Thinking of starting a business in the state of Minnesota? Then you’ll need a trusted registered agent service that will help you stay compliant with every state deadline and notice. We’ve compiled a list of our top 11 recommendations for the best Minnesota registered agent services to help you find the right choice for your business.
If, however, you’re not too keen on reading all 11 recommendations, check out our summary table below, which includes all the features of our top three choices – ZenBusiness, Northwest, and IncFile.
Best Minnesota Registered Agent Services
| Registered Agent Service | Cost | Minnesota Office Location |
|---|---|---|
| ZenBusiness | $199 a year | Not stated |
| Northwest | $125 a year | Owatonna |
| IncFile | $119 a year/ first year free with incorporation | Not stated |
| Minnesota Registered Agent | $49 a year | Owatonna |
| Harbor Compliance | $99 a year | Owatonna |
| MyCompanyWorks | $99 a year | Not stated |
| InCorp | $129 a year | Albertville |
| Registered Agent Inc | $200 a year | Not stated |
| LegalZoom | $299 a year | Not stated |
| Registered Agent Net | $89 a year | Not stated |
| CSC Global | $381 a year | Roseville |
Apart from offering individual recommendations, we’ll also go over all the steps required to register a business in Minnesota, and answer your most pressing question in our detailed FAQ section.
But first, let’s see what the role of a registered agent is all about.
What is a Registered Agent?
A registered agent is an individual or a company that receives legal, tax, and government documents and notices on your business’s behalf. After they receive the documents, their role is to forward them to you promptly.
Does Minnesota Require a Registered Agent?
Yes, the state of Minnesota requires all business entities to appoint and maintain a registered agent for their business. Â
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Registered Agent?
Let’s see what benefits you can experience if you decide to use a registered agent service.
- You won’t be obligated to share your private address publically;
- All your documents will be organized and in one place;
- You can easily grow your business in other states without changing registered agents in the process;
- Your business image will remain intact;
- You won’t have to be available during normal business hours and you’ll have more flexibility;
- You’ll have more freedom in terms of travelling;
- You will remain compliant at all times without the risk of being fined.
Here are our top 11 choices for the best Minnesota registered agent services.
1. ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness is one of our top choices for the best Minnesota registered agent services. Over the years, they’ve helped over 300,000 businesses and they’re rated as the #1 registered agent by big names like Forbes. They give you all the tools you need to ensure that your Minnesota business remains compliant with the state law, including:
- Fast turnaround
- Email notifications
- Mail forwarding
- Document scanning
- Access to a personalized dashboard
Moreover, their website is easy to use and has an intuitive layout, which customers appreciate.
One of our favourite aspects of ZenBusiness is how dedicated they are to support businesses that don’t have a large starting budget – thanks to their $5K Grant Program, entrepreneurs get the chance to win $5,000 in funding to start and grow their businesses.
Their yearly fee is $199. You have the option of upgrading the service, giving you access to two free filing changes a year and annual support alerts.
Other services offered by ZenBusiness apart from registered agent include:
- Domain name and website
- Worry-free compliance
- Incorporation
- Operating agreement
- Banking and finances
- Annual reports
- Taxes and accounting
- Business license reports
2. Northwest
Northwest is one of the most popular registered agent companies across the United States, one that provides excellent service with benefits such as:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Annual report reminders
- Compliance alerts
- Scanned documents
- Mail forwarding
- Document storage
Their services will cost you only $125 a year, but if you conduct business in more than four states, you can access their services for as low as $100 a year.
One of the features that stand out is their Corporate Guides – a team of knowledgeable experts dedicated to helping you solve any problem that might arise.
During your first year of registered agent services, you’ll get access to their compliance calendar which will help you keep track of all your important due dates.
Additionally, thanks to their Privacy by Default feature, you’ll never have to worry about any of your data being sold to third parties or your personal information getting exposed.
Their Minnesota office location is in Owatonna.
Other services offered by Northwest include:
- Trademarking
- Phone service
- Virtual office
- Annual report filings
- Foreign qualification
- Payment processing
- Mail forwarding
3. IncFile
Offering a premium registered agent service at an affordable price, IncFile is also among our top recommendations for a Minnesota registered agent. With their registered agent service, you can access the following perks:
- Receive all your important correspondence in due time
- Access to a personalized dashboard
- Tailored email and text notifications
- Automatic mail forwarding
IncFile offer a complimentary year of registered agent services if you hire their formation service. Otherwise, their registered agent service will cost you $119 a year.
