Minnesota consistently ranks in the top 10 for the best states to start a business in the annual CNBC rankings and receives consistently high rankings for Life & Health, Technology & Innovation, and Infrastructure. If you are looking to start an LLC in Minnesota, this guide will walk you through the step-by-step process to help get your business up and running in no time.
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What are the benefits of an LLC?
- LLCs provide liability protection for business owners, meaning that the owners’ assets will not be at risk.
- Easy to set up and manage
- One person may form an LLC
When do you need to form an LLC?
If you are exploring starting a business or perhaps you are already in business as a sole proprietor it is a good idea to form an LLC. If you are operating a business without an LLC you could be placing yourself and your personal assets at risk.
While it is not required to form an LLC before starting a business the benefits include accounting and tax standardization, limited liability risk right away, and it will be easier to stay organized since all of your business-related expenses will be tied to one business bank account.
Step 1: Choose your company name
The first step in starting an LLC is to select a business name. It is essential to choose a business name that is unique from existing entities.
Perform a Minnesota business name search
The Minnesota Secretary of State maintains a database of business entities registered in Minnesota that is free for the public to search.
Naming considerations
Your Minnesota LLC must contain “Limited Liability Company” or include the abbreviation LLC or LLC. Prefixes, suffixes, and plural versions of an existing entity name do not make it unique.
For instance, if you wanted to start a breakfast restaurant called Egghouse Cafe LLC you would want to make sure there wasn’t a similar sounding name like Egghouses Breakfast Cafe etc. The intent with naming rules is to create a clearly distinguishable name that avoids confusion for the public so if you find a name that is somewhat similar to the one you are considering it is probably best to move on to another name idea.
If you are struggling to develop a Minnesota LLC name, one option is to use a business name generator, which can help come up with hundreds of name suggestions in seconds.
Perform a trademark search
If you intend on using your business for a commercial purpose you will want to perform a trademark search before selecting your Minnesota business name. A trademark will help protect against infringement of unauthorized use of your business name and logo without your permission and can eventually become a valuable asset if your business grows.
Avoid using a trademarked or similar name to an existing business to protect yourself.
Find out if your proposed business name is available by conducting a trademark search online at the US Patent & Trademark Office.
Determine if you want to use a DBA name
A DBA is a registered “Doing Business As” name and can be used instead of the legal LLC business entity name.
A DBA allows you to have a name for your business that reflects what it does or who its customers are. Business owners use their company’s DBA names on checks, orders, contracts, and correspondence when doing business.
Some of the main benefits of a DBA:
- Flexibility: If you have your LLC established, you can use DBA names instead of creating separate entities for each new venture.
- Branding: A DBA name is easier to brand and identify for customers.
- Expansion: It is easy to file DBAs in different geographical locations to target other customers and appear hyper-focused in your marketing.
You do not need to operate under a DBA if you use your Minnesota business name for all business purposes. However, using a DBA name will not affect your Minnesota LLC name registration.
Register the domain name
Once you decide on a business name, check to ensure that the domain name is available. can show you which domain extensions are available for your business name.
Although .com domain names are ideal, extensions like .net, .co, and .biz are becoming more commonplace
Register social media profiles
It is vital to have a solid social media presence in today’s business environment. So be sure to register for your business name on the different social media platforms ahead of time so that no one can sign up for them.
Step 2: Register Minnesota LLC
After choosing a name, start the registration process online at the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
Registering your LLC in Minnesota is a relatively straightforward and quick process.
Select a registered agent
A registered agent is required for a Minnesota LLC and is an individual point of contact for Minnesota designated to receive official correspondence from the Minnesota Secretary of State. If you work from home a registered agent can help prevent your home address from being solicited by business mail since the registered agent’s address will serve as the official address for the business.
If you are not going to be your Minnesota LLC’s registered agent, find a substitute Minnesota resident or company to serve in this role. Be sure that the registered agent’s address is included in all your business documents and correspondence if you intend to use a different registered office.
What are Minnesota registered agent requirements?
A Minnesota registered agent:
- must be over the age of 18
- have a physical street address in Minnesota
- be available during regular business hours
How to register
Once you choose a registered agent and perform a Minnesota business search, the next step is to fill out the Minnesota Articles of Organization.
