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How to start a business in Minnesota

The fees, filing links and deadlines for forming and registering a business in Minnesota, with the official page for each step.

Last verified October 24, 2026 General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Each fee shows the date we checked it on the official page. Fees change, so confirm on the official page before you pay.

LLC filing fee: $155
LLC, first year (state fees): $155
Corporation filing fee: $155
Annual report: $0
DBA filed with: State
General state license: No
Newspaper notice: No

How much does it cost to form an LLC or corporation in Minnesota?

To form an LLC, file Articles of Organization with the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services for $155 (checked Oct 24, 2026). You can file online. A corporation files Articles of Incorporation for $155 (checked Oct 24, 2026). That filing fee is not the whole bill: see what it costs in the first year.

What does an LLC really cost in its first year in Minnesota?

Filing fees are only part of the cost. Here is every state fee and minimum tax we found that a new LLC must pay to form and stay in good standing for its first year. Example: Single-member LLC owned by one individual, filed online at standard speed, operating from day one with no employees; licenses every business must hold are counted, sales tax registration is listed separately.

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Articles of Organization filing fee (online)	$155	at filing ($135 if filed by mail)	Oct 24, 2026
First annual renewal	$0	by December 31 of the year after formation (December 31, 2027 for an LLC formed in 2026)	Oct 24, 2026

First-year total: $155 in state fees. Formation costs $155 online ($135 by mail). The yearly renewal is free if filed by December 31 each year, starting the year after formation. A single-member LLC reported on the owner's personal return owes no Minnesota minimum fee. Excludes assumed names and their newspaper notice (only if you use another name), sales tax and employer registrations, city and county licenses, and registered agent services.

After the first year: File the free annual renewal by December 31 every year. Missing it ends the LLC, and reinstatement costs $45 online or $25 by mail. An assumed name also needs a free renewal each calendar year.

Fees that apply only in some cases

State fee	Cost	When	Checked
Minnesota minimum fee A single-member LLC reported on the owner's Form M1 owes none; LLCs taxed as partnerships or corporations owe $260 or more once Minnesota property, payroll and sales reach $1,280,000 (2026 table)	$0	with the annual partnership or corporation return	Oct 24, 2026
Certificate of Assumed Name (online) If you do business under a name other than the LLC's exact legal name; $30 by mail; renews free each calendar year	$50	before using the name	Oct 24, 2026
Newspaper publication of the assumed name (two consecutive issues) Only if you file an assumed name; published in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of your principal place of business	Note Confirm this on the official page before you rely on it.	after the assumed name is filed	Oct 24, 2026
Minnesota Tax ID and sales and use tax account If you make taxable sales in Minnesota	Note The Department of Revenue guide lists no registration fee but does not say outright that it is free.	before making taxable sales	Check when you file
Unemployment insurance employer registration If you pay wages to employees in Minnesota; register once first wages are paid	Note The UI pages list no registration fee but do not say outright that it is free.	before the first quarterly wage report is due	Check when you file

Not included: city or county licenses, a registered agent service if you hire one, and optional extras such as expedited filing. Fees can change after the date shown; confirm on the official page before you pay.

Do I need to register a DBA in Minnesota?

If you do business under a name that isn’t your legal name, register it as an assumed name (DBA) with the state for $50 (checked Oct 24, 2026).

How to file a DBA

Does Minnesota require an annual report?

Yes. The fee is $0 (checked Oct 24, 2026). An annual renewal must be filed by December 31 of each calendar year, starting the year after formation (so an LLC formed in 2026 first renews by December 31, 2027). Filing on time is free. An LLC that misses it is administratively terminated; reinstating costs $45 online or in person, or $25 by mail.

Initial report: No. (checked Oct 24, 2026) Minnesota has no separate initial report; the first filing after formation is the free annual renewal.

Does Minnesota have a franchise or privilege tax?

