Hire a Registered Agent in Minnesota
LLC Register serves as your Minnesota registered agent, scans legal documents same-day and keeps your LLC in good standing. LLC Register is the most affordable registered agent service in Minnesota — get a free LLC and annual compliance with your plan.
Minnesota Registered Agent
- Minnesota Registered Agent
- $99 per year
- Minnesota Street Address
- Free
- Same-Day Legal Mail Scan
- Free
- Minnesota LLC Formation
- Free
- Annual Compliance
- Free
Transparent Cost Guide to hire a Minnesota Registered Agent with LLC Register
Every fee, line by line. State filing fees are passed through at cost; there is nothing else to add at checkout.
| Service | LLC Register fee | Minnesota state fee | Estimated total | One-time or annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota registered agent service | $99 | $0 | $99 | Annual |
No separate consent filing — naming the agent on your filing is what appoints them (§ 5.36) | $0 | $0 | $0 | Free |
Same-day scan of legal mail | $0 | $0 | $0 | Free |
Minnesota LLC formation (certificate of organization) | $0 | $0 | $0 | One-time |
Minnesota LLC compliance (annual report) | $0 | $0 | $0 | Free |
Minnesota state filing fee | $0 | $155 | $155 | One-time |
LLC Register serves as your Minnesota registered agent for $99 a year: a physical Minnesota street address, a signed acceptance kept on file, and same-day scans of any legal or state mail we receive for your LLC, corporation or limited partnership. Also, all registered agent services include a free LLC and free annual compliance.
Comprehensive 10-Step Guide to Hire a Registered Agent in Minnesota
From checking the requirement to renewing every year, in the order you will do them.
Step 1 — Confirm what Minnesota requires of your LLC
Every Minnesota LLC must maintain a registered office at all times under Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0113. The statute makes naming a separate registered agent optional in theory, but the Articles of Organization ask for one and almost every LLC names one in practice, since someone has to be present at that office to accept delivery.
Step 2 — Decide between being your own agent or hiring a service
You can list yourself as agent if you have a Minnesota street address and can be there during business hours; most owners hire a service instead to keep that address off the public record and never miss a delivery.
Step 3 — Check the registered office address rule
The registered office must be an actual office location in Minnesota, not solely a P.O. box, maintained continuously under Minnesota Statutes § 5.36, subdivision 1.
Step 4 — Choose a Minnesota registered agent service
Compare the annual price, whether mail is scanned the same day it arrives, and whether the state's Notice of Change filing fee is included before you sign up.
Step 5 — Sign up and provide your entity details
Give your legal entity name, entity type and Minnesota file number, if you already have one, so the agent can be listed correctly.
Step 6 — Get it in writing, even though the state doesn't require it
Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 does not require a filed consent form the way some states do; naming the agent on your filing is what appoints them. LLC Register still signs and keeps a written acceptance on record before we're named.
Step 7 — List your registered agent on your formation document
A new LLC names its registered office, and typically its registered agent, directly on the Articles of Organization, filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $135 by mail or $155 online or in person.
Step 8 — File a Notice of Change if you already have an entity
Existing LLCs switch agents by filing the Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent, for $35 by mail or $55 online or in person.
Step 9 — Confirm the change on the public record
Use the Secretary of State's Business & Liens search to confirm your new registered agent is listed before your next annual renewal is due.
Step 10 — File your annual renewal and keep your agent active every year
Minnesota requires a free Annual Renewal by December 31 every year (Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0208); missing it leads to administrative termination under § 322C.0705, so keep your agent service active and your renewal on time.
Minnesota Registered Agent Facts Table
The official statute, fees and links for a Minnesota registered agent, each checked against the state agency.
