Minnesota LLC Formation

Start an LLC in Minnesota — $155 State Fee, Free Annual Renewal

Minnesota is a thriving business state — home to Minneapolis's booming startup scene, 17 Fortune 500 companies, and a highly educated workforce. While the $155 filing fee is slightly higher than some states, Minnesota's annual renewal is completely free — making it one of the lowest long-term maintenance costs in the Midwest. Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and all compliance so you can launch and grow with confidence.

Trusted by 10,000+ EntrepreneursAll 50 States Covered100% Accuracy Guarantee

Formation & Compliance
Banking & Bookkeeping
Tax Advice and Filing
Expert Customer Support

Step-by-step guide

How to Form an LLC in Minnesota

Six clear steps — free annual renewal, no publication requirement. Brendat handles the filing while you focus on your business.

Choose a Name for Your Minnesota LLC

Your Minnesota LLC name must be unique among all businesses registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State and must include a required designator.

Minnesota Naming Rules:

Must include: "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C."
Cannot use: Words implying a government agency (e.g., "FBI," "State Department")
Restricted words: "Bank," "Insurance," "University" require additional approval
Must be distinguishable: From all existing Minnesota business names in the SOS database

Name Reservation Available

You can reserve your Minnesota LLC name for 12 months with the Minnesota SOS for $55. Brendat checks name availability before filing your Articles of Organization.

Appoint a Minnesota Registered Agent

Every Minnesota LLC must designate a registered agent — an individual or company with a physical Minnesota street address — to receive legal documents and official state notices during business hours.

Who can be your registered agent?

Yourself: Must have a physical Minnesota address and be available during business hours
A trusted individual: Any Minnesota resident with a physical address
A professional service: Like Brendat — keeps your personal address off public records

Brendat provides registered agent service in Minnesota

Our Minnesota address is listed on your Articles of Organization. Included in Standard and Premium packages.

File Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State

The Articles of Organization officially creates your Minnesota LLC. You file it with the Minnesota Secretary of State — online via the Minnesota Business Filing System or by mail.

Method	Fee	Processing Time
Online via MN Business Filing	$155	5–7 business days
Expedited Online	$155 + $50	~2 business days
By Mail	$135	4–6 weeks

No publication requirement in Minnesota

Minnesota does not require LLCs to publish a notice in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved, your LLC is fully formed — no additional steps or costs.

Create an Operating Agreement

Minnesota does not legally require an operating agreement, but it is strongly recommended for all Minnesota LLCs. It establishes ownership, profit sharing, and management rules, and protects your liability shield.

Your operating agreement should cover:

Ownership structure: Each member's percentage and capital contribution
Profit distribution: How and when profits are divided
Management: Who makes decisions and how voting works
Member changes: Process for adding or removing members
Dissolution: Steps to close the LLC if needed

Included in Brendat Standard and Premium

Brendat provides a professionally drafted Minnesota operating agreement with your formation documents.

Get Your EIN (Employer Identification Number)

An EIN is your LLC's federal tax ID — required to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. You apply through the IRS for free.

US residents: Apply free online at IRS.gov — instant approval
Non-US residents: Apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4 — 4–6 weeks
Brendat handles this: Included in Standard and Premium packages

Open a business bank account right after

With your EIN and approved Articles of Organization, open a dedicated Minnesota business bank account to keep personal and business finances separate.

File Your Minnesota Annual Renewal

Minnesota LLCs must file an annual renewal every year with the Minnesota Secretary of State to stay in good standing. The best part — Minnesota's annual renewal is completely free.

Annual renewal fee: $0 — completely free
Due date: December 31 every year
Filing: Online via Minnesota Business Filing System
Penalty for non-filing: LLC can be administratively dissolved

Minnesota's annual renewal is 100% free

While the $155 filing fee is higher than some states, Minnesota makes up for it with a completely free annual renewal — unlike Wisconsin ($25), Iowa ($30), or Illinois ($75). Brendat sends reminders before the December 31 deadline every year.

Transparent pricing

How Much Does a Minnesota LLC Cost?

Higher upfront, zero ongoing state cost — full breakdown below.

State Filing Fee

$155

Online filing fee paid to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Mail filing is $135 but takes 4-6 weeks

Annual Renewal Fee

$0 Free

Minnesota's annual renewal is completely free — due December 31 every year. Zero ongoing state fee

Publication Requirement

No newspaper publication requirement in Minnesota

Registered Agent

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages. Every MN LLC must maintain a registered agent

EIN (Federal Tax ID)

Free from the IRS. Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Operating Agreement

Included in Brendat Standard & Premium packages

Total with Brendat Standard Plan

$149 + $155 state fee

$149 Brendat + $155 MN state fee · Annual renewal is FREE every year after — $0 ongoing state cost

Choose your plan

Minnesota LLC Formation Packages

All packages include accurate, state-specific filing. Pick what fits your needs.