They offer a myriad of other services apart from a registered agent, including:
- EIN Number
- Foreign qualification
- Virtual address
- Trademarking
- Certificate of good standing
- Business licenses and permits
- Amendment
- Tax consultations
4. Minnesota Registered Agent
Business owners looking for a low-cost registered agent service should check out Minnesota Registered Agent. For an extremely affordable fee of just $49 a year, you will receive:
- Annual report reminders
- Online document storage
- Access to pre-filled state forms
- Email notifications
Don’t be fooled by the affordable price – there are no hidden fees or contracts, so the pricing will remain transparent no matter what.
Their Minnesota office is located in Owatonna.
Apart from providing registered agent services, you can also hire Minnesota Registered Agent for:
- Incorporation
- LLC formation
- Filing services
5. Harbour Compliance
Harbour Compliance is a nationwide registered agent service that offers a comprehensive service for an affordable price, which includes:
- Pre-filled state forms
- Same-day electronic delivery of your documents
- Annual report reminders
Customers love their rapid processing speed and their dedication to keeping their clients compliant by ensuring that they never miss a deadline.
In addition, their user-friendly software makes it incredibly easy to navigate their website.
Their yearly fee is $99, and if you use their registered agent services for multiple years, you can get an additional 10% discount.
On top of offering registered agent services, you can also hire Harbor Compliance for:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Registration
- Amendments
- Business licenses
6. MyCompanyWorks
Another amazing registered agent service that offers a broad array of features is MyCompanyWorks. Their fee is only $99, making it a great option for businesses that are just starting out. In return, you’ll get access to the following:
- Online dashboard
- Free E-delivery
- Access to their Startup Wizard
- Same-day processing
- Online order tracking
- Compliance monitoring
Apart from the abovementioned compliance tools, they also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee in case you’re not completely satisfied with their service.
The other services offered by MyCompanyWorks include:
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Virtual office
- File a DBA
- Annual reports
- Business licenses
- Company dissolution
7. InCorp
InCorp provides you with all the necessary services to comply to Minnesota’s laws and requirements. You’ll be granted access to:
- Mail forwarding
- Annual report filings
- Legal notifications
- Access to their Entity Management System
Moreover, with the help of their Entity Watch technology, your data will remain protected at all times. This feature also prevents identity theft.
Their yearly fee will set you back $129, but you can pay as low as $87 if you purchase their multi-year service.
Their Minnesota office is located in Albertville.
You can also hire InCorp for the following services:
- Apostille service
- LLC formation
- Incorporation
- Articles of amendment
- EIN Number
- DBA filing
- UCC search
- Foreign qualification
- Trademarking and copyright
8. Registered Agent Inc.
Although slightly pricier than some of our previous recommendations, Registered Agent Inc. is a great nationwide registered agent service. Enjoy benefits such as:
- Professional filer tips
- Digital notifications
- Access to a Corporate Accounts Portal
- Compliance reminders
One of the perks customers especially enjoy is their website’s easy interface.
A year of registered agent services with Registered Agent Inc. will cost you $200.
Apart from offering registered agent services, you can also hire them for:
- Start-up formation
- Incorporation service
- BOC-3 Process Agent Service
9. LegalZoom
LegalZoom is one of the most well-known and reputable companies in the world of business. An outstanding choice for larger businesses who have a larger budget to dispense with, LegalZoom has helped over 2 million businesses since they appeared on the market. Their registered agent service includes the following tools:
- Annual report reminders
- Unlimited cloud storage
- Mail alerts
In addition, each customer is offered up to $1 million for identity theft insurance, so your business will always remain protected. Plus, their IP protection features are incredible.
Another great benefit of hiring LegalZoom is that they offer to change your current registered agent on your behalf and cover any necessary fees in the process.
LegalZoom specialize in a myriad of services in the legal and business field, including:
- Business formation
- Copyright
- Incorporation
- Taxation
- Foreign qualification
- Annual reports
- Business registration
- Residential lease
- EIN Number
- Trademarking
10. Registered Agent Net
Another great option for a registered agent service that costs under $100 is Registered Agent Net. Costing only $87 a year, they provide their clients with the following tools:
- Access to their Compliance Calendar and Compliance Entity Manager
- Three-year price guarantee
- Same-day document delivery
The compliance tools included in the price will help you stay on top of all your important deadlines and notices seamlessly. Before any due date, you will receive an email notification reminding you of it.