Minnesota has no franchise tax on LLCs. C corporations file a corporation franchise tax return (Form M4). C corporations, S corporations and partnerships, including multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships, also owe an annual minimum fee once their Minnesota property, payroll and sales total $1,280,000 or more; under the 2026 table it starts at $260 and tops out at $12,830. Below that the fee is $0. A single-member LLC whose income is reported only on the owner's personal Minnesota return (Form M1) does not owe the minimum fee.

How do I register for state taxes in Minnesota?

Register with the state revenue agency for sales tax and withholding, and open an unemployment insurance account once you hire your first employee.

Does Minnesota require a general business license?

No. Minnesota doesn’t issue one general business license; what you need depends on your activity and where you operate.

Minnesota has no general state business license that every business must hold; licenses depend on the type of work and the city or county. DEED's yearly Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota (January 2026 edition) includes a directory of state licenses and permits and lists of county and city licensing contacts, and DEED's Minnesota Business First Stop helps startups that involve several state agencies. Sellers need a Minnesota Tax ID and a sales and use tax account before making taxable sales, and must name any local or special local taxes that apply when registering; the Department of Revenue guide lists no registration fee. Trade and occupational licenses come from agencies such as the Department of Labor and Industry and the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce has an online license-holder lookup.

What local licenses will I need in Minnesota?

Cities and counties set their own licenses, zoning and permits. Call your city or county clerk with your business type and address before you open.

Minneapolis (city)
Minneapolis licenses specific business types rather than every business; each application lists the city's requirements, and several city divisions may need to inspect or approve before a license is issued. Contact Business Licenses & Consumer Services, Public Service Building, 505 Fourth Ave. S., Room 220 (311 or 612-673-3000).

When do I need workers’ comp in Minnesota?

1 or more employees (no minimum; part-time workers count).

Every employer must buy workers' compensation insurance or be approved to self-insure, even with one part-time worker. Sole proprietors and business partners are excluded, along with their spouses, parents and children. In an LLC with 10 or fewer members and fewer than 22,880 hours of payroll the prior year, a manager who owns at least 25% is excluded, along with the manager's spouse, parents and children; closely held corporations have the same rule for officers owning at least 25%. Excluded people can be covered by choice through a written election to the insurer. Household workers paid under $1,000 cash in a three-month period, some family-farm workers, and casual workers outside the usual business are also excluded. An employer that fails to insure can be fined up to $1,000 per employee per week and must repay benefits the state's Special Compensation Fund pays, plus a 65% penalty. Starting January 1, 2026, construction businesses that buy a no-payroll (zero estimated exposure) policy must say they have no employees and give a copy to anyone they contract with.

What else should I know about starting a business in Minnesota?

LLC and corporation formation costs $155 online or in person and $135 by mail. Filing online needs a free Secretary of State online account, and payment goes through a U.S. Bank payment page; we found no added online convenience fee. A Certificate of Assumed Name costs $50 online or in person ($30 by mail). After it is filed, the certificate must be published in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of the principal place of business for two consecutive issues; the newspaper sets its own charge, and the business keeps the affidavit of publication. An LLC or corporation that does business under its exact legal name does not file or publish anything in a newspaper. LLCs, corporations and assumed names each file a free annual renewal every calendar year starting the year after filing. A missed renewal ends the LLC (administrative termination) or the assumed name; reinstatement costs $45 online or in person, or $25 by mail.

What to double-check for Minnesota?

A few details below aren't spelled out on the state's own pages. Confirm them on the official page before you file.

Note Check DEED's license directory in A Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota or ask Minnesota Business First Stop. https://mn.gov/deed/business/starting-business/legal-regulatory/index.jsp
Note The Department of Revenue and unemployment insurance pages list no fee to register for a Minnesota Tax ID, sales tax account or employer account, but do not say outright that registration is free. https://www.revenue.state.mn.us/guide/registering-your-business
Note https://www2.minneapolismn.gov/business-services/licenses-permits-inspections/business-licenses/

What to do next

Want help setting up in Minnesota? Contact us

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Sources

Official pages checked on October 24, 2026.