Minnesota in brief
16th
among 50 states for foreign LLC state fees
Fee the state takes at registration
$185
Report you must file again
None
Annual renewal
What the state collects in 3 years
$185
Registration in year 1, reports in years 2 and 3
Minnesota ranking
You can read the weights on the
method page; three-year fees and coverage carry the most.
Ranked first
1. Mainstay Filing: best for registering in several states
$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $149 a year from year 2
Mainstay Filing earns the top spot because it files your Minnesota registration for $199 beyond the state fee and includes the first year of agent service.
Over three years you would pay $100 more than you would with MN Registered Agent.org. Coverage is 26% of the score, though, and handling more filings outweighs that difference.
After year 1 the agent is $149 a year wherever you register.
What your money gets you
- Prepares your registration and files it
- Your registered agent for the first year is free
- One price wherever you file
What works
- $199 on top of Minnesota's fee
- Agent service is included in year 1
- One price, any state
What to weigh
- $50 more a year for the agent
Minnesota specialist
2. MN Registered Agent.org: best for a low-cost Minnesota filing
$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2
Next comes MN Registered Agent.org, because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
What your money gets you
- Handles the foreign registration filing for you
- A year of agent service
What works
- The agent renews at $99
- No agent fee in year 1
- $199 above the state fee
Minnesota specialist
3. Minnesota Registered Agent.co: best for a smaller agent renewal
$199 plus the state fee; the agent then costs $99 a year from year 2
Last on the list is Minnesota Registered Agent.co, because $199 above the state fee gets you registered; after that it is $99 a year.
MN Registered Agent.org and this provider charge the same.
What your money gets you
- Handles the foreign registration filing for you
- A year of agent service
What works
- No agent fee in year 1
- The agent renews at $99
- $199 above the state fee
Minnesota picks in one table
Each company's own price page was open in front of us on November 13, 2026. The $185 state fee is not part of any row.
Registration cost calculator
The registration fee is $185, and provider fees are added on top.
How Minnesota compares with the states near it in the ranking
Minnesota foreign LLC registration fee and form (official)
Your registration goes through the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services: the Foreign Limited Liability Company Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Minnesota, with a fee of $185.
Once registered, the LLC has to file the annual renewal, December 31.
Before you file
- The name and formation date as your home state lists them.
- A registered agent with an office here, which any ranked provider can give you.
- Money set aside for the $185 state charge.
If your LLC never registers
A lawsuit you file before registering is blocked until you make the filing (Minn. Stat. 322C.0808, subd. 1). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Minn. Stat. 322C.0808, subd. 2).
Our reasoning
What settled Minnesota was upkeep the price covers, at 26%.
Because an out-of-state LLC lives in two states, coverage of both decided the order.
Quick answers
How much will it cost to register my out-of-state LLC with Minnesota?
$185 to the state. The providers here charge $199 more.
Which form do I use to register an out-of-state LLC with Minnesota?
Use the Foreign Limited Liability Company Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Minnesota and send it to the Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services.
Will my foreign LLC have to file anything every year?
Yes, you file the annual renewal.
What happens if my LLC does business there without registering?
A lawsuit you file before registering is blocked until you make the filing (Minn. Stat. 322C.0808, subd. 1). Your LLC's contracts continue to hold (Minn. Stat. 322C.0808, subd. 2).
Must I appoint a registered agent when registering in Minnesota?
A Minnesota LLC must keep a registered office in Minnesota; naming an agent there is optional.
Which service should I choose to register a foreign LLC?
Mainstay Filing comes first and MN Registered Agent.org and Minnesota Registered Agent.co follow. What separates them is upkeep the price covers.
Where this briefing comes from
- Want to double-check Minnesota yearly filing: Recurring filing, official source? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota yearly filing: Recurring filing, official source? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota report due date? Go to sos.state.mn.us, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check Minn? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in August 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota formation fee: Filing fee, official source? Go to sos.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota registered agent statute? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota Secretary of State, foreign LLC forms? Go to sos.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Foreign LLC certificate of authority form? Go to sos.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0802, certificate of authority? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0803, activities that are not? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0808, consequences? Go to revisor.mn.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Arizona Corporation Commission, LLC forms? Go to azcc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form L025 instructions? Go to azcc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Commission LLC fee schedule? Go to azcc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check A.R.S. 29-3903, registration of foreign LLC? Go to azleg.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check A.R.S. 29-3905, activities that are not doing business? Go to azleg.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Arizona Corporation Commission FAQs? Go to azcc.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Colorado Secretary of State, foreign entity FAQ? Go to coloradosos.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Sample Statement of Foreign Entity Authority? Go to coloradosos.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Secretary of State business fee schedule? Go to coloradosos.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 7? Go to content.leg.colorado.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Registered agent requirements effective July 1, 2025? Go to coloradosos.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Periodic report FAQ? Go to coloradosos.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check SCC, foreign limited liability company forms and fees? Go to scc.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check SCC, foreign business entities FAQ? Go to scc.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check SCC, foreign registration checklist? Go to scc.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Code of Virginia § 13.1-1052, application for registration? Go to law.lis.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Code of Virginia § 13.1-1059, activities that are? Go to law.lis.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Code of Virginia § 13.1-1057, consequences of transacting? Go to law.lis.virginia.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check West Virginia SOS, register an out-of-state business? Go to sos.wv.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check Form LLF-1, application for certificate of authority? Go to sos.wv.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check W? Go to code.wvlegislature.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check W? Go to code.wvlegislature.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check W? Go to code.wvlegislature.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- Want to double-check West Virginia SOS, cancel or withdraw a foreign? Go to sos.wv.gov, where we confirmed the details in October 2026.
- You can see Minnesota service page for Mainstay Filing on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for MN Registered Agent.org on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026
- You can see pricing page for Minnesota Registered Agent.co on its own website, which we looked at on November 13, 2026