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Small-business owners across the country are adapting to the new minimum wage laws. If you’re an employer in Missouri, it’s important to stay up to date on Missouri minimum wage laws to ensure the financial health of your business. We’re here to help with our guide.
What is the minimum wage in Missouri in 2024?
Missouri minimum wages have increased since 2019 and are scheduled to increase in 2024 to $12.30 per hour, $5.05 higher than the federal minimum wage.
There are some minimum wage exemptions for certain industries and employees:
Some employees who are exempt from this minimum wage rate include:
- Tipped employees, who must be paid at least half of the current minimum wage — $6.15 in 2024.
- Retail or service businesses with annual gross income of less than $500,000 are allowed to pay employees less than the state minimum wage.
- Most agricultural and farm employees are exempt from the Missouri minimum wage.
Learn how to formalize and grow your business. Check out the Employer Launchpad.
How should small-business owners prepare for potential changes to the minimum wage in 2024?
The Missouri minimum wage increase will go into effect on January 1, 2024. Square has plenty of employer resources to help you navigate these changes. Here are some to help you get started right away.
- Audit your expenses: Check your cash flow in detail and create a hiring plan that you can afford. Since Missouri’s minimum wage will continue to rise through 2024, it’s best to plan ahead. In some cases, you may find that hiring temporary workers as needed is less expensive than taking on full-time regular staff.
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Make sure you hire and keep the right employees: Replacing an employee can cost a lot. You can decrease the total cost associated with recruiting and training when you hire (and then retain) the right people to do the job. Look for candidates with good track records, who come recommended, and who fit in with the company culture. Use our employee checklist to make sure that they are the best fit for your business. (Before you start hiring, make sure to get your EIN.)
- Update tech: Consider automating certain aspects of the work (like payroll), and utilize the payroll features to avoid payroll mistakes so you can better prepare if wages need to increase.
As always, to make sure your business is prepared and stays in compliance, you should discuss Missouri’s minimum wage laws with your accountant and lawyer.