Minnesota registered agent statute | Minnesota Statutes §§ 322C.0113–322C.0116 and § 5.36 (Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act) |
|---|---|
Registered agent required | A registered office is required for every LLC; naming a registered agent is technically optional but effectively universal in practice (§ 322C.0113) |
Who may serve as agent | An individual residing in Minnesota, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Minnesota; state law sets no minimum age |
Registered office address rule | An actual office location in Minnesota, maintained continuously; not solely a P.O. box (§ 5.36, subd. 1) |
Written consent required | No — Minnesota does not require a separate consent filing; naming the agent on your filing is what appoints them (§ 5.36) |
Fee to change agent | $35 by mail or $55 online/in person (Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent, § 5.36, subd. 3) |
Filing agency | Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
Standard processing time | About 3 weeks by mail ($135 fee); a few business days online or in person ($155 fee) |
Penalty for no registered agent | Service of process may be made on the Secretary of State for $35 (§§ 322C.0116, 5.25); missing the annual renewal leads to administrative termination (§ 322C.0705) |
Recurring compliance filing | Annual Renewal, $0 fee, due December 31 every year (§ 322C.0208) |
Minnesota business filings and registered agent search | mblsportal.sos.mn.gov |
Business name generator | swyftfilings.com/business-name-generator |
Virtual mailbox | snapmailbox.com |
Trademark registration | trademarkengine.com |
Free Trademark Search | trademarkengine.com/free-trademark-search |
Author: LLC RegisterLast reviewed 9/30/2026
Minnesota agency: Minnesota Secretary of StateLast reviewed 9/30/2026
Legal Requirements for a Minnesota Registered Agent
What Minnesota law requires of a registered office and agent, with the rule and the agency that enforces it.
An actual Minnesota office location
Every Minnesota entity's registered office must be maintained continuously in the state and must include an actual office location, not solely a P.O. box, under Minnesota Statutes § 5.36, subdivision 1.
Who can serve as your agent
Under § 5.36, subdivision 2, the agent must be an individual residing in Minnesota, or a domestic or foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in the state. Minnesota sets no separate minimum age for an individual agent.
No separate consent filing required
Unlike some states, Minnesota does not require a signed consent form before appointment. Naming the agent on the Articles of Organization or a later filing under § 5.36 is what appoints them; LLC Register still signs and keeps a written acceptance on file as a matter of practice.
Accepting service of process
Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0116 makes the agent the LLC's agent for any process, notice or demand permitted by law to be served on the company. If no valid agent can be found, service can instead be made on the Secretary of State under § 5.25 for a $35 fee.
Reporting a change of agent
A change in registered office or agent is reported on the Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent, filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $35 by mail or $55 online or in person, under § 5.36, subdivision 3.
Filing the annual renewal on time
Every Minnesota LLC must file a free Annual Renewal by December 31 each year, confirming its current registered office and agent, under § 322C.0208. Missing it leads to administrative termination under § 322C.0705.
Minnesota Registered Agent Service Cost Comparison
Published prices for a Minnesota registered agent service, compared line by line.
| What you pay for | LLC Register | LegalZoom | ZenBusiness |
|---|---|---|---|
LLC formation service | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Minnesota filing fee | $135 | $135 | $135 |
Registered agent, first year | $99 | $249 | $99 |
Annual report filing | $0 | $99 | $100 |
First-year total | $99 + state fee | $249 + state fee | $99 + state fee |
Registered agent renewal | $99 per year | $249 per year | $199 per year |
Competitor prices are for each company's lowest-priced LLC package, as published on its own website on September 29, 2026. The Minnesota state fee is extra with every provider. Prices change; check each provider before you buy.
Most Trusted Minnesota Registered Agent Service
One flat price, a real Minnesota address, and your legal mail scanned the same day it arrives.
$99 a year. That is the whole price.
The same $99 at renewal, every year. No tiers to compare and nothing pre-checked at checkout.
A real Minnesota street address
A physical registered office in Minnesota, not a P.O. box or a shared mail drop, that meets Minnesota Statutes § 5.36.
Signed acceptance kept on file
Minnesota doesn't require a state consent filing, but we sign and keep a written acceptance on record before we're ever named as your agent.
Same-day scans of legal mail
Any service of process or state notice we receive is scanned and emailed to you the day it arrives.
We handle your Notice of Change
Switching from another agent? We prepare your Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent and pass through the state's filing fee at cost.
Support by email
Real people answer by email. We reply within one business day.
