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Starting an LLC in Minnesota comes with more costs than just filing the initial paperwork. But it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you think.
We explain all of the initial and ongoing Minnesota LLC cost details below, as well as give you tips on how to save money.
How much does an LLC cost in Minnesota?
It costs $155 to form an LLC in Minnesota. This is a fee paid for the Articles of Organization.
You’ll file this form with the Minnesota Secretary of State. And once approved, your LLC will go into existence.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
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In addition to this LLC filing fee, there are other costs to be aware of when forming a Minnesota LLC (Limited Liability Company).
Costs to forming a Minnesota LLC
There is a $155 one-time state filing fee to form a Minnesota LLC.
There are also ongoing fees which we discuss below.
Limited Liability Company Costs in Minnesota
| Requirement | Cost |
|---|---|
| LLC Name | $0 |
| Registered Agent | $0 or $125 per year |
| Articles of Organization | $155 |
| Operating Agreement | $0 (free on our site) |
| EIN Number | $0 (free through IRS) |
| Annual Renewal | $0 (informational filing only) |
| Taxes | varies (filed and/or paid every year) |
Minnesota LLC Articles of Organization Filing Fee ($155)
Starting an LLC costs $155 in Minnesota. This is the state filing fee for a document called the Minnesota Articles of Organization.
The Articles of Organization are filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State. And once approved, this is what creates your LLC.
The $155 fee is a one-time fee. You don’t have to pay any monthly (or annual) fees to start your Minnesota LLC.
Note: LLCs are the most common business structure used in Minnesota. They are the most popular business entity because they offer liability protection for the LLC owners.
Depending on the state, the Articles of Organization form is sometimes called a Certificate of Organization or Certificate of Formation. Articles of Organization is the most common name – but they all mean the same thing: the form used to create your LLC.
Minnesota business name cost ($0)
Naming your LLC doesn’t cost anything. Your Minnesota LLC Name is approved (at no extra cost) when your Articles of Organization filing is approved by the state.
You may have read online that LLC Name Reservations are required. However, this is not true in most states. Most states don’t require a Name Reservation to form an LLC.
How much does a DBA cost? ($30)
A DBA is filed with the state or the county. In Minnesota, a DBA costs $30 if you file by mail. The DBA filing costs $50 if you file online.
Note that Minnesota requires you to publish a notice of the new DBA in a legal newspaper – fees for this will vary.
Note: A DBA is sometimes called a Trade Name, Fictitious Name, Assumed Name or Fictitious Business Name. They all mean the same thing.
Tip: You aren’t required to get a DBA for your LLC. It’s optional. For more information, read our article: Do I need a DBA?
Minnesota Registered Agent Fee ($0 or $125/year)
Minnesota law requires that you designate a Registered Agent when forming your LLC. But there’s no Minnesota LLC cost for naming a Registered Agent on your Articles of Organization.
A Minnesota Registered Agent is a person or company who receives legal documents and state notices for your LLC. A Registered Agent needs a street address in the state and should generally be available during normal business hours.
There is no additional cost if you will be your own Registered Agent, or have someone you know be your LLC’s Registered Agent. This could be one of your business partners, or a friend or family member.
However, you have the option of hiring a Registered Agent service. This will cost you between $100 to $300 per year. But Registered Agent service companies offer other helpful business services and can protect your privacy.
Hiring a Registered Agent service is a good idea if:
- You don’t have an address in the state (Minnesota law requires Registered Agents to have a physical address in the state
- You want to keep your address off public record (depending on which company you hire, you may be able to use their address to keep your address private)
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
LLC Operating Agreement Fee ($0)
A Minnesota LLC Operating Agreement is a written contract between the LLC Members. Operating Agreements include detailed information about LLC ownership, how the LLC is managed, and how profits are distributed.
Single-Member LLCs and Multi-Member LLCs should draft an Operating Agreement, keep it with their business records, and give a copy to each Member.
Most websites charge $50 to $200 for LLC Operating Agreements.
Here at LLC University®, we offer free LLC Operating Agreement templates for all types of LLCs.
LLC EIN Number Fee ($0)
An EIN Number is also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN) or a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN).
This number is used to file income taxes, to open an LLC bank account, and to hire employees (if applicable).
Although many websites charge a service fee to get an EIN for your LLC, it can actually be done for free.
You can obtain an EIN for your LLC from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at no cost. The online filing can be completed in a few minutes.
Minnesota LLC Annual Renewal Fee ($0/year)
Minnesota requires you to keep your LLC’s information up to date by filing a Minnesota Annual Renewal.
This keeps your Minnesota LLC in good standing and in compliance with state law so it can continue operating. You simply confirm the information on the Minnesota LLC Annual Renewal and file it with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
There is no fee ($0). This is just an informational filing that you must complete every year for the life of your LLC.
Minnesota Business License and Permit Fees (varies)
Depending on where your LLC does business in Minnesota and the industry you’re in, you may need to obtain additional Business Licenses or Permits. For example, you may need to get a City Business Permit.
The costs for these other business licenses or permits will vary depending on location and industry, but usually the fees are not very high. Some licenses and permits are issued at the state level, and others are issued by a municipality (the town, city, or county).
LLC Taxes (varies)
There are many different types of Minnesota LLC taxes that owners must pay, so this annual cost varies widely.
