To start a Minnesota LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State. The fee is $155 online or in person, or $135 by mail (as of October 2026). The Articles list a registered office street address in Minnesota (a P.O. box alone isn’t accepted) and, if you use one, a registered agent. After formation, set up an operating agreement, EIN and tax accounts, and file the free annual renewal by December 31 each year.
Two Minnesota details stand out. The annual renewal costs nothing, and the statute treats a registered agent as optional as long as the LLC keeps a registered office address in the state. Most owners still use an agent, for reasons covered below.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Minnesota (2026)
Our ranked picks for forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance
| Item | Minnesota (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services |
| Online portal | Minnesota Business and Lien System |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization |
| Filing fee | $155 online or in person (expedited service); $135 by mail |
| Annual renewal | Free; due December 31 each year starting the year after formation |
| Registered office | Required; Minnesota street address |
| Agent for service of process | Optional under the statute, but widely used |
| Publication | Not required |
The fee and renewal rules come from Minnesota Statutes 322C.0201 and 322C.0208. Mainstay Filing’s Minnesota cost breakdown shows the state fee alongside service pricing.
Step 1: Decide on a Minnesota LLC name
Include “Limited Liability Company” or “LLC” in the name, and make sure it’s distinguishable from other names already registered with the Secretary of State.
The namechk business name generator can turn a few keywords into a long list of options. Check your favorites in the state’s business search, and follow our Minnesota business name search guide for search tips.
Also:
- Search the USPTO trademark database for federal conflicts.
- Check matching domains and social handles with namechk.
- If you’re not ready to file, Minnesota lets you reserve a name with the Secretary of State.
Step 2: Set a registered office and choose an agent
Minnesota’s Articles of Organization must state the street address of the LLC’s registered office in Minnesota. Under section 322C.0201, the Articles name an agent for service of process only “if the limited liability company has” one, so the agent is technically optional.
If you do name an agent, Minnesota Statutes section 5.36 says it can be a person who lives in Minnesota, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign corporation or LLC authorized to do business in the state. The Secretary of State’s form instructions add that an entity may not act as its own agent. The registered office must be an actual office location rather than just a P.O. box, and it must match the agent’s business address.
In practice, an agent is worth having. Legal papers and state notices go to the registered office, and someone has to be there to receive them during business hours. A dedicated agent keeps lawsuits from going unnoticed and keeps your home address off the record if you work from home. Mainstay Filing includes a year of registered agent service with its formation package, and our Minnesota registered agent guide explains the options in more detail.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization
File online through the Secretary of State’s Business and Lien System or on paper. The Articles cover:
- The LLC’s name
- The registered office street address in Minnesota
- The name of the agent for service of process, if you have one
- The name and address of each organizer, with signatures
Minnesota Statutes section 322C.0201 says the LLC is formed when the Articles are filed “accompanied by a payment of $135,” which is the mail fee. Online and in-person filings are handled as expedited service and cost $155. Most owners file online because the result comes back much sooner than by mail.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Minnesota doesn’t require an operating agreement to be filed. Create one anyway, because it governs everything the Articles leave out: ownership, contributions, management, voting, distributions and what happens if a member leaves.
Minnesota’s LLC statute supplies default rules where the agreement is silent, and those defaults may not fit your business. A single-member LLC also benefits from an agreement, which helps show the company is separate from you.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register for Minnesota taxes
Apply for a free EIN with the IRS after the Articles are filed. Banks require it to open a business account, and you’ll use it for payroll and tax returns.
If you’ll sell taxable goods or services, or have employees, register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for sales tax and withholding, and with the state’s unemployment insurance program. Some Minnesota cities also have local sales taxes. Then open a business bank account in the LLC’s exact legal name so business and personal money stay separate from the first day.
FinCEN’s beneficial ownership page states that U.S.-formed companies are exempt from BOI reporting under the final rule effective August 2026.
Step 6: File the free annual renewal by December 31
Minnesota calls its yearly filing an annual renewal. Section 322C.0208 requires every LLC to file one with the Secretary of State by December 31 of each calendar year, starting with the calendar year after the year it files its Articles. No fee is required.
That means an LLC formed in 2026 files its first renewal by December 31, 2027. Even though it’s free, don’t skip it. Under section 322C.0705, an LLC that misses the December 31 deadline can be administratively terminated, and getting it back requires a reinstatement filing with a fee.
Step 7: Licenses and permits
Minnesota doesn’t issue a general statewide business license. Licensing depends on what you do and where: many professions need a state license, and cities and counties issue their own permits. Check with your city and any state board that regulates your industry before you open.
How much does a Minnesota LLC cost?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization, online or in person | $155 |
| Articles of Organization, by mail | $135 |
| Change of registered office or agent | $55 online, $35 by mail |
| Annual renewal | $0 |
| Most other filings under chapter 322C | $35 unless the chapter sets another fee |
Minnesota is unusual in charging nothing for the annual renewal, so your ongoing state cost can be zero apart from tax registrations and licenses.
Minnesota LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Minnesota?
Filing Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State costs $155 online or in person, which is processed as expedited service, or $135 by mail, as of October 2026. The annual renewal that follows each year is free if filed by December 31.
Does Minnesota charge for the LLC annual renewal?
No. Minnesota Statutes section 322C.0208 says no fee is required to file the annual renewal. Every Minnesota LLC must still file it with the Secretary of State by December 31 of each calendar year, starting in the calendar year after the LLC filed its Articles of Organization.
When is the first Minnesota annual renewal due?
A Minnesota LLC files its first annual renewal by December 31 of the calendar year after the year it filed Articles of Organization. An LLC formed in 2026, for example, files its first renewal by December 31, 2027, and then by December 31 every year after that.
Does a Minnesota LLC need a registered agent?
Minnesota requires a registered office street address in the state, but the statute lists an agent for service of process only if the LLC has one. Many owners appoint an agent anyway so that lawsuits and official notices are reliably received at the registered office during business hours.
Can I file Minnesota Articles of Organization online?
Yes. The Minnesota Secretary of State accepts filings online through its Business and Lien System, which is also where you search existing business names. Paper filing is available too. Articles of Organization cost $155 online or in person and $135 by mail.
Does Minnesota require an operating agreement?
Minnesota doesn’t require LLCs to file an operating agreement with the Secretary of State. A written agreement is still strongly recommended, because Minnesota’s statutory default rules apply wherever the agreement is silent, and those rules may not reflect how the members want the business to run.
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