The form can be filled out online and requires the following information:
- Name of corporation
- Registered agent
- Address
- Members
The Minnesota Secretary of State has done a great job revamping its website to make online filing as easy as possible. If you want to file your LLC in person or mail your forms in you can do so at the following address:
Minnesota Secretary of State-Business Services
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite 201
Saint Paul MN, 55101
Our picks of the best registered agent services
Step 3: Next steps after filing Minnesota LLC
Apply for an EIN
The IRS requires each LLC to have its own unique employer identification number. The Internal Revenue Service website can generate a federal tax identification number. An EIN makes it easy to file your business taxes and stay in compliance with the IRS and is similar to a Social Security number for your business.
EIN’s also add credibility to your business and are required for compliance purposes from time to time by companies that have to pay you for goods and services. An EIN is also required to open a business bank account and will help you establish business credit in the event you need to take out a business loan.
Start a business bank account
A business bank account is required for LLCs to start conducting business. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you start a low-risk bank account to start receiving income and paying any start-up expenses.
After the LLC has been established, your business bank account will be used for payroll, payment of bills, a deposit of earnings from your business, and any other financial transactions your business may have.
Back office tasks such as bookkeeping can also be performed on your start-up bank account to keep start-up costs low.
Apply for a business license and permits
If you are planning on selling goods or services in Minnesota, you will want to look into whether or not the city or industry requires a particular business license.
The best way to get more information on the different license requirements throughout the state is to visit MN.gov.
Prepare an LLC operating agreement
An operating agreement is a contract between the LLC owners that lays out the financial and functional decisions of managing a Minnesota LLC. An operating agreement is needed if there are multiple business owners of a Minnesota LLC.
An operating agreement can be as simple or in-depth as desired, but it is important to have one in writing before starting any significant operations within the business.
File annual report
Minnesota corporations must file an annual report to stay in good standing with the Department of State. A Minnesota annual report is not a financial statement and the main intention behind Annual Reports is to help keep track of active businesses in Minnesota and ensure that the state has the most up-to-date contact information for businesses on file with the Secretary of State.
How much does it cost to file a Minnesota LLC?
The Minnesota filing fee for a Domestic LLC in Minnesota is $155. You can get a complete list of fees for all business forms by visiting the fees page on Minnesota.gov.
Recommended LLC formation services
- Northwest Registered Agent: Started as a registered agent service but expanded into business formations and offered additional professional services like mail forwarding and virtual business address services.
- ZenBusiness: Another recommended online business formation platform that can help set up an LLC in Arizona. They offer a full suite of services for new business owners, including operating agreements, business websites, domain names, and more.
- Bizee: A top online incorporation service provider in the market that offers various business filing services like LLC formation, Registered Agent, State Filings, and Compliance Filings.
Minnesota LLC FAQs
What is a good business to start in Minnesota?
Minnesota is known for being one of the leaders in the Health Care industry and is also one of the largest producers of timber in the United States. If you can think of a healthcare business idea or one that takes advantage of the state’s natural resources like Timber you should have great odds to survive.
How do I form an LLC in Minnesota?
This guide above walks you through the step-by-step instructions on how to set up an LLC in Minnesota. The process is straightforward and is very simple to follow.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Minnesota?
If you file online the process to file your Minnesota LLC can be as little as a few days, but the processing times depend on the workload the Minnesota department of state is working through. A 4-10 day range is typically a good estimate to expect your LLC forms to be processed in.
Do I need a license for an LLC in Minnesota?
There is no generic business license outside of your LLC registration, but specific licensing requirements exist in certain cities and industries. Mn.gov is a great resource for information on which industries require them.
Does Minnesota have an annual LLC fee?
There is no annual renewal fee for Minnesota Corporations.
How do you look up who owns a Minnesota LLC?
The best way to look up who owns a Minnesota LLC is to perform a Minnesota business search through the Minnesota Secretary of State. Searching is free for the public, and the database maintains a list of corporations that have registered their business with the state.
What is a Minnesota Certificate of Good standing?
A Minnesota certificate of good standing indicates that a business is in good standing with the state and has paid all applicable business fees to perform business within the state. Companies can get their certificate of good standing by visiting the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
How do you terminate a Minnesota LLC?
You can dissolve a Minnesota LLC by filling out an Articles of Dissolution form and filing it with the Minnesota Secretary of State. If you don’t plan on being in business, terminating your business is a good idea, so you won’t be responsible for biennial business filing fees.
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