Missouri Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability
Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
- Avg cost to draft a Non-Compete Agreement: $550.00
- Avg cost to review a Non-Compete Agreement: $380.00
- Lawyers available: 244 employment lawyers
- Clients helped: 370 recent noncompete agreement projects
- Avg lawyer rating: 4.97 (95 reviews)
Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in Missouri?
Non-compete agreements in Missouri are legal and enforceable. In Missouri, non-compete agreements are governed by a mixture of state statutes and case law. Agreements must be reasonable and the limitations imposed by the contract cannot be more excessive than necessary to protect the business owner’s interests.
According to the statute governing non-compete agreements business interests include:
- Confidential business information
- Trade secrets
- Customer or supplier relationships
- Goodwill
Under Missouri law and the rules governing the Missouri bar, the only two types of employees that are prohibited from entering non-compete agreements are secretarial or clerical employees and attorneys.
How Long Does a Missouri Non-Compete Agreement Last?
Missouri state statutes placed a one-year maximum limit on non-compete agreements. The one-year period begins after the employee’s employment has ended. Contracts that have terms lasting more than one year will not be enforced.
How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in Missouri?
To get around a non-compete agreement in Missouri, an employee must prove that the restrictions of the contract fail to protect a legitimate business interest or that the agreement too broad and unreasonable.
Missouri recognizes the principle of blue penciling. This means that a court has the authority to modify an unenforceable contract to make the contract enforceable. Courts must only modify the contract in favor if the employee. For example, if the geographic area in the contract is “statewide”, a court may deem that unreasonable and modify it to a few select counties or a 50-mile radius.
What Voids a Non-Compete Agreement in Missouri?
A non-compete agreement in Missouri will be void if it violates any of the statutes that governs contracts. This includes a non-compete with a duration of more than one year, or if the contract doesn’t include all essential elements of a valid contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Need help with a Noncompete Agreement?
Meet some of our Missouri Noncompete Agreement Lawyers
Garrett M.
I am a solo practitioner with a practice mostly consisting of serving as counsel to start-ups and small business owners and investors. With a practical business background, I aim to bring practical, business minded solutions to my client's legal problems and pride myself on efficient yet effective work.
"Garrett was extremely professional, attentive, and adhered to the very tight deadlines we had set. I would like to highlight that, in addition to completing the task assigned to him, he took the initiative to research all parties involved in the contract to provide us with the best possible support. We are very satisfied and look forward to working with him again."
Lolitha M.
Small firm offering business consultation and contract review services.
"Did great. She was responsive even after hours, will use again!!!"
Drew B.
Drew is an entrepreneurial business attorney with over twenty years of corporate, compliance and litigation experience. Drew currently has his own firm where he focuses on providing outsourced general counsel and compliance services (including mergers & acquisitions, collections, capital raising, real estate, business litigation, commercial contracts and employment matters). Drew has deep experience counseling clients in healthcare, medical device, pharmaceuticals, information technology, manufacturing, and services.
"Hired for a settlement contract to be written out in legal manner. Ammended contract as well to add clauses that we had not written.Efficient, professional. Said the time-frame would be about 4 business days and he did deliver on that in fact worked through the weekend and mlk day. Offered one final revision as well as a call to finalize language of contract. The final document delivery was more than we expand also he went above and beyond to deliver extra documents we may need. Would highly recommend."
August 18, 2020
Braden P.
Braden Perry is a corporate governance, regulatory and government investigations attorney with Kennyhertz Perry, LLC. Mr. Perry has the unique tripartite experience of a white-collar criminal defense and government compliance, investigations, and litigation attorney at a national law firm; a senior enforcement attorney at a federal regulatory agency; and the Chief Compliance Officer/Chief Regulatory Attorney of a global financial institution. Mr. Perry has extensive experience advising clients in federal inquiries and investigations, particularly in enforcement matters involving technological issues. He couples his technical knowledge and experience defending clients in front of federal agencies with a broad-based understanding of compliance from an institutional and regulatory perspective.
February 14, 2022
Jacob O.
I am bar certified in the lovely state of Missouri. I received my J.D. from The University of Iowa College of Law (2019) and my B.A. in Political Science from BYU-Idaho (2015).
March 8, 2022
Stephanie C.
Alabama & Missouri Licensed Attorney offering Freelance Services for Wills, Trusts, Probate, Family Law Documents, Criminal Matters, and Real Estate Closings.
March 26, 2022
Neilson B.
Hi, I am the founding member of Son of Brown Law Firm, based in Charlotte North Carolina. Our firm practices in the areas of Business Transactions, Cannabis/Hemp, Personal Injury and Immigration Law.
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Browse Lawyers NowLawyer Reviews for Missouri Noncompete Agreement Projects
Texas Post-Employment Non-Compete & Non-Solicit Review — 4 Written Questions, Flat Fee.