Important Minnesota Registered Agent Resources and Links
Official Minnesota offices, forms and data in one place. Every link goes to the source.
State government offices
- Minnesota Secretary of State, Business Services332 Minnesota St., Suite N201, St. Paul, MN 55101 · (651) 296-2803
- Minnesota Secretary of State — Business & Liens Systemmblsportal.sos.mn.gov
- Minnesota Department of Revenuerevenue.state.mn.us
- Minnesota Department of Labor and Industrydli.mn.gov
- County recorder officesCertificate of assumed name filings vary by county
Filing, forms and records
- Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 — registered office and agentrevisor.mn.gov
- Business Forms & Fees (Notice of Change of Registered Office/Agent)sos.mn.gov
- Start a Minnesota LLC (Articles of Organization)sos.mn.gov
- Annual Renewalssos.mn.gov
- Minnesota Statutes §§ 322C.0705–.0706 — termination and reinstatementrevisor.mn.gov
Taxes, permits and licenses
Minnesota Registered Agent FAQs
Short questions, direct answers.
What is a registered agent in Minnesota?
A registered agent is the person or company named to receive legal papers and official state mail for a Minnesota entity, at a physical Minnesota address called the registered office. The registered office requirement comes from Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0113.
Do I need a registered agent for my Minnesota LLC?
Every Minnesota LLC must maintain a registered office at all times under § 322C.0113. Naming a separate registered agent at that office is technically optional under the statute, but the Articles of Organization ask for one and almost every LLC names one.
Can I be my own registered agent in Minnesota?
Yes, if you are an individual residing in Minnesota with a street address where you can accept deliveries during normal business hours (Minnesota Statutes § 5.36, subdivision 2). Many owners hire a service instead to keep that address off the public record.
Can I use a P.O. box for my Minnesota registered agent address?
No. § 5.36, subdivision 1 requires the registered office to include an actual office location; a P.O. box alone does not qualify.
How much does a Minnesota registered agent cost?
LLC Register charges $99 a year. Commercial registered agent services generally range from about $99 to $249 a year, based on published pricing checked 9/30/2026.
How do I change my registered agent in Minnesota?
File the Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $35 by mail or $55 online or in person, under § 5.36, subdivision 3.
What happens if I don't have a registered agent in Minnesota?
If no valid agent can be found, service of process may instead be made on the Secretary of State for a $35 fee (§§ 322C.0116, 5.25). Separately, an entity that misses its annual renewal — which must show a current agent — faces administrative termination under § 322C.0705.
Does my registered agent need to consent in writing?
No. Unlike some states, Minnesota does not require a filed consent form under § 5.36; naming the agent on your Articles of Organization or a later filing is what appoints them. LLC Register still signs and keeps a written acceptance on file as a matter of practice.
Can a family member or friend be my Minnesota registered agent?
Yes, as long as they reside in Minnesota, have a Minnesota street address, and are available during business hours, under § 5.36, subdivision 2.
Can an out-of-state company be my Minnesota registered agent?
Only if that company is itself a foreign corporation or LLC authorized to transact business in Minnesota and maintains a Minnesota street address; an unauthorized out-of-state entity cannot serve as agent under § 5.36, subdivision 2.
How fast will I know if my registered agent receives a lawsuit?
A registered agent is the LLC's agent for any process, notice or demand under Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0116; LLC Register scans and emails it to you the same day we receive it.
Is my registered agent's address public record in Minnesota?
Yes. The registered office address and any named agent are part of the entity's public filing with the Minnesota Secretary of State and appear on the Business & Liens search.
Can my registered agent resign?
Yes. A registered agent can resign by filing written notice with the Secretary of State under § 5.36, subdivision 4; the appointment ends 30 days after the notice is filed.
Do I need to update my registered agent on my annual Minnesota filing?
Yes. The Annual Renewal, due December 31 each year at no charge, must show your current registered office and registered agent under § 322C.0208 and § 5.34.
Does every Minnesota entity type need a registered agent?
Every Minnesota entity — LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships and most others registered with the Secretary of State — must maintain a registered office, and the same registered-agent framework in Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 applies across chapters 302A, 317A, 321, 322C, 323A, 330 and 543.
