Registering an LLC makes your business real: it can open a bank account, sign contracts, and protect your personal savings if something goes wrong. In Minnesota you can do the whole thing yourself in an afternoon. Here's how.
One honest note before we start: this guide is general information, not legal advice. Most simple service businesses fit this path fine. If your situation is complicated (partners, investors, licenses with special rules), talk to an advisor first.
What it costs
- $155 to file online or in person, or $135 by mail (as of mid-2026; check the current fee schedule before you file)
- $0 for your federal tax number (EIN)
- $0 for the annual renewal, every year, for the life of the LLC
That's it. Be careful with websites that charge hundreds of dollars to "form your LLC for you." They file the same form you can file yourself.
Step 1: Pick a name and check it
Your LLC name must end with "LLC" or "Limited Liability Company" and can't already be taken. Search your name for free on the Minnesota Secretary of State site at sos.mn.gov. If the name is taken, try a variation. You don't need to reserve a name ahead of time; filing claims it.
Step 2: File the Articles of Organization
This is the one official form. File it online at sos.mn.gov and you're usually approved the same day. You'll need:
- Your LLC name
- A Minnesota street address for the business (your home address works; a P.O. box alone does not)
- Your name and signature as the organizer
Pay the fee, submit, and save the confirmation. When it's approved, your business legally exists.
Step 3: Get your free EIN
An EIN is your business's tax ID number, like a Social Security number for the company. You need it to open a bank account and to hire anyone later. Get it free at irs.gov in about 10 minutes. Never pay for an EIN. Any site charging for one is reselling a free government service.
Step 4: Open a business bank account
Take your approved Articles and your EIN to a bank or credit union and open a separate business checking account. Keeping business money separate from personal money is what makes the LLC's protection hold up, and it makes taxes far easier.
Step 5: Renew once a year, free
Minnesota requires a short annual renewal to keep your LLC active. It's free and takes a few minutes on the Secretary of State site. Put a repeating reminder in your phone right now, because a missed renewal can get your LLC shut down administratively.
Common mistakes to skip
- Paying a formation company for things the state does for $155
- Paying anyone for an EIN
- Mixing business and personal money in one account
- Forgetting the annual renewal