Some of the taxes LLC owners pay include:
- Federal taxes
- State income tax
- Local income tax
- Business taxes
- Self-employment taxes
- Sales and use tax
- Payroll tax (if you have employees)
- Property tax (if the LLC owns property)
Your Minnesota LLC taxes depend on your industry and amount of business activity, so we’re not able to provide an estimate. Every business is different, and your specific circumstances determine what taxes apply to your LLC. How you pay taxes depends on your business income.
Note: By default, a Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship. And a Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
Hiring an Accountant
How much your small business pays in taxes is best determined by working with a qualified accountant in Minnesota.
The amount you’ll pay your accountant will vary. However, most accountants will charge $300 per year for a simple tax return, or up to $900 for more detailed filings.
Note: We recommend speaking with a few accountants in Minnesota to make sure they can help you meet all of your federal, state, and local tax obligations. We offer detailed tips on How to Find an Accountant.
Minnesota Secretary of State
If you have any questions about the cost of opening a Minnesota LLC, you can contact the Business Services division of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
(Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Building)
Minnesota LLC Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to open an LLC in Minnesota?
It costs $155 to start a Minnesota LLC. This is a one-time filing fee for the LLC Articles of Organization.
Some LLCs may need a business license in Minnesota. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. The cost of local business permits varies.
How much does an LLC in Minnesota cost per year?
All Minnesota LLCs need to file an Annual Renewal each year, but there is no fee to pay for this filing. The Annual Renewal requirement applies to all Minnesota LLCs.
If you hired a Registered Agent service, you’ll have an annual subscription fee to pay each year. This is usually about $125 per year.
Some LLCs may need a business license in Minnesota. This depends on your industry and where your LLC is located. You’ll need to check with your municipality to see if there are any annual renewal fees for the business permit.
Should I hire an LLC formation service?
You aren’t required to hire a professional service company to form your Minnesota business entity. A business owner is allowed to complete the LLC formation process themselves, if they want to. You can do the online filings yourself.
However, if you want to save time and make sure your LLC is filed correctly, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent.
Northwest Registered Agent has excellent customer service and they include Registered Agent services free for the 1st year. They also offer other services, like an Operating Agreement and filing your Annual Renewal.
Check out Best LLC Services for more suggestions.
Do I need to hire an attorney to form an LLC?
No, you aren’t required to hire an attorney to form your LLC in Minnesota. You’re allowed to form your LLC yourself if you’d like.
However, some people may want to hire an attorney if their LLC has a complex ownership or management structure, has investors, or requires industry-specific documentation.
A business attorney usually charges between $800 and $2,500 to form an LLC.
How do I start an LLC in Minnesota?
Here are the steps to starting an LLC in Minnesota:
- Choose an LLC business name and make sure it’s available
- Choose who will be your Minnesota Registered Agent
- File the Minnesota Articles of Organization
- Complete and sign an LLC Operating Agreement
- Get a Tax ID Number (EIN) from the IRS
- Open an LLC bank account
- Check whether you need a business or sales tax license in Minnesota
What’s the cheapest way to start an LLC?
You can get an LLC cheaply by filing your formation documents yourself. You’ll also save money by being your own Registered Agent, and using our free LLC Operating Agreement template.
By forming your LLC yourself, being your own Registered Agent, and using our Operating Agreement template you can save over $400.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Minnesota?
How long it takes to get an LLC in Minnesota depends on how you file your Articles of Organization.
If you file by mail, you can get an LLC in Minnesota approved immediately. On the other hand, filing by mail takes about 11-12 business days (plus mail time).
How much does a Minnesota business bank account cost?
It varies. Some banks charge monthly fees ($10 to $20 per month), but these can sometimes be avoided by meeting certain requirements. For example, if you make a certain number of direct deposits or maintain a specified minimum balance, then they’ll waive the monthly fees.
And you might be able to find a bank that doesn’t charge any monthly fees.
Before you open your LLC business bank account, we recommend calling and asking if there are ways to avoid the monthly maintenance fees.
How much is a Foreign LLC in Minnesota?
A Foreign LLC is an LLC formed in another state that must register (aka Foreign Qualify) in Minnesota. This is because the LLC is doing business in both states.
The Minnesota Foreign LLC cost is $185 if you file by mail. If you file online or need expedited service, the cost is $205. This is the form to file when you register an LLC in Minnesota after it was formed in another state.
If you form an LLC in Minnesota, it is called a “Domestic LLC”. If you formed your LLC in another state, it would be a Foreign LLC once you register it in Minnesota.
Is Minnesota a good state for an LLC?
Yes, Minnesota is a great state to start a business. Minnesota doesn’t charge a state business license fee, has quick approval times and helpful representatives at the Secretary of State if you have questions.
However, the most important factors in deciding where to start a business are where you live and where you’re doing business.
Meaning, if you live in or do business in Minnesota, then you should start your business in Minnesota. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business. And just because a certain state has cheaper LLC fees doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to form your LLC there.
For example, if you form an LLC in Wyoming, but live in and conduct business in Minnesota, you’ll also need to register your Wyoming LLC in Minnesota (and pay fees). And you’ll end up paying Minnesota taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.
In summary, if you are a Minnesota resident, then yes, Minnesota is the best state to form an LLC. If you don’t live in and do business in Minnesota, then no, Minnesota probably isn’t a good state to start an LLC.
References
Minnesota Secretary of State: LLC forms
Minnesota Secretary of State: Start a Business
Minnesota Secretary of State: Filing Fee Schedule
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
Minnesota LLC Guide
Looking for an overview? See Minnesota LLC
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