LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Minnesota

Forming an LLC in Minnesota for the first time

The Minnesota filing fee is $155. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $354.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Minnesota checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization. $155 to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. A Minnesota LLC must keep a registered office in Minnesota; naming an agent there is optional. Mainstay Filing includes it.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. Annual renewal due by December 31; no fee is required.. Due: December 31.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $155 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$752 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $444; ZenBusiness $652; Bizee $453; LegalZoom $902 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Minnesota?

Mainstay Filing. First year $354 including the $155 Minnesota filing fee; $199 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Minnesota without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $155. Office required registered agent: If one is named: a Minnesota resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Minnesota or authorized there, with a business office at the registered office.

Sources