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Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State

When starting a new business or non-profit organization there are many important decisions to make. While there is no single source for all filing requirements, the following steps have been developed to assist you in starting your business.

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Step 1:  There are many resources available to assist you in the initial planning stages of starting a business or non-profit organization.  The links below provide information to assist you with this process.    

US Small Business Administration to find a tutorial on how to create a business plan. 

Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office provides information on starting a business in Minnesota.

James J. Hill Business Reference Library offers BizToolkit, a free gateway to business information tools, databases, and research resources to help your business succeed.

SCORE is part of a national nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneurial education and contributing to the success of U.S. small businesses.

Minnesota Council of Non-Profits  provides information in forming a Non-Profit Organization.

Other Helpful Links for New Business & Non-Profit Organizationsprovides additional resources for contact.

Step 2:  Choose a business structure. Select a business entity type from the following list for a brief overview of the principal types of legal business structures available in Minnesota. You may wish to consult with an attorney or accountant before making a determination as to the type of business entity to form.

  • Assumed Names/Sole Proprietorships
  • Minnesota Business Corporations
  • Minnesota Nonprofit Corporations
  • Foreign Corporations
  • Limited Liability Companies
  • Limited Liability Partnership
  • Limited Partnerships

    Step 3:  After filing with our office, there may be additional steps needed.  This may include a license in order to operate and/or a tax ID number.  Next Stepsprovides links to other agencies to contact for this information.    

     

     

    Thank you for using the Minnesota Business Portal. We hope that you found
    the site useful in obtaining information on Minnesota’s filing processes.

     

  • Last updated: 2/8/2010 9:51:12 AM