Register your Minnesota LLC Online
Complete the form below in 2–3 minutes. Your LLC and EIN come at no extra cost — you only pay Minnesota’s own $155 state fee.
- Enter your desired LLC name
- Choose your state
- Receive your LLC and free EIN by email
Trusted by Thousands Nationwide
What is an LLC in Minnesota?
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) is a simple structure for running your business under a professional name. It separates your business from your personal name, and it's the most common way to add a partner, sell the business, or look like a real company instead of a side project.
That separation goes further than the name. If the business owes money or gets sued, your house, car, and personal bank accounts are generally off-limits — as long as you run the LLC properly. It doesn't protect you from something you personally did wrong.
A sole proprietorship skips all of that. You're doing business under your own name or a DBA, and everything stays tied to you personally.
A corporation does the same separation as an LLC, but it's built for a different job: issuing stock and bringing in outside investors. An LLC is simpler to run and cheaper to keep up if that's not you right now.
Benefits of an LLC in Minnesota
- Add partners or co-owners whenever you're ready
- Transfer ownership if you sell the business
- “Minnesota Company, LLC” shows you’re a real business
- Shows you’re registered (Minnesota Secretary of State)
- Get a matching domain like MinnesotaCompanyLLC.com
- Simpler upkeep than forming a corporation
What's different about a Minnesota LLC
Minnesota's $155 fee is for filing online or in person — filing the same Articles of Organization by mail instead costs $135, but takes longer to process. Minnesota doesn't publish a separate paid rush option the way some states do; online filing is already the faster path.
Forming a corporation in Minnesota costs the exact same $155 as forming an LLC — same office, same form, same fee either way.
Cost to start an LLC in Minnesota
$155 to the Minnesota Secretary of State — that's it. We don't charge a filing fee on top of it. A Minnesota corporation runs $155 through the same process.
| What you get |  | Others |
|---|---|---|
| EIN (Tax ID) | Free | up to $99 |
| Registered agent | Freefirst year | up to $249per year |
| Name check | Free | usually free |
| Minnesota state filing feespaid to the state — same for everyone | $155 | $155 |
Free EIN with your Minnesota LLC
Your EIN (Employer Identification Number) is what opens a business bank account and identifies your company to the IRS — it's like a Social Security Number for your LLC. It's included at no extra cost, right alongside your LLC.
LLC vs Corporation in Minnesota
An LLC is simpler and more flexible, and keeps “LLC” in your business name. A corporation is a more formal structure built for issuing stock and outside investment, and keeps “Inc” or “Corp” in the name instead. 97% of our clients choose an LLC.
What is a Sole Proprietor in Minnesota?
A sole proprietorship means you're doing business as an individual. You can file an Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State to use a name other than your own. As an individual, you can't add a partner to the business, because everything is tied to your personal name and Social Security Number. If you later want to add partners or sell the business, you'll need to start an LLC or corporation.
File a DBA Under Your LLC
A DBA (Doing Business As), which Minnesota calls a Certificate of Assumed Name, lets one LLC operate under more than one business name. In Minnesota, that's a separate filing with the Secretary of State — the same office that formed your LLC — and state law also requires publishing the certificate in a qualified newspaper in your county for two successive issues after you file it.
A DBA isn't required if you're fine using your LLC's own name.
Example: Minnesota Company, LLC dba Minnesota Auto Brokers.
DBA vs LLC in Minnesota
A DBA only gives you another name to use. The LLC is the actual business entity that owns the DBA name and holds all legal rights.
Common Questions
Why start an LLC in Minnesota?
It separates the business from your own name, lets you add or remove owners as the business grows, and reads as a real, established company.
How long does it take to get a Minnesota LLC?
Filing takes a few minutes on this page. Minnesota doesn't publish a guaranteed turnaround for standard processing, and doesn't offer a separate paid rush option the way some states do.
What's Minnesota's Annual Renewal, and what does it cost?
Nothing — it's free, due every December 31. It's a required state filing, not a tax, but skipping it gets the LLC administratively terminated. Reinstating it afterward costs $25 by mail or $45 online.
Do I need an EIN for my Minnesota LLC?
Yes, for a business bank account and for the IRS to recognize your company. It's included free when you file here.
What's a registered agent, and do I need one?
Minnesota requires every LLC to keep a registered office in the state; naming a registered agent is optional, but most LLCs name one anyway since it's the address that receives lawsuits and state mail. It's included free for your first year when you file here.
Do I need an operating agreement?
Minnesota doesn't require one to file, but a bank often asks for one to open your business account. You can add it when you file, or write your own later.
Still deciding on a name?
Try the free name generator — type a word you like, get real available options back, then come straight here to file.
Page updates (1)
- January 1, 2026 — Minnesota's Business Filing Fraud Prevention Act took effect: a business owner can now report a fraudulent filing made in their company's name and have the Secretary of State investigate and redact it, at no cost. Minnesota Statutes §300.70 →
Sources (6)
Every fact on this page was checked directly against Minnesota's own filing agency and statutes — verified September 20, 2026.
- Minnesota Secretary of State — Business Filing & Certification Fee Schedule — the $135/$155 LLC and corporation filing fees, $0 annual renewals, $25/$45 reinstatement fees, $30/$50 assumed name fee
- Minn. Stat. §322C.0705 — the December 31 Annual Renewal deadline and administrative termination
- Minn. Stat. §322C.0113 — registered office required, registered agent optional
- Minn. Stat. §333.01 — the Certificate of Assumed Name and its newspaper-publication requirement
- Minn. Stat. §322C.0304 — the LLC member/manager liability shield
- Minnesota Secretary of State — LLC Forms — filing agency confirmation