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<v Dan>The 5 best registered agents in Minnesota in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest

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<v Dan>Registered Agent, MN Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and

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<v Dan>Minnesota Registered Agent.co.

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<v Maya>Welcome to The Business Formation Podcast.

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<v Maya>Minnesota. What's the twist here?

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<v Dan>Two. Minnesota only requires a registered office, so an agent is optional for a

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<v Dan>Minnesota LLC. And the annual renewal costs nothing, which changes what an add-on

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<v Dan>service is worth.

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<v Maya>An agent is optional?

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<v Dan>For an LLC formed in Minnesota, yes.

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<v Dan>Statute 5.36 says every business entity must continuously maintain a registered

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<v Dan>office, and a Minnesota entity may designate an agent.

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<v Dan>Entities formed elsewhere must.

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<v Maya>Why name one then?

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<v Dan>Because the office is where papers arrive.

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<v Dan>A named agent is the person or company that accepts service of process or notices

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<v Dan>sent to the entity.

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<v Maya>Who can be the agent?

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<v Dan>A natural person residing in Minnesota, a domestic corporation or LLC, or a foreign

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<v Dan>one authorized to do business here.

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<v Dan>The agent must keep a business office identical to the registered office.

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<v Maya>Can my LLC be its own agent?

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

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<v Maya>And the address?

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<v Dan>An actual office location with a complete street address.

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<v Dan>A post office box by itself is not acceptable.

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

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<v Dan>Thanks, Maya. Now the five.

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<v Maya>Number one?

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<v Dan>Mainstay Filing, $149 a year, and the renewal is $149

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<v Dan>too.

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<v Maya>What do I get?

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<v Dan>Its Minnesota address on the public record rather than yours.

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<v Dan>Served papers scanned and uploaded the same business day with no fee, and your first

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<v Dan>three government mailings a year scanned free.

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<v Maya>Switching?

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<v Dan>Mainstay files the Notice of Change.

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<v Dan>The $55 online state fee passes through at cost.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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

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<v Maya>Second?

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<v Dan>Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year.

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<v Dan>It says it hasn't raised the price in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of regular mail

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<v Dan>a year are scanned free.

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<v Maya>The catch?

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<v Dan>Signup enrolls you in its annual report filing service, $100 plus state fees per

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<v Dan>filing, until you cancel.

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<v Maya>Minnesota's renewal costs nothing.

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<v Dan>Exactly. So that's $100 a year for a filing the state charges $0 for.

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<v Dan>Cancel it unless you want to hand it off.

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<v Maya>Third?

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<v Dan>MN Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal.

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<v Dan>A registered office address, scanned subpoenas and compliance reminders.

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<v Maya>Switching?

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<v Dan>Just the $55 online state fee.

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<v Dan>Annual report filing is a separate service.

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<v Maya>Against Mainstay?

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<v Dan>$50 less a year, $150 over three.

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<v Maya>Four?

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<v Dan>Bizee, formerly Incfile. Free the first year with a formation package, then

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<v Dan>$149 a year.

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<v Maya>Fine print?

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

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<v Maya>If I'd formed my LLC on my own?

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

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<v Maya>And five?

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<v Dan>Minnesota Registered Agent.co, a flat $99.

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<v Dan>The address on your filings, same-day scans and reminders before the annual renewal

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<v Dan>deadline.

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<v Maya>How's that different from number three?

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

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<v Dan>separately.

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<v Maya>Where does the agent go when I form the LLC?

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<v Dan>In the Articles of Organization, Article II.

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<v Dan>The registered office is required there, and the agent line is optional.

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<v Maya>What does the filing cost?

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

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<v Maya>What happens to the information I enter?

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<v Dan>The state's forms say it's public data and may be viewable online, including all

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<v Dan>individual names and addresses.

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<v Maya>So a home address becomes public.

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<v Dan>It can, if that's the address you list.

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<v Dan>That's a big reason owners use a service address.

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<v Maya>How do I change it later?

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<v Dan>The Notice of Change of Registered Office and Registered Agent.

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<v Dan>It's $35 by mail, or $55 online or in person.

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<v Maya>Why the difference?

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<v Dan>The $55 is the expedited fee. Online filings go through the state's business portal

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<v Dan>and are typically processed in two to five business days.

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<v Maya>And by mail?

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<v Dan>Non-expedited, first come first served.

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<v Maya>Who approves it?

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<v Dan>A resolution approved by a majority of the governing body, so for a one-owner

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<v Dan>company that's just you.

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<v Maya>What if I want no agent at all?

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<v Dan>You write the word NONE in the agent box.

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<v Maya>What if my agent quits?

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<v Dan>The agent files a signed notice of resignation and gives a signed copy to the

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<v Dan>business at its principal executive office.

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<v Dan>The appointment ends 30 days after the notice is filed.

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<v Maya>Does that cost the agent anything?

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

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<v Maya>Sounds like a month's warning.

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

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

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<v Dan>Statute 5.25 lets them go to the registered agent, if any.

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<v Dan>If no agent has been appointed, then to an officer, manager or general partner.

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

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

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

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

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<v Maya>What does Minnesota want each year?

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<v Dan>An annual renewal by December 31, starting the year after you form.

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<v Dan>It costs $0.

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<v Maya>Free, so why is it a big deal?

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<v Dan>Miss it and the state can administratively terminate the LLC.

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<v Dan>Reinstatement costs $85 online or $65 by mail.

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<v Maya>What goes on the renewal?

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

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<v Maya>Reminders?

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<v Dan>The forms ask for an email address for official notices, and the state may use it

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<v Dan>for renewal reminders. That means the reminders don't depend on your agent, so use

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<v Dan>an inbox you actually read.

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<v Maya>So the yearly cost with an agent?

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<v Dan>With Mainstay, $149. With a $99 agent, $99.

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<v Dan>The state adds nothing.

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<v Maya>Can I be my own agent in Minnesota?

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<v Dan>You personally can, if you're a natural person living in Minnesota and keep an

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<v Dan>actual office address. The LLC can't be its own agent.

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<v Maya>What's the tradeoff?

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<v Dan>A home office address goes on a public record, and the person at that address has to

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<v Dan>be there to take the papers.

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

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<v Dan>Then the registered office does the job, and service falls back to an officer or

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<v Dan>manager.

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<v Maya>How would a Minneapolis or Duluth owner decide?

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<v Dan>Three questions. Does the price hold after year one, is there a real Minnesota

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<v Dan>office address, and who files the $55 change.

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<v Maya>And your answer?

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

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<v Maya>All five, once more?

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<v Dan>One, Mainstay Filing: $149, same at renewal.

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<v Dan>Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel.

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<v Dan>Three, MN Registered Agent.org: $99 flat.

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<v Dan>Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149.

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<v Dan>Five, Minnesota Registered Agent.co: $99 flat.

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<v Maya>The links are in the show notes.

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<v Maya>Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.