How Long Does It Take To Form an LLC in Minnesota (Guide)

Forming a Minnesota limited liability company provides you with limited liability protection, pass-through taxation benefits, and flexible membership.

While you and your LLC members may prefer to enjoy these advantages as quickly as possible, you must understand how long it takes the Minnesota Secretary of State to accept and process LLC registration forms.

Working with our licensed LLC and business experts, we've spent nine weeks researching the Minnesota Secretary of State's website for the correct LLC filing options and processing times.

Here's everything you need to know.

Quick Summary

How Long Does It Take To Form an LLC in Minnesota? 

It takes 3-4 weeks to form an LLC in Minnesota by mail, including the mailing time.

Online submissions are processed within 3-5 business days.

The Minnesota Department also offers other filing methods, including in-person filing.

These two options have expedited shipping, and you can have your papers approved faster.

Minnesota LLC Processing Time

Let's find out how long does it take to process an LLC in Minnesota for different filing methods.

1. Online Filings

As of December 2014, the Minnesota SOS requires all online business filers to have an Online Account on the SOS website.

With an Online Account, you can submit filings and orders for Business, UCC, CNS online, and Tax Liens.

You will need an email address and a password to establish an Online Account.

And only one account can be created per email address.

Once your account is set up, you can file for multiple business entities.

Minnesota LLC online filing takes 3-5 business days for the documents to be approved by the SOS [1].

This holds for other business structures like a limited liability partnership and sole proprietorship.

You can complete your online payments using a Mastercard, Visa, and Discover credit card.

If you're using a debit card, it must have a Mastercard, Visa, or Discover logo.

Your online filings are not completed until the payment is submitted and approved using the US Bank procedure.

2. Mail Filings

In Minnesota, LLC owners can mail their physical incorporation documents to the head office of the Secretary of State.

You must access the online SOS website for the correct filing forms and download the ones that fit your company type.

Once you download the Articles of Organization for LLC form online, complete the necessary details, including LLC name and address, registered agent contact details, and official signatures.

Before you mail the document, attach the $135 filing fee as a check or money order.

Please note that the SOS staff will automatically reject papers submitted without this processing fee.

Mail filings are processed on a first-in-first-out basis and can take up to 3-4 weeks, including the mailing time.

Unfortunately, the Minnesota SOS doesn't offer expedited processing for LLC mail orders.

You can submit your mail registrations to the following official address:

Minnesota Secretary of State
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201
Saint Paul, MN 55101

3. In-person Filings

You can walk into the SOS head office and hand-deliver your articles of organization.

First, you start by downloading the form online and filling it out with your LLC details.

Once you've verified that your details are correct, sign and submit it with the $155 filing fee.

In-person processing takes a few hours, and the SOS will approve your submissions while you wait.

However, same-day delivery applies to orders made by 3 PM.

Any submissions made later than that will be processed on the following business day.

The SOS office is open Monday to Friday between 8.00 AM and 4.00 PM.

All in-person filings can be submitted to this address:

Minnesota Secretary of State
First National Bank Building
332 Minnesota Street, Suite N201
Saint Paul, MN 55101

4. Expedited Filings

The Minnesota Secretary of State offers expedited delivery for LLC filing done online or in-person.

These types of filing cost $155 for the Minnesota LLC articles of organization to be processed faster than the standard time.

Online expedited shipping takes 3-5 business days, while in-person filing is approved within the same day.

Unfortunately, there's no expedited shipping for mail orders submitted by Minnesota LLCs.

See our article for more information on how much does an LLC in Minnesota cost.

Steps To Start an LLC in Minnesota

Follow these eight steps to register an LLC in Minnesota.

• Step 1: Look up for an LLC in Minnesota and pick an available Minnesota LLC name that meets all the state law naming regulations [2].
• Step 2: Name a reliable registered agent service in Minnesota, an individual or business entity, who'll be in charge of all legal documents and correspondence on behalf of your entity.
• Step 3: Complete and submit your Minnesota articles of organization to the Secretary of State and pay the state fees.
• Step 4: Draft a Minnesota LLC operating agreement. Operating agreements are legal contracts that control how a domestic or foreign LLC will undertake its internal and external business transactions in Minnesota.
• Step 5: Per state law, register for a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the Internal Revenue Service website (IRS) to hire employees, collect self-employment taxes, and file federal tax returns.
• Step 6: Open a business bank account to hold your income and assets.
• Step 7: Apply for the proper LLC business licenses from Minnesota's state and municipal agencies.
• Step 8: File the correct Minnesota business tax and submit an annual report by December 31.

FAQs

Should You Hire an LLC Service in Minnesota?

When starting a limited liability company in Minnesota, knowing which documentation to complete, where to submit it, and how much to pay might be challenging.

This is why hiring these top Minnesota LLC formation services is vital.

While working with a professional service will not speed up the formation of your Minnesota LLC, it will ensure that all LLC paperwork is filed on time and the necessary fees are paid to the SOS.

You also receive registered agent expertise to manage your compliance/organization paperwork and keep your entity in good standing for its term.