Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State : Business & Nonprofit Entities

How do I file my business document?
Where can I obtain information about businesses already filed in the state of Minnesota?
How do I check if my business name is available?
How do I know that my business document has been filed?
Will my filed business document be mailed back to me?
Which type of business should I file?
What do I need to do to start my business?
Do you have standard forms I can use for filing?
Who do I make my check payable to?

How do I file my business document?

Where can I obtain information about businesses already filed in the state of Minnesota?

How do I check if my business name is available?

How do I know that my business document has been filed?

Will my filed business document be mailed back to me?

Which type of business should I file?

What do I need to do to start my business?

Do you have standard forms I can use for filing?

Who do I make my check payable to?

Q: How do I file my business document? A: File your business document online. Visa, Mastercard and Discover are acceptable payment methods. You may also file In-Person or Mail your documents to: Minnesota Secretary of State - Business Services Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100 Saint Paul, MN 55103 (Staffed 8:00 - 4:00, Monday - Friday, excluding holidays) Cash or Check are acceptable payment methods.
Q: Where can I obtain information about businesses already filed in the state of Minnesota? A: Search Business Information.
Q: How do I check if my business name is available? A: Check name availability online. Go to File a New Business or Nonprofit and click on the entity type to be filed. Enter the exact name you want to use for your business to verify if the name is available. You may also call our office for a preliminary name check at 651 296-2803 or toll free at 1-877-551-6767, between the hours of 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday (excluding holidays). Note: The final determination on a business name is made at the time of filing. Name Availability Guidelines provides the criteria used when a check for name availability is done.
Q: How do I know that my business document has been filed? A: Look up your business online to check if your business document was filed.
Q: Will my filed business document be mailed back to me? A: Documents filed online are returned electronically. A confirmation email will be sent with a link to print your filed document. Documents submitted by mail or in person are returned by U.S. Postal mail. Documents submitted by mail are returned in the following order to the address provided from the: 1. Cover Letter 2. Check 3. Return Address listed on envelope 4. Address listed on filed document
Q: Which type of business should I file? A: There are many different types of registrations that can be filed with our office. While we cannot advise the public as to whether they should be incorporated, unincorporated or filed as some other type of business, there are resources that might be able to assist you or that you may wish to contact. Also, you may wish to consult with an attorney or other advisor, as there are real and important tax, liability and operational consequences that may affect your decision.
Q: What do I need to do to start my business? A: There are many different steps to starting a business. Many of the things you may need to do are outlined in "A Guide to Starting A Business in Minnesota", a nearly 300-page book that is available free from the Department of Employment and Economic Development. You can find information on this book and many other resources that may assist you on our website. You may wish to consult with an attorney or other advisor, as there are real and important tax, liability and operational consequences that may affect your decision.
Q: Do you have standard forms I can use for filing? A: Yes, our office has standard forms for most filings. Be sure to check our online services for filing also.
Q: Who do I make my check payable to? A: Make your check payable to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Q: How do I file my business document?

File your business document online.
Visa, Mastercard and Discover are acceptable payment methods.

You may also file In-Person or Mail your documents to:
Minnesota Secretary of State - Business Services
Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building
60 Empire Drive, Suite 100
Saint Paul, MN 55103
(Staffed 8:00 - 4:00, Monday - Friday, excluding holidays)
Cash or Check are acceptable payment methods.

Q: Where can I obtain information about businesses already filed in the state of Minnesota?

Search Business Information.

Q: How do I check if my business name is available?

Check name availability online. Go to File a New Business or Nonprofit and click on the entity type to be filed. Enter the exact name you want to use for your business to verify if the name is available.

You may also call our office for a preliminary name check at 651 296-2803 or toll free at 1-877-551-6767, between the hours of 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday (excluding holidays).

Note: The final determination on a business name is made at the time of filing.

Name Availability Guidelines provides the criteria used when a check for name availability is done.

Q: How do I know that my business document has been filed?

Look up your business online to check if your business document was filed.

Q: Will my filed business document be mailed back to me?

Documents filed online are returned electronically. A confirmation email will be sent with a link to print your filed document.

Documents submitted by mail or in person are returned by U.S. Postal mail.

Documents submitted by mail are returned in the following order to the address provided from the:
1. Cover Letter
2. Check
3. Return Address listed on envelope
4. Address listed on filed document

Q: Which type of business should I file?

There are many different types of registrations that can be filed with our office.

While we cannot advise the public as to whether they should be incorporated, unincorporated or filed as some other type of business, there are resources that might be able to assist you or that you may wish to contact.

Also, you may wish to consult with an attorney or other advisor, as there are real and important tax, liability and operational consequences that may affect your decision.

Q: What do I need to do to start my business?

There are many different steps to starting a business. Many of the things you may need to do are outlined in "A Guide to Starting A Business in Minnesota", a nearly 300-page book that is available free from the Department of Employment and Economic Development. You can find information on this book and many other resources that may assist you on our website.

You may wish to consult with an attorney or other advisor, as there are real and important tax, liability and operational consequences that may affect your decision.

Q: Do you have standard forms I can use for filing?

Yes, our office has standard forms for most filings. Be sure to check our online services for filing also.

Q: Who do I make my check payable to?

Make your check payable to the Minnesota Secretary of State.

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