How to form an LLC in Minnesota

Minnesota still has a recurring filing on the calendar even though the checked record prices it at $0. The obligation is the annual renewal. Because the payment is zero, the recurring column adds nothing to the one-year, three-year, or five-year totals, but the due rule below still controls the deadline. Treat the filing as a calendar duty, not a bill, and confirm the current form with Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State before the first cycle closes.

How to read the recurring fee

Minnesota charges $0 for the annual renewal in the checked record, but the filing itself is real. The annual renewal must be filed by December 31 of each calendar year. A zero payment line does not erase the duty: miss the date and the state can treat the LLC as delinquent even though no money was owed. Confirm the current form with Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and keep the filing confirmation with the formation records.

Formation checklist

The steps below follow the Minnesota record on this page: formation through Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, the charge named Annual renewal, and the due rule checked on 2026-10-04.

1. Choose the legal name. Search the entity records held by Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and check the Minnesota name rules before printing cards, signing a lease, or opening accounts.
2. Choose the registered agent. The agent needs a qualified Minnesota address and must be available to receive official papers. Decide whether that will be you, another eligible person, or a paid service.
3. File the formation document. Submit the form through Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State and pay articles of organization, $155 (online).
4. Write the operating agreement. Record owners, contributions, authority, money rules, and exit terms. Keep it with company records even if the state does not collect it.
5. Get tax and bank accounts in order. Apply for an EIN when required, open business banking, and separate personal money from company money from day one.
6. Calendar the recurring charge. The annual renewal must be filed by December 31 of each calendar year. Add a reminder well before the deadline and save the state confirmation after each filing.

What the state total does not include

The five-year figure on this page is a state formation and recurring-fee total. It does not include income tax, franchise tax beyond a charge explicitly named in the source record, sales tax, payroll tax, local business licenses, industry permits, insurance, bookkeeping, or professional fees.

If the business will operate in another state, price foreign registration there as well. A formation in Minnesota does not remove duties where employees, property, or sales activity create a second registration obligation.

Before you pay for help

A filing service can be worth paying for when your time is tight or the ownership is not simple. Compare the service quote with the state-only baseline in the LLC True Cost Calculator. If a quote bundles a registered agent, ask for the renewal price. Low first-year promotions can become the largest line in year two.

State notes from the checked record

• Filing by mail is cheaper for formation: $135 instead of the $155 online or in-person fee.
• Minnesota Statutes 322C.0208 requires the annual renewal by December 31 of each year and states that no fee is required to file it.

Next steps

Run the five-year calculator, read the registered agent guide, and keep the recurring report checklist with your formation records.