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How to start an LLC in Minnesota: checklist (2026)

To start an LLC in Minnesota, file the Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $155, name a registered agent, get a free EIN and check your local licenses. Mainstay Filing, our best overall pick, does the filing, the agent, the EIN application and the report for $199 a year.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Minnesota checklist

  1. File the formation document. Articles of Organization, Minnesota Secretary of State, $155.
  2. Name a registered agent. Office required. If one is named: a Minnesota resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Minnesota or authorized there, with a business office at the registered office.
  3. Get an EIN. Free from the IRS online.
  4. Check licenses. We could not confirm a general-license statement from Minnesota’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.
  5. Keep it current. Annual Renewal, yearly: no state fee, due december 31.
Best overall in Minnesota

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, same at renewal

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Questions

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

The state filing fee is $155 for the Articles of Organization. The first Annual Renewal later costs no state fee.

Do I need a registered agent in Minnesota?

A Minnesota LLC must keep a registered office in Minnesota; naming an agent there is optional.

Do I need a business license in Minnesota?

We could not confirm a general-license statement from Minnesota’s own pages, so check with your city or county. The state’s starting-a-business page is a good place to begin.

Sources