Does a foreign LLC formed in another state need a registered agent to do business in Minnesota?
Yes. A foreign LLC's application for a certificate of authority under Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0802 must name the street address of its initial Minnesota registered office and agent for service of process, along with a $185 filing fee.
Does Minnesota law recognize series LLCs?
No. Minnesota's LLC Act, chapter 322C, has no series LLC provisions, so an owner who wants separate liability shields for different lines of business must form multiple standalone Minnesota LLCs, each maintaining its own registered office.
Does a Minnesota professional LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. Minnesota regulates licensed professions through the Professional Firms Act, chapter 319B, which covers professional LLCs alongside professional corporations and partnerships; a professional LLC formed under it still maintains a registered office under chapter 322C and § 5.36 the same as any other LLC.
Can I reinstate my Minnesota LLC if it was administratively terminated for missing its annual renewal?
Yes. Under Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0706, an administratively terminated LLC can retroactively reinstate by filing a single annual renewal and paying a $25 fee, restoring its existence and its registered office/agent of record.
What has to happen before someone can serve Minnesota's Secretary of State instead of my registered agent?
The process server must first show the registered agent could not be found with reasonable diligence at the registered office on file; only then does Minnesota Statutes §§ 5.25 and 322C.0116 allow service on the Secretary of State, who forwards the papers to the entity's last known address.
Does a Minnesota nonprofit corporation need a registered agent?
Yes. Nonprofit corporations organized under chapter 317A are subject to the same registered office/agent framework in Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 that applies to for-profit corporations and LLCs.
Does a Minnesota limited partnership need a registered agent?
Yes. Minnesota Statutes § 321.0114 requires every limited partnership to have a registered office and a registered agent, with changes made through the same procedure in § 5.36 that LLCs use.
How do I look up a company's registered agent in Minnesota?
Search the Minnesota Secretary of State's Business & Liens Search by entity name; the registered office address and any named registered agent appear on the entity's filing summary at no charge.
If my Minnesota LLC merges into another LLC, does the registered agent carry over?
The surviving LLC simply keeps whichever registered office and agent it already had on file. Minnesota's merger provisions under § 322C.1002 govern how the plan of merger is adopted and filed, but they don't require a separate registered-agent filing unless the surviving entity is also changing its agent.
Can my Minnesota registered agent change its own name or address without switching to a new agent?
Yes. Under Minnesota Statutes § 5.36, subdivision 5, when a registered agent's business name or address changes, it updates every entity that lists it as agent by filing the appropriate statement with the Secretary of State, rather than each entity filing separately.
Can one person or company serve as the registered agent for more than one Minnesota entity?
Yes. Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 places no limit on how many entities a single individual or registered agent company may represent, as long as each appointment meets the residency/authorization and address rules in subdivision 2.
Are registered agent fees tax-deductible?
Yes. The IRS treats an annual registered agent fee as an ordinary and necessary business expense, deductible in the year you pay it.
Can my attorney serve as my Minnesota registered agent?
Yes, as long as your attorney is a Minnesota resident (or a firm authorized to transact business in Minnesota) with a Minnesota street address — the same eligibility rule under § 5.36, subdivision 2, that applies to anyone else.
Is there a difference between a "registered agent" and an "agent for service of process"?
No. Minnesota Statutes § 5.36 uses the term "registered agent"; "agent for service of process" describes the identical role in plain language and in some other states' statutes.
What happens if mail sent to my Minnesota registered agent's address is returned as undeliverable?
An outdated address can cause the entity to miss notices tied to its annual renewal; if the renewal under § 322C.0208 then goes unfiled, the Secretary of State can administratively terminate the entity, which can only be fixed afterward by the reinstatement process under § 322C.0706.
Do I have to name a registered agent when I first form my Minnesota LLC, or can I add one later?
You must designate a registered office when you file your Articles of Organization under § 322C.0113, though naming a separate registered agent at that office is technically optional under Minnesota law — most owners name one anyway so mail doesn't just arrive at an address with no designated recipient.
What is the difference between my registered office and my principal place of business?
