How to Start an LLC in Minnesota (2026)

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

The Articles of Organization cost $155 filed online or in person, or $135 by mail with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Your EIN is free from the IRS. After that the annual renewal costs nothing, so a Minnesota LLC is one of the cheapest in the country to maintain.

Q: Does a Minnesota LLC need a registered agent?

Not necessarily. Minn. Stat. 322C.0113 says every LLC shall have a registered office and may have a registered agent. The office address is mandatory and has to be in Minnesota; naming an agent is optional. Most owners still use an agent service so their home address stays off the public database.

Q: When is the Minnesota annual renewal due?

By December 31 every year, and you can file any time during that calendar year. It is free for an LLC in good standing. If you miss it, Minnesota terminates the LLC without further notice, and reinstatement costs $25 by mail or $45 online.

Q: Is it worth paying $155 online instead of $135 by mail in Minnesota?

For most people yes. The $20 difference buys immediate processing instead of waiting on the mail, and you cannot open a business bank account, sign contracts, or get insurance in the LLC name until the filing is approved. If you are not in a hurry, the mail option is a legitimate way to save $20.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

To start a Minnesota LLC, file the Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $155 online (or $135 by mail), list a registered office in Minnesota, and get a free EIN. Minnesota's annual renewal is free, but it is due every year by December 31, and missing it terminates the LLC automatically.

Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. Minnesota is unusual: a registered agent is optional, but a registered office address in the state is not.

Minnesota costs a little more up front than average and almost nothing to maintain, with one catch that catches people every year. Here is the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.

The free renewal that closes your business Minnesota's annual renewal costs $0, which is exactly why people forget it. Miss the December 31 deadline and your LLC is terminated without further notice under Minn. Stat. 322C.0705. Getting it back costs $25 by mail or $45 online, and in the meantime your entity is not in good standing. Put it in your calendar the day you form.

How to start a Minnesota LLC in 6 steps

Name it, set a Minnesota registered office, file the Articles ($155 online), write an operating agreement, get a free EIN, then file the free annual renewal by December 31.

Name your Minnesota LLC

The name must be distinguishable from other Minnesota entities and include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." Search it in the Minnesota business filings search before you file. Minnesota also lets you reserve a name for 12 months if you are not ready yet.

Set your registered office (the agent is optional)

This is where Minnesota differs from almost every other state. Under Minn. Stat. 322C.0113, an LLC must have a registered office in Minnesota but may have a registered agent. If you do not name an agent, service goes to the registered office address. Either way the address has to be a real Minnesota street address, so a service is still worth it if you want your home address off the record. Northwest includes it free the first year with their $39 filing.

File the Articles of Organization

File with the Minnesota Secretary of State. The fee is $155 online or in person and $135 by mail. Online filings are processed immediately, mail takes days, and the $20 difference is the price of speed.

Write an operating agreement

Minnesota does not require one, but write it anyway. It sets out ownership, management, and who can sign contracts, it backs your liability protection, and banks usually ask for it. A simple template covers a single-owner courier business.

Get a free EIN from the IRS

Your EIN is free at irs.gov and takes about ten minutes. You need it for the business bank account, contracts, and hiring. Never pay a third-party site for one.

File the annual renewal by December 31

Every Minnesota LLC files an annual renewal with the Secretary of State each calendar year. It is free if your LLC is active and in good standing, and you can file any time during the year. Miss December 31 and the LLC is terminated, with reinstatement costing $25 by mail or $45 online.

Minnesota LLC cost breakdown

$155 to form online and $0 a year after that, as long as you never miss the December 31 renewal.

Item	Cost	Required?
Articles of Organization (online or in person)	$155	Yes
Articles of Organization (by mail)	$135	Alternative
EIN	Free from the IRS	Yes (free)
Registered agent service	$0 (optional in MN) to $300/yr	No
Annual renewal	$0, due December 31	Yes
Reinstatement after a missed renewal	$25 mail / $45 online	Only if late

Minnesota figures as of August 2026, taken from the Secretary of State Business Filing and Certification Fee Schedule. Confirm at sos.mn.gov before filing.

Rather have it filed for you? Northwest will form your Minnesota LLC for $39 + the $155 state fee and act as your registered agent the first year, keeping your home address off the public record. See the $39 formation service → Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Setting up to run courier routes in Minnesota?

The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with Minnesota clinics, labs, and hospitals.

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Minnesota LLC FAQs

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

The Articles cost $155 online or in person, $135 by mail. Your EIN is free. The annual renewal after that costs nothing.

Does a Minnesota LLC need a registered agent?

No. Minnesota requires a registered office in the state, but naming a registered agent is optional (Minn. Stat. 322C.0113). Many owners still use a service to keep their home address private.

When is the Minnesota annual renewal due?

December 31 every year, and it is free. Miss it and the LLC is terminated automatically. Reinstatement is $25 by mail or $45 online.

Is it worth paying $155 online instead of $135 by mail in Minnesota?

Usually yes. The extra $20 buys immediate processing instead of a mail wait, and you cannot open a bank account until the LLC exists.

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