Minnesota LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
The Minnesota LLC filing fee is $135 by mail or $155 online and in person. Learn what you need to file, what it costs, and how to stay in good standing with the state.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Minnesota LLC filing fees at a glance
Filing fee: $135 by mail / $155 online or in person
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME]
State agency: Minnesota Secretary of State
Annual report due: December 31 each year (no state fee)
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; income taxed at individual or corporate rates depending on election
Forming an LLC in Minnesota costs $135 if you file by mail or $155 if you file online or in person with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Beyond the formation fee, Minnesota requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address, an annual renewal filed by December 31 each year at no cost, and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
Articles of Organization: the core filing requirement
To form a Minnesota LLC, you need to file Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 322C. The state fee depends on how you file: $135 by mail or $155 online or in person. Online and in-person filings are treated as expedited.
You can file online through the Secretary of State's website, by mail to the First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101, or in person by appointment Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM. Most entrepreneurs file online — it's faster and the fee difference is modest.
- By mail: $135 state fee, standard processing
- Online: $155 state fee, expedited processing
- In person (by appointment): $155 state fee, expedited processing
Registered agent requirement
Every Minnesota LLC must designate a registered agent and maintain a registered office address in the state. The registered agent receives legal notices and official correspondence on behalf of your LLC. A P.O. box alone does not satisfy this requirement — the address must be a physical street address in Minnesota.
Your registered agent can be an individual who lives in Minnesota, a Minnesota business entity, or a foreign entity authorized to do business in Minnesota. The agent must be available at the registered office during normal business hours. You'll include the registered agent's name and street address in your Articles of Organization.
Annual renewal requirement and fee
Minnesota requires all LLCs — domestic and foreign — to file an annual renewal with the Secretary of State to stay in good standing. The renewal is due by December 31 each year. There's no state fee to file the annual renewal as long as your LLC is active.
You can file the annual renewal online, by mail, or in person. To file online, log into your account on the Secretary of State's website, find your business record, and select the File Amendment/Renewal option. Missing the December 31 deadline can put your LLC's active status at risk, so it's worth setting a calendar reminder well before year-end.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Every LLC needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. You'll use your EIN to open a business bank account, file federal taxes, and hire employees. You can apply for an EIN at no cost directly through the IRS website, or we can handle the application for you.
Name reservation
If you're not ready to file your Articles of Organization but want to hold your business name, Minnesota lets you reserve it first. A Name Reservation holds the name for 12 months and can be renewed. The fee is $35 by mail or $55 online and in person. Reserving a name does not form your LLC — it only holds the name while you get ready to file.
Operating agreement
Minnesota does not legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, but having one is worth the effort. An operating agreement sets out how your business runs — how decisions get made, how profits are split, how members can join or leave, and what happens if the business dissolves. Without one, Minnesota's default LLC rules under Chapter 322C govern those questions, which may not match what you actually want.
Business licenses and permits
Forming your LLC with the Secretary of State is separate from getting the licenses and permits you need to operate. What you need depends on your industry, your location, and whether your business is regulated at the federal, state, or local level. Some licenses are one-time; others renew annually.
Common sources for Minnesota business licenses include the Minnesota Department of Revenue for sales tax permits, the relevant state licensing board for regulated professions, and your city or county for local business licenses. A tax professional can help you figure out which licenses apply to your specific business.
FAQ
The Minnesota LLC filing fee is $135 if you file by mail or $155 if you file online or in person with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Online and in-person filings are treated as expedited. Beyond the state fee, you'll also need an EIN from the IRS at no cost, and you may have additional costs for a registered agent service, an operating agreement, and any required business licenses.
The Minnesota Secretary of State's current fee schedule lists the Articles of Organization filing fee as $135 by mail and $155 online or in person. These fees apply to filings made in 2026. Always check the Minnesota Secretary of State's Business Filing and Certification Fee Schedule directly before filing, as fees can change.
There's no state fee to file the Minnesota LLC annual renewal as long as your LLC is active and in good standing. The renewal is due by December 31 each year. You can file online, by mail, or in person with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Missing the deadline can put your LLC's active status at risk.
You file Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State. You can file online through the Secretary of State's website, by mail to the First National Bank Building, 332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201, Saint Paul, MN 55101, or in person by appointment. Online and in-person filings are treated as expedited and cost $155. Mail filings cost $135.
Yes. Every Minnesota LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Minnesota — a P.O. box alone does not meet the requirement. The registered agent must be available during normal business hours to receive legal notices. You'll list the registered agent's name and address in your Articles of Organization.
It depends on your industry and location. Minnesota does not issue a single general business license — instead, licensing requirements vary by business type, city, county, and whether your industry is regulated at the state or federal level. Start with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for a sales tax permit if you sell taxable goods or services, then check with your city or county and any relevant state licensing board for your profession.
We charge you the state fee at cost and pay it directly to the Minnesota Secretary of State on your behalf when filing your Articles of Organization. The state fee is separate from any Bizee platform fee. You pay the state fee regardless of which formation package you choose.
