How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC in Minnesota?

Minnesota LLC Online Filing Fee: $155

The main cost to start an LLC is the $155 fee to file your LLC's Articles of Organization online with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

For a look at LLC costs in every state, read our other Cost to Start an LLC and How to Form an LLC guides.

Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in Minnesota

If you already have an LLC that is registered in another state and you’d like to expand your business into Minnesota, you’ll need to register your LLC as a foreign LLC in Minnesota.

The cost for registering a Minnesota foreign LLC is $205 online or $185 by mail. You can register a foreign LLC in Minnesota by filing a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Minnesota. This can also be done by mail.

Minnesota Annual Renewal: Free

Minnesota requires LLCs to file an annual report with the Secretary of State.

You can submit this form through the Minnesota Secretary of State website or by mail. It is due by December 31 each year.

Registered Agent Fee

In Minnesota you can be your own registered agent, but using a registered agent service helps keep your company in compliance and reminds you of important filing deadlines and avoid late fees.

• If you need to form a new business and get a registered agent, the best package is by Northwest Registered Agent $29 + state fees

OR:

• If only a registered agent is required, Northwest Registered Agent provides an excellent service: $125

Read our guide to learn more about Minnesota Registered Agents. You can also read our full guide on the best registered agent services.

Minnesota Franchise Tax: Varies

Minnesota imposes a Partnership Tax on multi-member LLCs with property, annual payroll, and annual sales totaling more than $1,080,000 (indexed annually for inflation). Multi-member LLCs with revenue below that threshold are exempt from paying the minimum fee but still need to file Minnesota form M3. This form can also be filed by mail.

Business Permits and Licenses

Depending on your industry and geographical location, your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Minnesota. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.

Learn more about state and local licensing with our guide to getting a Minnesota business license.

Other LLC Filing Costs

There are optional fees associated with LLC formation:

LLC Name Reservation:
Reserve your name for up to 12 months prior to LLC formation by filing a Request for Reservation of Name and paying $55 filing fee online or the $35 filing fee if filing by mail.

Foreign LLC Alternate Name Registration:
If a Foreign LLC’s legal name is already taken by a company in the state, it can register a new name by filing a Resolution to Adopt an Alternate Name and paying the $55 filing fee or paying the $35 filing fee if filing by mail.

“Doing Business As” (DBA) Name:
File a Certificate of Assumed Name and pay the $50 online or the $30 filing fee by mail to create a name other than your legal LLC business name.

Certified Document Copies:
Obtain certified copies of your Minnesota business documents by ordering through the Secretary of State and paying $8.

Certificate of Good Standing:
Also known as a Minnesota certificate of good standing, you can obtain this document by ordering through the Secretary of State and paying the $5 fee by mail or $15 online fee. A certificate of good standing is often required by banks and lending institutions.

Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Minnesota

Step 1: Name Your Minnesota LLC
Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement
Step 5: Get an EIN

Step 1: Name Your Minnesota LLC

When you name your Minnesota LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:

1. Is available for use in the state of Minnesota
2. Meets Minnesota naming requirements
3. Is available as a web domain

Recommended: Visit our Start an LLC in Minnesota guide for detailed naming rules and instructions for registering a business name in Minnesota.

Not sure what to name your business? Check out our How to Name a Business guide and free LLC Name Generator.

We recommend that you check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don't plan to create a business website today, you may want to buy the URL in order to prevent others from acquiring it.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

All LLCs in Minnesota must appoint a registered office. Appointing a registered agent is optional. A registered agent primarily acts as your LLC’s main point of contact with the state. But most importantly, they are responsible for accepting service of process in the event your business is sued.

Your Minnesota registered agent must:

• Be at least 18 years or older
• Have a physical address in Minnesota
• Be available during normal business hours to accept service of process

Step 3: File the Articles of Organization

The Minnesota Articles of Organization is a document that is filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State to form an LLC. The fee for filing the Articles of Organization is $155 online.

For detailed instructions for completing the Articles of Organization, visit our How to File the Minnesota Articles of Organization guide.

Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement

An operating agreement isn't required for Minnesota LLCs, but it's a good practice to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all business owners are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

For more information on operating agreements, read our Minnesota LLC operating agreement guide.

Step 5: Get an EIN

What is an EIN? An EIN or Employer Identification Number is a nine-digit number issued by the Internal Revenue System (IRS) to identify a business for tax reporting purposes. An EIN is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for your company.

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN number is required for the following:

• Opening a business bank account
• Hiring employees