Despite the low price, you’ll never have to worry about encountering any hidden fees or auto renewals.
Other services provided by Registered Agent Net include:
- Corporate filings
- A change of registered agent
- Annual report services
11. CSC Global
Our last recommendation suits larger businesses that don’t mind spending a couple of hundred dollars a year for a registered agent service. CSC Global is a nationwide registered agent service that offers:
- Electronic delivery of all your documents
- Annual compliance reminders
- Same-day document scans
- Access to their SOC-2 facilities
- Access to a personalized online dashboard
Their yearly fee is quite steep ($381 a year), but considering their dedication to protecting your data, high-level security, and all the tools that come with the price, we believe it’s a worthwhile investment.
Their Minnesota office is located in Roseville.
Here is a list of the other services they offer:
- UCC
- Entity management
- Legal management
- Digital brand services
- Real estate and e-recording
- Corporate filings
How Do I Register a Business in Minnesota?
After delving into our top recommendations for a Minnesota registered agent, it’s time to go over all the steps required to register your business in this state.
Choose a Business Name
One of the first steps in registering your business is choosing a name for it.
There are several things to consider when trying to find a business name. For starters, your business name should be an accurate representation of your business, its values, and the types of services/goods you’re selling.
Your business name should also be unique and not taken up by another business in the state of Minnesota. To ensure that your business name is available, do a business name search on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
If, however, you’re not ready to proceed to the other steps just yet but you’re set on a certain name, you can reserve your name for 12 months on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
Choose a Business Structure
Next comes choosing a business structure.
There are four main types of business structures in Minnesota:
Choosing the right business entity is crucial because it dictates your responsibilities to the state. There are several things to consider before you make a decision, such as whether you’d like to receive limited liability protection, your starting budget, and whether you’d like to operate your business by yourself or with the help of others.
File Articles of Organization
Filing articles of organization is a mandatory step for anyone who has decided to start an LLC. Articles of organization is a document that includes information about the business, its owners, and the registered agent. Therefore, at this point, you’ll need to have appointed a registered agent for your business.
The cost of filing articles of organization in Minnesota is $80.
File Articles of Incorporation
If, on the other hand, you’ve decided to form a corporation in Minnesota, you’ll need to file articles of incorporation with the state. Articles of incorporation have a similar purpose to articles of organization, with added information about the stocks of the corporation.
The cost of filing articles of incorporation in Minnesota is $155.
Obtain an EIN
A mandatory step if your business is taxed separately from you or if you plan on hiring employees for your business is to obtain an EIN from the IRS.
The application for an EIN is entirely free and it’s conducted on the IRS website.
Even if you’re not legally required to obtain an EIN, there are various benefits of getting one. For instance, it makes it significantly easier for you to open a bank account and it protects your privacy.
Obtain Necessary Licenses and Permits
In addition to getting an EIN, you also need to obtain the necessary licenses and permits required for your business.
In Minnesota, some cities and counties require a general business license. In addition, you may need to obtain some professional licenses. Â
The types of licenses and permits you’ll need depend on what area your business covers. Generally speaking, businesses in the food, health, safety, and environment. Some licenses are issued locally, so it’s a good idea to use the Minnesota state licensing web portal to get more information about your specific industry.
For additional information pertaining to your business’s specific location, it’s a good idea to check the website of your city or county.
Moreover, if you’re planning on selling goods in Minnesota, you need to register to collect a sales tax with the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Apart from getting an EIN, if you intend on hiring employees for your business, you’ll need to register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for employee withholding tax.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Business in Minnesota?
The cost of registering a business in Minnesota is $155 if you’re registering a corporation and $80 if you’re registering an LLC.
Where Can I Do a Minnesota Business Entity Search?
You can do a Minnesota business entity search on the Minnesota Secretary of State website.
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our comprehensive article on the best Minnesota registered agent services.
If you don’t have any specific preferences in terms of registered agents, we recommend opting for one of our top recommendations: ZenBusiness, Northwest, or IncFile.
If you’re not in a position where you can afford to pay more than $100 annually for a registered agent, we recommend checking out some of our more affordable recommendations, like Registered Agent Net and Minnesota Registered Agent.
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