Basic

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Minnesota state fee

Get Started Free

Articles of Organization filed
Name availability check
Email support
Digital copy of filed documents

Standard

$149

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Minnesota state fee

Start for $149 →

Everything in Basic
EIN / Federal Tax ID
Operating Agreement
Registered Agent (1 year)
Dec 31 renewal reminders
Priority processing

Premium

$299

Brendat service fee

+ $155 Minnesota state fee

Get Premium

Everything in Standard
Business bank account setup
Compliance calendar & reminders
Annual renewal filing (year 1)
Dedicated account manager
Phone & priority support

State Comparison

Is Minnesota the Right State for Your LLC?

Minnesota is best if you live or operate there. Here's how it compares to neighboring Midwest states.

Feature	Minnesota	Wisconsin	Iowa	Illinois
State Filing Fee	$155	$130	$50	$150
Annual Report/Renewal Fee	$0	$25/yr	$30 biennial	varies
Annual Renewal Due	Dec 31 (free)	Mar 31/yr	Apr 1 biennial	Anniversary month
Publication Required	None	None	None	None
Processing Time	5–7 days	~5 days	~5 days	~10 days
Best For	MN businesses	WI businesses	IA businesses	IL businesses

Free annual renewal = zero long-term state cost

Minnesota's $155 filing fee is higher than Iowa ($50) but its free annual renewal means your total 5-year cost is actually lower than most neighboring states that charge $25–$75/year ongoing.

Why choose us

Why 10,000+ Entrepreneurs Choose Brendat

Fast Filing

We submit your Minnesota Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order. Standard processing takes 5–7 days — expedited ~2-day available for $50 extra.

100% Accuracy Guarantee

Every filing is reviewed before submission. If Minnesota SOS rejects your documents due to our error, we fix it at no charge.

Privacy First

Your home address stays off the public record. We list our Minnesota registered agent address on all your formation documents.

December 31 Reminders

Minnesota's free annual renewal is still due December 31 every year — miss it and your LLC risks dissolution. We send reminders in December so you never forget.

Non-US Residents Welcome

No citizenship or US residency required. We assist international entrepreneurs with the full process including EIN filing.

Real Support

Reach our team at (303) 246-8693 or by email. Plain English answers — no jargon, no runaround.

Our reviews

What Our Minnesota LLC Customers Say

Sarah L.

Tech Startup LLC, Minneapolis MN

"The free annual renewal in Minnesota is amazing — I was expecting to pay like every other state. Brendat set up my Minneapolis LLC fast and explained everything clearly."

James R.

Consulting LLC, St. Paul MN

"I needed a quick turnaround for my St. Paul consulting firm. Brendat submitted same day and I had my approval within a week. Great registered agent service too!"

Nicole W.

E-commerce LLC, Rochester MN

"Brendat reminded me about the December 31 annual renewal deadline — which is free but still required. That reminder alone was worth using their service. Highly recommend!"

Common questions

Minnesota LLC — Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most common questions about forming and running an LLC in Minnesota.

Still have questions?

(303) 246-8693

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Minnesota?

The Minnesota state filing fee is $155 online ($135 by mail). Brendat's service starts at $0 (Basic) or $149 (Standard, which includes EIN, operating agreement, and registered agent). Total first-year cost with Standard is $304. Minnesota's annual renewal is completely free — due December 31 every year — making ongoing maintenance cost $0.

Is Minnesota's annual renewal really free?

Yes — Minnesota's annual renewal for LLCs is completely free. It must be filed by December 31 every year via the Minnesota Business Filing System. While there is no fee, the renewal is still required to keep your LLC in good standing. Failure to file can result in administrative dissolution. Brendat sends reminders before the December 31 deadline.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Minnesota?

Standard online processing with the Minnesota Secretary of State takes approximately 5–7 business days. Expedited ~2-day processing is available for an additional $50. Mail filings take 4–6 weeks. Brendat submits your Articles of Organization within 1 business day of your order.

Does Minnesota have a publication requirement for LLCs?

No. Minnesota does not require LLCs to publish a formation notice in any newspaper. Once your Articles of Organization are approved by the Minnesota Secretary of State, your LLC is fully formed with no additional steps.

What is the Minnesota income tax for LLCs?

Minnesota has a graduated personal income tax ranging from 5.35% to 9.85% — one of the higher state income tax rates in the US. For single-member LLCs and multi-member LLCs taxed as pass-throughs, income flows to members' personal returns at these rates. Minnesota does not impose an additional franchise or gross receipts tax on most LLCs.

Can a non-US resident form a Minnesota LLC?

Yes. There is no US citizenship or residency requirement to form a Minnesota LLC. Non-residents need a registered agent with a physical Minnesota address (Brendat provides this). For your EIN, non-residents must apply by fax using IRS Form SS-4. Brendat assists with this process.

Ready to Start Your Minnesota LLC?

Free annual renewal, no publication requirement, and Brendat handles your Articles of Organization, EIN, registered agent, and December 31 renewal reminders.

Form My Minnesota LLC

$149 + $155 MN fee · Free annual renewal · 100% accuracy guarantee