How to Start an LLC in Minnesota
We handle your Minnesota LLC filing for $199 plus the state's $155 fee. Every Minnesota LLC also needs a registered agent, which renews separately at $99/year once formation is done.
Getting a Minnesota LLC up and running involves one main paperwork moment, a continuing agent requirement, and predictable annual housekeeping. $155 buys your state filing, about a week is the wait, and then recurring fees become your year-to-year concern. Below: every step, the all-in cost view, and what we handle if you'd rather not DIY.
Build Your Minnesota LLC — $199
Pay $199 once and we manage the prep and submission through Minnesota Secretary of State. Approval runs about about a week.
Build Your Minnesota LLC — $199
Minnesota LLCs: What They Are and Why People Use Them
A limited liability company is a separate legal entity for tax and liability purposes, even when a single individual owns it. Minnesota small operators favor the LLC structure because it provides real liability protection without the paperwork demands of a corporation.
The Cost Picture for Minnesota LLCs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Minnesota Secretary of State) | $155 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Minnesota LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $0/year (free, but required) |
$199 goes to us for the filing. State fees are paid to Minnesota Secretary of State. RA service costs $99 per year, billed apart.
Important Minnesota-specific notes: Annual Renewal is required but FREE ($0 fee) if filed on time by December 31. Called 'Annual Renewal' instead of 'Annual Report.' $45 reinstatement fee online if dissolved for non-filing.
How Minnesota LLC Formation Works
1. Name Your Minnesota LLC
For a Minnesota LLC name, you need two things: an LLC suffix or designator, and clearance from any conflicting entity name already registered in the state. Minnesota Secretary of State provides an online entity search; use it to confirm your chosen name is actually available before filing.
Restricted words include 'bank,' 'insurance,' 'trust,' and anything suggesting a government agency. Pick a different angle if you're none of those things.
2. Select Your Registered Agent
Minnesota sees the appointed agent as a non-negotiable: in-state street address, business-hours availability, listed on the public record. The agent's information lives on the public record at Minnesota Secretary of State and remains there so long as the LLC exists.
$99 per year covers our RA service in Minnesota. Our address goes on the formation document — yours doesn't.
3. File the Formation Paperwork with Minnesota Secretary of State
This step formally establishes the LLC: file Articles of Organization at Minnesota Secretary of State plus the $155 state fee. What the document records: the LLC's name, the LLC's main address, the appointed agent's name and address, the management arrangement (members or managers in charge), and the people serving as organizers.
Minnesota Secretary of State has an online portal (the Minnesota Secretary of State website) — file there for the quickest turnaround.
Standard turnaround is about a week from submission. Expedite tiers is sometimes offered at a higher fee.
4. Write the Operating Agreement
Minnesota treats operating agreements as internal documents — not filed, not reviewed by the state, but indispensable for actually running the business. The agreement defines ownership, distributions, management authority, voting rules, and exit procedures. If you skip the agreement, Minnesota's statutory defaults govern the LLC by operation of law. Those defaults won't always reflect your intentions.
5. Obtain the Federal EIN
Your LLC's EIN serves as the LLC's federal-level tax identifier. It's required for business banking, payroll, and federal taxes. Visit IRS.gov for the application. It's a ten-minute online form, and the EIN appears as soon as you submit.
There's no reason to pay for EIN help from outside services — the IRS issues EINs at no charge through a short online form.
6. Maintain Compliance Going Forward
Maintaining the LLC after formation comes down to a few recurring obligations:
- Hold the agent of record tied to a Minnesota address year in and year out
- Send in the LLC's annual report each year on time
- Manage with true separation between LLC-side and personal-side finances (distinct bank accounts and bookkeeping)
- Keep current on the federal and state tax submissions without missing deadlines
Neglecting these obligations gives Minnesota Secretary of State grounds to dissolve the LLC. After dissolution, owners lose liability protection until reinstatement.
If you'd rather outsource: $199 covers the whole filing through our service.
Why the Registered Agent Rule Matters
Holding a designated agent registered is mandatory for every Minnesota LLC, from formation through dissolution. Agent obligations:
- Maintain an in-state Minnesota street address (post office boxes don't count on their own)
- Be at the address during the regular workday to take in service of process
- Transmit incoming state correspondence and legal documents on the day they arrive whenever possible
Many founders self-appoint as agent, not realizing the address becomes public. It joins the Minnesota Secretary of State public record and is searchable from day one.
$99 per year covers our agent service in Minnesota. We list our office address on the formation documents in your place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Minnesota?
The state's filing fee is $155. That's in the upper-middle of the national range. The recurring annual report sits at $0/year (free, but required).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Minnesota?
Minnesota processes most LLC filings in about a week.
Does Minnesota require an annual report?
Yes. The yearly report fee is $0/year (free, but required).
Do I need a registered agent for my Minnesota LLC?
Yes — Minnesota mandates a continuously appointed agent for every LLC. The agent has to be on file every single day the LLC exists.
Can I form an LLC in Minnesota if I live in another state?
Yes. Owners of Minnesota LLCs don't have to be Minnesota residents. (what you do need is an in-state agent — our $99/year service handles that part.)
Begin Your Minnesota LLC
You can file your Minnesota LLC directly with Minnesota Secretary of State via the Minnesota Secretary of State website. The state collects $155, the designated agent rule still applies.
Use our designated agent service and put our information on the formation document. For $99 a year, you get our address on the filing, scans the day mail arrives, and a heads-up before every state deadline.
Looking for the statutory agent on its own? Our separate agent product costs $99/year.
Questions about Minnesota LLC formation or our statutory agent product? Our FAQ handles most questions; the contact form is open for the rest.
Ready to get started?
Start representation at the annual rate — address, scanning, and proactive deadline tracking.