"Delivered the scoped work product ahead of the agreed deadline. The memorandum was clear, well-organized, and the analysis was actionable. Texas covenant knowledge as advertised. One caution: the bid listed a deliverable that was later recharacterized, and all requests were answered with strict scope language. Ensure everything from the bid appears in the engagement letter before signing. Work quality: strong. Style: strictly transactional."
Reply From Philips V.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. This engagement was a limited‑scope project focused on providing written legal analysis to the four specific questions in your bid request. You selected my bid after your clarifying questions were fully answered, and the engagement letter reflected that scope as written. The work product delivered matched the scope requested and agreed to in the engagement letter. Clear deliverables upfront make short, fixed‑fee engagements efficient and predictable, and they help ensure competitive bids are evaluated on a consistent scope. We all expect a level playing field with fixed goal posts. I am glad to hear the memorandum was clear, well organized, and actionable, and that the work quality and timeliness met your expectations. I appreciate the opportunity to assist with your Texas covenant review.
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"Great to work with, thorough, patient, and excellent explanation and detailed information."
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"Lori was very responsive and delivered what I needed well before the projected end date. She was open to feedback and iterating her responses for my situation all within the budget that was agreed upon. Would recommend!"
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"Paul was incredibly helpful in reviewing a non-compete agreement I needed to sign. He helped me understand the key risks, identify what was worth negotiating, and prepare redlines to bring the agreement more in line with Massachusetts law. He was knowledgeable, responsive, and practical throughout the process. I would definitely work with him again."
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"Valerie was professional, quick, and precise. Will reach out to her for any future matters. Thank you."
Reply From Valerie I.
It was a pleasure serving you! Looking forward to helping you in the future.
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Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement termination options?
I recently left my job after signing a Noncompete Agreement. I am looking for a new job, but I am concerned about the restrictions in the Noncompete Agreement and how it might affect my ability to find a new job. I am looking for advice on my options for terminating or modifying the Noncompete Agreement so that I can find a new job without having to worry about any potential legal repercussions.
Merry K.
I am a WA State employment attorney. If you didn’t receive anything in return for signing the non-compete, it may be relatively easy to get out of it. If, however, you signed in return for something, such as a severance package, it will be challenging to get out of the agreement. However, many non-compete agreements are written overly broadly and may not be enforceable under the laws of WA and other states. You may want to consult with a WA State employment attorney for a review of the documents and law(s) of the state(s) where you may want to work or set up a business. (A WA State attorney can only provide legal advice in WA, but can help you find applicable law/case decisions for other states but without providing anything beyond information, much like a law librarian).
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Connecticut
Noncompete agreement and change of control?
I recently accepted a new position with a company that has requested that I sign a noncompete agreement. I understand the agreement and the limitations it puts on me, but I am concerned about how the agreement would be affected if the company is sold or changes ownership in the future. I would like to understand my legal rights in the event of a change of control.
Thomas L.
If the future company buys the equity of your current employer, the Non-Compete continues in effect. If the future company buys the assets, the Non-Compete is terminated. I would request a sentence be added to the effect that "if there is a change of control of the Company (meaning more than 50% of the equity interest or 50% of the voting equity control) is sold or transferred, then this Non-Compete Agreement is terminated.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
New Jersey
Can I work for a competitor with my current noncompete?
I have ended my non competent consulting agreement with my current employee and I have an offer to work as an employer “not as consultant” with a competitor company to my privious employees so can I work as an employee without any problem? The consultant agreement says the following: Under any circumstances the consultant shall not engage directly or indirectly either as a principal agent , consultant,stock holder , partner or in any other capacity whatsoever have any other relationship with any business which compete with the company in USA.
Jane C.
I suggest that you have an attorney review the entire agreement. It is hard to comment reading a paragraph taken out of context. From the limited facts you present, it seems that you cannot accept this job offer without violating the terms of the non-compete. Disclaimer - This information is provided for general informational purposes only. No information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice and does not establish an attorney-client relationship.
Employee Rights
Noncompete Agreement
Texas
Noncompete agreement and moonlighting?
I am an employee at a company that has recently asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am considering doing so, but I am concerned about whether or not the agreement would prevent me from taking on additional freelance work outside of my normal job. I am interested in moonlighting and need to know if a noncompete agreement would limit my ability to do so.
Curt L.
If you moonlighting work is in the same business and same market, it is almost certainly prohibited by a noncompete agreement.
Employment
Noncompete Agreement
Washington
Noncompete agreement and public policy?
I recently accepted a job offer with a new employer who asked me to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned that the agreement may not be in line with public policy and wanted to get a professional opinion from a lawyer to make sure I am not putting myself in a difficult situation.
Merry K.
If you are in Washington State, where I'm licensed, as opposed to D.C., please let me know what kind of help you are looking for - have you already signed the agreement? I've been a WA State attorney for nearly 38 years, and specialize in employment law.
Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.
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ContractsCounsel User
Non-Compete Clause in Employment (1099) contract
Location: Massachusetts
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Non-Compete Agreement
Page Count: 8
Number of Bids: 5
Bid Range: $250 - $795
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