Minnesota LLC Cost

The minimum cost to start an LLC in Minnesota is $135, which covers the fee for filing your LLC formation documents, referred to as the Articles of Organization.

However, the overall expense of creating a Minnesota LLC can vary depending on your specific business requirements and choices.

In our Minnesota LLC Cost guide, we've detailed all the expenses involved in starting and running an LLC in this state.

More than 84% of our readers form their LLC through a professional service to save time and avoid mistakes.

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How Much Does a Minnesota LLC Cost

The table below summarizes the essential requirements for forming a Minnesota limited liability company (LLC) along with the related fees.

	LLC Cost Summary
Requirement	Fee
Certificate of Organization	$135-$155
Registered Agent	$0-$150
LLC Name	$0-$105

Minnesota LLC Filing Fee ($135+)

To legally form your LLC in Minnesota, you'll need to file the appropriate documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

The specific form you’ll need to submit depends on whether you're forming a domestic LLC (one that operates in Minnesota) or a foreign LLC (one that operates outside of Minnesota).

• Domestic LLCs: Must file a Certificate of Organization
• Foreign LLCs: Must file a Certificate of Authority to Transact Business

For domestic LLCs, the filing fee is $155 for expedited service (submitted in person or online) or $135 for regular mail processing.

For foreign LLCs, the expedited filing fee is $205, while standard mail processing costs $185.

If you opt to use an LLC formation service, there will be an additional service fee on top of the state filing fee. The cost of these services can vary widely, starting at around $29 and increasing depending on the options you select.

Have a look at our in-depth review of the best and most affordable LLC Formation Services in 2024. 

Minnesota Registered Agent ($0-$150+)

In Minnesota, you must designate a registered agent when forming your LLC. This individual or business entity is responsible for receiving legal, tax, and governmental communications on behalf of your LLC.

If your LLC's physical address changes, or if you need to appoint a new registered agent, you will need to notify the Secretary of State by submitting a Change of Address/Agent form.

Although you can act as your own registered agent at no extra cost, it's often advisable to hire a professional service in order to avoid the penalties or legal issues that can arise from non-compliance with state regulations.

Moreover, using a third-party service can help keep your personal information private, as the registered agent's information will become publicly available instead of your own.

The cost of a registered agent service in Minnesota typically ranges from $125 to $300 annually, although this will depend on both the provider you choose and the types of features you need. 

Minnesota LLC Name ($0-$105)

When forming your Minnesota LLC, you’ll need to choose a unique name that’s available for use.

While the process of naming your LLC doesn’t incur a direct cost, there are two potential expenses to be aware of.

Reserving a Name

If you’ve settled on a name but are not ready to start your LLC immediately, you can reserve it for 12 months.

To do this, you must complete a Name Reservation form and submit it to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

The reservation fee is $55 for an expedited service (in person or online) or $35 for mail submissions.

Before submitting your reservation, it's advisable to perform a Business Filings Search on the Secretary of State's website to ensure that your desired name is available.

It’s also important to verify that your name’s corresponding domain is not already taken, as you will need this for your business website.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you intend to operate your LLC under a name different from its legal name, you’ll need to register a Doing Business As (DBA) name, also known as an Assumed Name in Minnesota.

To register your DBA name, you must file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

The filing fee is $50 for expedited service (in person or online) or $30 for mail submissions.

After submitting your DBA, you’ll need to publish the Certificate of Assumed Name in a legal newspaper that’s located in your business’s county for two consecutive issues.

Once published, you'll receive an affidavit of publication, which you should keep in your business records.

Note: To maintain your Assumed Name, you must submit an Assumed Name Annual Renewal Form each year. There is no fee for this as long as your assumed name is active, but failing to renew on time may result in a reinstatement fee.

Optional Minnesota LLC Formation Costs

In addition to the standard fees mentioned above, there are several other costs you might encounter when forming an LLC in Minnesota.

We’ve explored a few of the most common ones below.

Minnesota LLC Operating Agreement 

Although not legally required, it’s highly recommended that your LLC has an operating agreement.

This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers within your LLC and helps prevent and resolve potential disputes.

You can draft this agreement yourself at no cost, or you may choose to hire an online service or attorney, though this typically involves additional expenses.

Keep in mind that this agreement does not need to be filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State as it remains an internal document for your LLC.

Local Business Licenses

Depending on the nature of your business and its location, you may need to obtain a local business license.

For instance, if your LLC operates a mobile food truck in Duluth, you will be required to obtain a Mobile Food Cart license, which costs $202.

Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing may be required for various business activities, such as opening a business bank account or securing a loan.

To obtain this certificate for your LLC, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's website.
2. Search for your business using the business search feature.
3. Select the "Order Certificate of Good Standing" option on your business’s detail page.
4. Complete the required information and choose your delivery method.
5. Submit and pay the $15 fee for online orders, or $5 for mail or in-person requests.

Certified Copies of Business Documents

If you need certified copies of business documents for financial, legal, or regulatory reasons, you can order them from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

The fees vary depending on the document type and order method:

• Original Filings: $3 for mail or in-person orders; $13 for online orders
• Amendments: $3 per amendment copy, plus a $10 fee for online orders
• Certification Fee: An additional $5 per certification, regardless of the order method

Ongoing Costs to Maintain a Minnesota LLC

Aside from the initial formation costs, maintaining an LLC in Minnesota can involve a few recurring expenses each year.

Annual LLC Fee

All LLCs in Minnesota are required to file an annual renewal report by December 31 each year under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 322C.

This report can be submitted online via the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website or by mail using this Limited Liability Company Annual Renewal form.

You will need to provide your LLC’s jurisdiction, business name, and registered agent information.

Filing the annual renewal is free if your LLC is active and in good standing.

However, if your LLC has been dissolved for failing to file the renewal, a reinstatement fee of $25 (mail) or $45 (expedited in-person or online) will apply.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you choose to use a professional registered agent service, you’ll need to pay an annual fee, which typically ranges from $125 to $300 depending on the services offered.

Although it’s not mandatory to hire a professional registered agent, it’s highly recommended — especially as a new business owner without a dedicated business address. 

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Minnesota LLC vs Other States

Starting an LLC in Minnesota is relatively affordable compared to other states, particularly because there is no annual renewal fee.

This is in contrast to states like Massachusetts, where LLCs must pay a minimum of $500 per annum in order to maintain their good standing with the state.  

Even so, you should note that the best state to form an LLC in is generally the one in which you will be operating from. 

This is because otherwise you will likely need to adhere to more than one state’s regulations, which can be both more time consuming and expensive.