The Minnesota Secretary of State business search is the free Search Business Filings tool in the Business Filings Online portal. Search by business name (“begins with” or “contains”) or by file number, and check active and inactive records for anything too close to your idea.
Minnesota is generous with reservations: an approved name is held for one year, for $55 online. A DBA, called an assumed name, is filed with the Secretary of State and then published in a legal newspaper for two consecutive issues.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Minnesota (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Minnesota are below, starting with Mainstay Filing. Each entry lists the yearly price and what the service covers.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | MN Registered Agent.org | Minnesota registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Minnesota Registered Agent.co | Minnesota registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Minnesota. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. MN Registered Agent.org
MN Registered Agent.org is a Minnesota registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Minnesota Registered Agent.co
Minnesota Registered Agent.co is a Minnesota registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Minnesota business name search at a glance
| Topic | Minnesota (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services |
| Search tool | Search Business Filings (free) |
| Name reservation | $55 online; one year (Minn. Stat. § 322C.0109) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $155 online or in person; $135 by mail |
| Assumed name certificate | $50 online; $30 statutory fee by mail (§ 333.055) |
| Assumed name renewal | Annual; no fee |
| Assumed name publication | Two consecutive issues of a legal newspaper |
| LLC annual renewal | Required by December 31; no fee if filed on time |
Online fees are listed in the Secretary of State’s filing portal; online and in-person filings include expedited service, which is why they cost more than mail. Mainstay Filing’s Minnesota LLC cost guide totals the startup costs.
How to search Minnesota business filings
The Business Filings Online portal lets you look up business information, file amendments and renewals, and order copies. Searching is free and doesn’t require an account; you only need to sign in to file or order documents.
1. Choose Business Name or File Number
Open Search Business Filings. For an availability check, use the Business Name tab; the File Number tab is for looking up a known business.
2. Pick “Contains” and include inactive records
Switch the name match from “Begins With” to “Contains” so you catch names where your words appear in the middle. Set the filing status to include both active and inactive records, and turn on “Include Prior Names” to see businesses that used your name before a change.
3. Search the distinctive words
Enter the core of the name without LLC or Inc. For “North Shore Paddle Co. LLC,” search “North Shore Paddle.”
4. Review assumed names as well as entities
Assumed names filed with the Secretary of State appear in the same system. Under Minn. Stat. § 333.055, the office won’t accept an assumed name that isn’t distinguishable from an entity name in use, but it can accept an assumed name that matches another assumed name, so duplicates are possible.
Once you’ve checked the results, decide whether to reserve the name or file your Articles of Organization right away.
Minnesota name rules
- Distinguishable: a new LLC or corporate name must be distinguishable from entity names and reservations on the Secretary of State’s records.
- LLC designator: a Minnesota LLC name must include “limited liability company” or an abbreviation such as “LLC.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “corporation,” “incorporated,” “company” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Assumed name limits: under Minn. Stat. § 333.01, an assumed name must not include certain phrases or abbreviations reserved for registered entities.
- Regulated words: names suggesting banking, insurance or a licensed profession may need regulatory approval.
Looking for options? Namechk’s business name generator creates ideas you can test in the Minnesota search.
How to reserve a business name in Minnesota
Under Minn. Stat. § 322C.0109, if the Secretary of State finds a name available, “it must be reserved for the applicant’s exclusive use for a one-year period.”
- Fee: $55 online through Business Filings Online.
- Length: one year.
- Transfer: the reservation can be transferred by filing a signed notice with the transferee’s name and address.
- Paper option: a name reservation form can be mailed instead; mail filings skip expedited handling.
A one-year hold is among the longest available anywhere, which makes reservations practical in Minnesota if your launch is months away, for example while you finish a business plan or wait on financing.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
Minnesota’s database covers state filings only. Search the USPTO trademark database for conflicting federal marks before you commit to a name.
Then confirm your online presence. Namechk checks domains and social media usernames in one search, and the domain name generator suggests options if the exact .com is taken.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Filing an assumed name (DBA) in Minnesota
Minnesota’s assumed name law, Minn. Stat. § 333.01, says no one may conduct a commercial business under a name that doesn’t set forth the true name of every person interested in the business unless they file a certificate with the Secretary of State.
- File the Certificate of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State: $50 online or in person, or the $30 statutory fee by mail.
- Publish it. After filing, publish the certificate in a qualified legal newspaper for two consecutive issues in the county of your principal place of business. Keep the newspaper’s affidavit of publication.
- Renew every year. Under § 333.055, the certificate stays in effect as long as you file an annual renewal each calendar year after the original filing. The renewal has no fee, but a missed renewal causes the certificate to expire.
The same process applies to individuals, partnerships, LLCs and corporations that trade under a name other than their true or registered name.
Choose the newspaper carefully. The Secretary of State keeps a list of registered legal newspapers, but it notes that appearing on the list doesn’t prove a paper meets every legal requirement, so confirm with the newspaper that it qualifies as a legal newspaper in your county before you pay for the notice.
After the search: forming a Minnesota business
With a clear name, our Minnesota LLC guide covers the rest:
- File Articles of Organization under Minn. Stat. § 322C.0201: $155 online or in person, $135 by mail (paper form).
- Arrange a registered office and agent. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Minnesota registered agent guide explains the state’s rules.
- Get an EIN and register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue as needed.
- File the annual renewal by December 31 each year; it’s free if filed on time. Our Minnesota start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
How do I search for a business name in Minnesota?
Use the Minnesota Secretary of State’s free Search Business Filings tool in the Business Filings Online portal. Search by business name with a begins-with or contains match, include inactive records and prior names, and review close matches. Assumed names appear in the same system, so check those results too.
How long does a Minnesota name reservation last?
One year. Under Minnesota Statutes section 322C.0109, if the Secretary of State finds a name available, it must be reserved for the applicant’s exclusive use for a one-year period. The online fee is $55, and the reservation can be transferred by filing a signed notice naming the new holder.
How do I file a DBA in Minnesota?
File a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State, which costs $50 online or the $30 statutory fee by mail. Then publish it in a qualified legal newspaper for two consecutive issues in your county and keep the affidavit of publication. Renew it every year at no charge.
Do Minnesota assumed names expire?
Yes, if you don’t renew. Under Minnesota Statutes section 333.055, an assumed name certificate stays in effect as long as an annual renewal is filed each calendar year after the original filing. The renewal is free. If a year passes without one, the certificate expires the following year.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Minnesota?
Filing Articles of Organization for a Minnesota LLC costs $155 online or in person and $135 by mail. After that, the LLC files an annual renewal by December 31 each year, which is free when filed on time. A name reservation ($55 online) is optional.
Can two Minnesota businesses have the same assumed name?
Possibly. Minnesota Statutes section 333.055 lets the Secretary of State accept an assumed name even if it isn’t distinguishable from another assumed name already on file, though not if it conflicts with a registered entity name. An assumed name doesn’t give exclusive rights, so consider a trademark for protection.
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