline
- No state board — the county collector is the licensing authority
Authority: County collector (no state board). Statute: RSMo ch. 343.
Not legal advice. Auction law changes — several states have amended their online-auction rules since 2019. Verify current requirements with the licensing authority above (or your city/county clerk) before your first sale, and have a local attorney review your consignment contract.
Licensed (or Exempt)? Here's the Rest of the Path
The license is usually the easy part. The business itself — platform affiliation, sourcing consignments, cataloging, settlement — is laid out in how to start an online auction business, and the earning math is in how much auctioneers make.