What Is a Registered Agent in Minnesota?

A registered agent is a person or business entity authorized to receive legal documents, service of process, and official government correspondence on behalf of your Minnesota business. Every LLC, corporation, nonprofit, and most other registered business entities in Minnesota are generally expected to designate and maintain a registered agent with a physical Minnesota address.

Minnesota Registered Agent provides complete registered agent service for just $99 per year, including document forwarding, compliance reminders, and educational support to help you understand your Minnesota business obligations.

What Does a Registered Agent Do?

Your registered agent serves as the official contact point between your business and the state. When the Minnesota Secretary of State needs to send you notices, when courts need to serve legal papers, or when government agencies need to deliver tax documents, they send everything to your registered agent.

The registered agent maintains a physical address in Minnesota—PO boxes aren't allowed, and the agent's business office needs to be identical to the registered office. The agent stays available during normal business hours to accept documents. When something arrives, the registered agent receives it and forwards it to you so you can review it and respond appropriately.

This system ensures businesses can be reached reliably for important legal and administrative matters, even if the owners live elsewhere or the company operates from multiple locations.

Minnesota's Requirements for Registered Agents

Minnesota law establishes clear criteria for who can serve as a registered agent:

Individual Registered Agents — Must be Minnesota residents who are 18 or older. They need to be available at the registered office during normal business hours.

Business Entity Registered Agents — Can be either domestic or foreign business entities, but they must be authorized to operate in Minnesota.

Self-Appointment — Interestingly, Minnesota allows business entities to serve as their own registered agent. This is different from many other states that prohibit self-appointment.

Address Requirements — The registered agent must maintain a physical street address in Minnesota. The agent's business office must be identical to the registered office location—no PO boxes allowed.

Understanding these requirements helps you make informed decisions about your business structure and compliance approach.

Who Needs a Registered Agent in Minnesota?

Minnesota generally expects the following types of business entities to maintain a registered agent:

• Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
• Corporations (both for-profit and nonprofit)
• Limited Partnerships
• Limited Liability Partnerships
• Out-of-state businesses registered to operate in Minnesota

Whether you're forming a new business or already operating in Minnesota, maintaining a registered agent in good standing is part of keeping your business compliant with state requirements.

Can My Business Be Its Own Registered Agent?

Yes, Minnesota does allow businesses to serve as their own registered agent. However, this approach has several practical considerations worth understanding.

When your business serves as its own registered agent, your business address becomes public record on filings with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Anyone can look it up in state databases. If you're operating from your home, this means your home address is publicly available.

You also need to ensure someone is available at that address during business hours to receive legal service. If your business gets sued, the process server will come to that address to deliver the papers. If you move your business location, you'll need to file updates with the state and pay the associated fees.

Benefits of Using a Professional Registered Agent Service

While self-appointment is possible in Minnesota, many businesses choose professional registered agent services for several practical reasons:

Privacy Protection — Our address appears on your public filings instead of your home or business address. This keeps your personal information private and reduces unsolicited commercial contact.

Operational Flexibility — You're not tied to a specific location during business hours. You can work remotely, travel for business, or relocate without worrying about registered agent availability or filing address updates.

Document Management — We scan and forward documents the same day they arrive. You get email notifications and can access everything through your online portal, even if you're on the road or working from multiple locations.

Compliance Support — We track Minnesota filing deadlines and send reminders for Annual Renewals and other requirements. This helps you stay on top of your compliance obligations without maintaining separate calendar systems.

Professional Presentation — Having a professional registered agent service demonstrates that your business takes compliance seriously, which can matter to partners, investors, and lenders.

Cost Effectiveness — At $99 per year, professional registered agent service is an affordable way to protect privacy and simplify operations.

Understanding Documents You'll Receive

Your registered agent may receive various types of correspondence:

• Service of process for lawsuits and legal actions
• Official notices from the Minnesota Secretary of State
• Tax documents and notices from state agencies
• Annual Renewal reminders (Minnesota's version of annual reports)
• Compliance notifications about filing requirements
• State correspondence about your business status or filings

We forward all documents to you the same day we receive them, so you can respond to time-sensitive matters promptly.

Minnesota's Unique Annual Renewal

Here's something worth knowing about Minnesota: the state's Annual Renewal is free if you file it on time. Unlike many states that charge $25, $50, or more for annual reports, Minnesota charges $0 for their Annual Renewal as long as you submit by December 31 each year.

However, if you miss the deadline and your business is dissolved for non-filing, you'll face a $45 reinstatement fee to get back in good standing. Our compliance reminders help you avoid this situation by notifying you well before the December 31 deadline.

This is the kind of specific state knowledge that helps when you're navigating Minnesota business requirements.

How Minnesota Registered Agent Supports Your Business

We provide complete registered agent service for $99 per year. Your annual fee includes:

• Registered office address in Minnesota
• Same-day document scanning and forwarding
• Compliance reminders and alerts
• Online document portal
• Privacy protection — our address on public filings

Beyond these core features, we take an educational approach. When you receive documents or compliance reminders, we're happy to explain what they mean and what response may be needed. We think understanding your obligations makes compliance easier and less stressful.

Getting Started with Registered Agent Service

If you're forming a new Minnesota business, you'll designate your registered agent on your initial filing documents. List our information and we'll be ready to receive documents from day one.

If you're switching from another registered agent, you'll file a change form with the Minnesota Secretary of State. The filing fee varies by entity type and method: $35 by mail for domestic entities, $50 for foreign corporations by mail, $55 online for domestic entities, or $70 online for foreign corporations. We can help you understand the process.

Get Started — $99/year

Questions about registered agent service or Minnesota requirements? Check our FAQ page for detailed answers, or contact us directly. We're here Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm Central Time, and we're happy to help you understand how registered agent service works for your specific business situation.

---

This is not legal advice. Minnesota Registered Agent is not a law firm. Consult an attorney for legal guidance.