[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.