Starting a Business in Minnesota Checklist

Register my name and start a business with the Minnesota Secretary of State Search to see if your business name is available: http://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/ Companies must include designations in their business name (i.e. “Inc.” “Corp” “LLC” “Limited”) Minnesota Secretary of State Office of the Secretary of State Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100 St. Paul, MN 55103 P: (651) 296-2803 F: (651) 297-7067 business.services@state.mn.us
File paperwork to create my business Now you’re ready to form your business with the Minnesota Secretary of State. File Articles of Incorporation to form a corporation or Articles of Organization to form an LLC. If you mail the paper form, the filing fee is $135 for a Michigan corporation or LLC. If you file online or in person, the fee is $155. Filing online is faster; your articles are processed in 24 business hours. If you mail the paper form, the state takes 5-7 days to process. To learn more about the filing process or if you’d rather have a professional service company complete the filing for you, incorporate in Minnesota with Northwest Registered Agent. Business Services Office of the Secretary of State Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100 St. Paul, MN 55103 P: (651) 296-2803 F: (651) 297-7067 business.services@state.mn.us http://mblsportal.sos.state.mn.us/
Register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue If you need to collect sales tax, withhold income tax, pay corporate franchise tax, etc., you will need to register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. You can register with by mail, fax, phone, or online. The Application for Business Registration form and instructions are available on the Department of Revenue website. Sales Tax: The Minnesota sales tax rate is 6.875% Income Tax: Individual income tax rates range from 5.35% to 9.85% The Minnesota corporate franchise tax rate is 9.8% Minnesota Dept of Revenue Minnesota Department of Revenue Business Registration Mail Station 4410 St. Paul, MN 55146-4410 P: (651) 282-5225 F: (651) 556-5155 https://www.mndor.state.mn.us/tp/webreg/_/#1
Do I need a business license? There is no general Minnesota business license but you may need a state license based on your occupation. The Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development can help you determine if you require any state licenses. www.mnsbao.com Any other registration requirements? Additional licensing will depend on what type of business you do and where it is located. Keep in mind that you may need certain permits or an occupational license, in addition to local business licenses. You should always check with your local city or county government to see what their requirements are. For example, Minneapolis and Saint Paul only license some businesses. Local License Info City of Minneapolis Business Licenses & Consumer Services 250 S. 4th Street, Room 300 Minneapolis, MN 55415 P: (612) 673-2080 F: (612) 673-3399 http://www.minneapolismn.gov/licensing/business-licensing_what-we-license City of Saint Paul Department of Safety and Inspections 375 Jackson Street, Suite 220 Saint Paul, MN 55101 P: (651) 266-8989 F: (651) 266-9124 http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=887
Collect and Charge Sales Tax Do I need to collect sales tax? You need to register for sales tax if you make retail sales of goods or services in Minnesota. What is the Minnesota sales tax rate? The Minnesota sales tax rate is 6.875%. How do I register for Minnesota sales tax?> You can register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue by mail, phone, or online at https://www.mndor.state.mn.us/tp/webreg/_/#1. . If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email within minutes. How much does a Minnesota sales tax permit cost? There is no fee to register. Department of Revenue Minnesota Department of Revenue Business Registration Mail Station 4410 St. Paul, MN 55146-4410 P: (651) 282-5225 F: (651) 556-5155