The 5 Best Registered Agents in Minnesota (2026)

Full transcript

0:00 The short answer

Dan The 5 best registered agents in Minnesota in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, MN Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and Minnesota Registered Agent.co.

Maya Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast. Minnesota. What's the twist here?

Dan Two. Minnesota only requires a registered office, so an agent is optional for a Minnesota LLC. And the annual renewal costs nothing, which changes what an add-on service is worth.

0:32 What Minnesota requires

Maya An agent is optional?

Dan For an LLC formed in Minnesota, yes. Statute 5.36 says every business entity must continuously maintain a registered office, and a Minnesota entity may designate an agent. Entities formed elsewhere must.

Maya Why name one then?

Dan Because the office is where papers arrive. A named agent is the person or company that accepts service of process or notices sent to the entity.

Maya Who can be the agent?

Dan A natural person residing in Minnesota, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign one authorized to do business here. The agent must keep a business office identical to the registered office.

Maya Can my LLC be its own agent?

Dan No. The change form says an entity may not act as its own agent.

Maya And the address?

Dan An actual office location with a complete street address. A post office box by itself is not acceptable.

Maya I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan.

Dan Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

1:41 Mainstay Filing

Maya Number one?

Dan Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the renewal is $149 too.

Maya What do I get?

Dan Its Minnesota address on the public record rather than yours. Served papers scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and your first three government mailings a year scanned free.

Maya Switching?

Dan Mainstay files the Notice of Change. The $55 online state fee passes through at cost.

Maya The catch?

Dan Two agents further down the list charge $99 flat, so it's not the lowest price.

2:21 Northwest Registered Agent

Maya Second?

Dan Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. It says it hasn't raised the price in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular mail a year are scanned free.

Maya The catch?

Dan Signup enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per filing, until you cancel.

Maya Minnesota's renewal costs nothing.

Dan Exactly. So that's $100 a year for a filing the state charges $0 for. Cancel it unless you want to hand it off.

2:53 MN Registered Agent.org

Maya Third?

Dan MN Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. A registered office address, scanned subpoenas and compliance reminders.

Maya Switching?

Dan Just the $55 online state fee. Annual report filing is a separate service.

Maya Against Mainstay?

Dan $50 less a year, $150 over three.

3:19 Bizee

Maya Four?

Dan Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then $149 a year.

Maya Fine print?

Dan The free year needs a formation order, and the renewal is automatic.

Maya If I'd formed my LLC on my own?

Dan You start at $149, so two years is $298.

3:43 Minnesota Registered Agent.co

Maya And five?

Dan Minnesota Registered Agent.co, a flat $99. The address on your filings, same-day scans and reminders before the annual renewal deadline.

Maya How's that different from number three?

Dan On the listings, it isn't. Same price, same catch, with annual report filing sold separately.

4:05 Naming the agent at formation

Maya Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

Dan In the Articles of Organization, Article II. The registered office is required there, and the agent line is optional.

Maya What does the filing cost?

Dan $155 online or in person, $135 by mail.

Maya What happens to the information I enter?

Dan The state's forms say it's public data and may be viewable online, including all individual names and addresses.

Maya So a home address becomes public.

Dan It can, if that's the address you list. That's a big reason owners use a service address.

4:43 Changing the agent

Maya How do I change it later?

Dan The Notice of Change of Registered Office and Registered Agent. It's $35 by mail, or $55 online or in person.

Maya Why the difference?

Dan The $55 is the expedited fee. Online filings go through the state's business portal and are typically processed in two to five business days.

Maya And by mail?

Dan Non-expedited, first come first served.

Maya Who approves it?

Dan A resolution approved by a majority of the governing body, so for a one-owner company that's just you.

Maya What if I want no agent at all?

Dan You write the word NONE in the agent box.

5:25 If the agent resigns

Maya What if my agent quits?

Dan The agent files a signed notice of resignation and gives a signed copy to the business at its principal executive office. The appointment ends 30 days after the notice is filed.

Maya Does that cost the agent anything?

Dan $35, and it's mail only. It isn't available online or in person.

Maya Sounds like a month's warning.

Dan It is. Use that month to file a Notice of Change.

5:52 When there's no agent

Maya What if papers need to reach a company with no agent?

Dan Statute 5.25 lets them go to the registered agent, if any. If no agent has been appointed, then to an officer, manager or general partner.

Maya And if nobody can be found at the address on file?

Dan Then to the Secretary of State, by filing one copy with a $35 fee.

Maya Is that a good place for papers to end up?

Dan No. The state then holds the papers, not you, which is the worst place for them.

6:22 The annual renewal

Maya What does Minnesota want each year?

Dan An annual renewal by December 31, starting the year after you form. It costs $0.

Maya Free, so why is it a big deal?

Dan Miss it and the state can administratively terminate the LLC. Reinstatement costs $85 online or $65 by mail.

Maya What goes on the renewal?

Dan The registered office and agent, so it's also how the state's record stays current.

Maya Reminders?

Dan The forms ask for an email address for official notices, and the state may use it for renewal reminders. That means the reminders don't depend on your agent, so use an inbox you actually read.

Maya So the yearly cost with an agent?

Dan With Mainstay, $149. With a $99 agent, $99. The state adds nothing.

7:14 Doing it yourself

Maya Can I be my own agent in Minnesota?

Dan You personally can, if you're a natural person living in Minnesota and keep an actual office address. The LLC can't be its own agent.

Maya What's the tradeoff?

Dan A home office address goes on a public record, and the person at that address has to be there to take the papers.

Maya What if I don't name an agent at all?

Dan Then the registered office does the job, and service falls back to an officer or manager.

7:40 Picking one

Maya How would a Minneapolis or Duluth owner decide?

Dan Three questions. Does the price hold after year one, is there a real Minnesota office address, and who files the $55 change.

Maya And your answer?

Dan Mainstay Filing. Our pick for Minnesota, at $149 a year.

8:01 The five in a row

Maya All five, once more?

Dan One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, MN Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, Minnesota Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

Maya The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.