Your registered office is specifically the Minnesota address required under § 5.36 where legal mail is accepted; your principal place of business is wherever you actually run the company and doesn't have to be in Minnesota at all.
Can a UPS Store or other commercial mail-receiving service be my Minnesota registered office address?
No. Minnesota Statutes § 5.36, subdivision 1, requires an actual office location, not merely a mailing address, so a commercial mail-receiving service or mailbox rental doesn't satisfy the rule any more than a bare P.O. box does.
Is my registered agent's phone number or email made public in Minnesota?
No. Minnesota's registered office and registered agent filings require only a name and street address; no phone number or email address is collected or published.
Can my registered agent also be an officer or manager of my Minnesota company?
Yes. Nothing in § 5.36 prevents an owner, manager or officer from also serving as the entity's registered agent, as long as the residency/authorization and address requirements are met.
Does Minnesota require registered agents to be licensed, bonded, or registered as commercial agents with the state?
No. Minnesota has no separate licensing, bonding or commercial-registered-agent listing requirement — an agent only has to meet the residency (or authorization) and street-address rules in § 5.36, subdivision 2.
Can I serve as my own registered agent if I live out of state but own property in Minnesota?
No. Section 5.36, subdivision 2 requires an individual registered agent to reside in Minnesota; owning Minnesota real estate does not satisfy that requirement if you personally live elsewhere.
Does my registered agent have authority to sign contracts or make decisions for my LLC?
No. Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0116 designates the registered agent to receive process, notices and demands on the entity's behalf; it gives the agent no authority to sign contracts or otherwise act for the entity.
Can the same Minnesota address serve as both my registered office and my principal place of business?
Yes. Nothing in § 5.36 requires the two to be different — a small business commonly uses one Minnesota street address for both, as long as it meets the registered office's actual-office-location rule.
Do Minnesota nonprofit corporations have to confirm their registered agent on an annual filing?
Yes. Starting the year after incorporation, a nonprofit corporation must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State by December 31 under Minnesota Statutes § 317A.823, containing the registered office/agent information required by § 5.34.
Complete Minnesota Registered Agent Glossary
The terms, forms and filings you will meet when appointing a Minnesota registered agent.
Registered agent
The person or company named to receive legal papers and state mail for an entity at its registered office; Minnesota's framework is set out in Minnesota Statutes § 5.36.
Registered office
The Minnesota address, required for every LLC under § 322C.0113, that must include an actual office location and cannot be solely a P.O. box.
Articles of Organization
The document filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State to create an LLC, for $135 by mail or $155 online or in person. It states the LLC's registered office and, if it has one, the name of its registered agent.
Notice of Change of Registered Office/Registered Agent
The filing used to update an entity's registered office or agent, for $35 by mail or $55 online or in person, under § 5.36, subdivision 3.
Consent to serve
A registered agent's agreement to accept the role. Minnesota does not require this to be filed with the state, unlike some other states — naming the agent in a filing is what appoints them.
Service of process
The formal delivery of legal documents, such as a lawsuit summons, to an entity through its registered agent, or through the Secretary of State for $35 if no valid agent can be found (§§ 322C.0116, 5.25).
Administrative termination
The Secretary of State's ending of an entity's existence for failing to file its annual renewal, under Minnesota Statutes § 322C.0705.
Certificate of good standing
Called a certificate of existence in Minnesota's LLC chapter (§ 322C.0207), available from the Secretary of State for a $5 base fee under § 5.12, showing an entity is validly formed and current.
Minnesota franchise tax
Minnesota does not impose a separate annual franchise or privilege tax on LLCs based on revenue; standard state taxes, such as sales and use tax, can still apply depending on the business.
Annual Renewal
The free filing due December 31 every year that keeps a Minnesota entity active and current, listing its registered office and agent, under § 322C.0208.
Reinstatement
The process of restoring an administratively terminated LLC by filing the missed annual renewal and paying a $25 fee, under § 322C.0706; reinstatement is retroactive to the termination date.
Foreign qualification
Registering an entity formed in another state, using the Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in MN, so it can legally do business in Minnesota; it requires naming a Minnesota registered agent.