Finding a dependable LLC provider in Minnesota is critical if you want to keep your business running smoothly.
The right LLC service will ensure that your registration paperwork is handled and filed with the Secretary of State on schedule, making sure that the state has the necessary information it needs for your Minnesota LLC to be legally compliant.
The wrong LLC service will overcharge you for inferior services and delay your business registration, ultimately slowing down your activities due to a lack of required documentation.
I used a four-stage, five-factor method to determine which of Minnesota's LLC formation services was the best. Here are the results of my investigation.
1. Northwest Registered Agent: 9.45/10 (Best Overall LLC Service)
Northwest Registered Agent is the best LLC service in Minnesota because of its exceptional customer service and budget-friendly formation package that includes a wide range of services.
Pros
For just $39, Northwest Registered Agent will process and file your articles of organization with the Minnesota Secretary of State, as well as providing a physical street address, a draft operating agreement template, and a seven-day free VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service for cheaper phone calls.
It’ll also throw in an online document-storage portal, a year of free registered agent service, free mail forwarding, and compliance alerts that remind you to file your annual reports.
Northwest also provides a few extra services that you can purchase as needed. These include access to an employer identification number (EIN), a Certificate of Good Standing, and certified copies of your formation documents.
Northwest’s customer service representatives, known as Corporate Guides, are among the best in the Minnesota LLC formation industry. The team consists of former small business owners, lawyers, and accountants with experience running a successful business. They’re available every day of the week to answer questions about starting and maintaining an LLC in Minnesota.
Most a la carte business advisory firms charge over $5,000 for this level of business advice. Finding a Minnesota LLC formation service that includes this service for a highly discounted rate is a huge relief.
Northwest’s formation package is typically $225, but I've arranged a special deal for BoostSuite readers to receive an 82% discount if they use my link to Northwest's sign-up page. This reduces the cost to a highly affordable $39.
Cons
The one small problem I have with Northwest Registered Agent is that it doesn't offer any online resources to aid your Minnesota LLC in developing an online presence. If you need a personalized email service, social-networking tools, or a personalized business website, platforms such as Wix and Squarespace will sort you out on that end.
Overall
Northwest Registered Agent is my top recommendation for the best LLC service in Minnesota because its $39 formation package contains all the services you'll need to get started, including 12-months free registered agent services. Its Corporate Guides provide the best business advice available and can assist you if you encounter any difficulties along the way.
Contact Northwest Registered Agent today to take advantage of an 82% discount on its LLC formation package if you need a Minnesota LLC formation service that is both fairly priced and provides outstanding customer support.
2. ZenBusiness: 8.25/10 (Best Essentials LLC Service)
At an incredible $0, ZenBusiness has the lowest price on the market. But since it doesn’t supply small business advice or free registered agent services, that low fee will ultimately cost you more in the long term.
Pros
For $0 (plus filing fee), ZenBusiness supplies all of the services you need to legally establish your LLC. It will make sure that the business name you’ve chosen is available, double-check all of your information, and file all your paperwork for you.
You can choose its $199 Pro plan if you need assistance drafting an operating agreement or want expedited filing (four to six days). And if you choose its $299 Premium plan you get a number of services to help establish your company’s online presence, like a business domain name, email address, and website-building tool, as well as rush filing in as little as one to two days.
Another great feature is that its customer service team is available during extended hours throughout the week. They’re even available on Sundays!
Cons
While you can get all of the basics for only the cost of state filing fees, you’ll have to pay for extra services.
You’ll notice that ZenBusiness doesn’t offer a free year of registered agent service. Instead, you have to buy its $199 Pro package because it’s the only one that offers registered agent services. You’ll start paying for the service straightaway, too.
Choosing one of its competitors that offers free registered agent service the first year can save you nearly $200 in your first year, which is a substantial sum for any new business owner.
It doesn’t offer small business advice, either. Its customer support team can competently handle standard customer service inquiries, like helping you reset your password or making changes to your billing or payment information. But when it comes to answering questions about how to manage your business or handle back-end operations, they’re simply not equipped to dish out expert-level advice.
Overall
If all you need is essential LLC formation services, ZenBusiness is a good option that will get you through. For just the cost of state fees, it will make sure your chosen business name is available, make sure that all of the information you’ve listed on your paperwork is accurate, and file your paperwork with the Secretary of State.
It provides a lot of peace of mind, too, with features like a 100% accuracy guarantee and worry-free compliance.
If you’re looking for a company that provides the bare essentials, check out ZenBusiness’ website.
3. Harbor Compliance: 7.15/10 (Best Premium LLC Service)
Harbor Compliance provides personalized customer service and premium LLC service packages. But this comes at a high cost.
Pros
Harbor Compliance’s formation package includes an operating agreement template, a physical street address in Minnesota, assistance with filing your Minnesota articles of organization, an employer identification number (EIN), an online document storage portal, annual report compliance notifications, and a full year of Minnesota registered agent service.
The main difference between Harbor Compliance and Northwest Registered Agent is the way they conduct customer service. Harbor Compliance assigns you a professional account manager who is familiar with your account and provides assistance targeted to your individual situation.
You don’t need to call an anonymous customer support representative or interact with a web bot. Instead, your account manager will assist you through the LLC formation process and be available to give service-related advice if you run into problems during the LLC formation process.
Cons
The issue with Harbor Compliance is that its services are not economical.
Harbor Compliance’s Starter package, for example, costs $399, while its Compliance package costs $799. This is more than 10 times the cost of Northwest and is out of reach for the vast majority of people, especially those who are just starting out in business and don't have a lot of money to spend on a premium Minnesota LLC service.
Another issue is that for the amount of money you pay, the dedicated account manager at Harbor Compliance isn’t that groundbreaking, only providing service-related advice. This is a real bummer considering Northwest’s Corporate Guides offer great small business advice for $39.
Overall
Harbor Compliance is a premium LLC formation service in Minnesota that provides efficient services for your business entity, and its personalized customer service is among the best in the industry.
Its packages are quite expensive, but considering the individualized nature of its LLC services, it provides outstanding value for money.
Visit the Harbor Compliance website now if you're willing to pay $399 for a dedicated account manager who’ll assist you in setting up your Minnesota LLC.
4. Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer offers excellent legal assistance in addition to basic LLC services.
Its $99.99 setup fee includes a seven-day free trial of its legal services subscription. This membership provides access to Rocket Lawyer’s library of completely customizable business forms, attorney protection in the event that your legal documents are disputed, a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer on any matter, and your documents examined by an in-house legal expert.
Rocket Lawyer’s customer service team is made up of highly experienced lawyers that can answer your legal and business questions.
The downside of Rocket Lawyer is that it doesn't provide the full range of services that Northwest does. It doesn't offer a free year of registered agent service (which costs $149.99 per year), annual report compliance alerts, accounting consultations, or VoIP service.
Rocket Lawyer is an excellent solution for entrepreneurs in need of basic LLC services, as well as excellent legal counsel at a reasonable price. Visit the Rocket Lawyer website today and learn more about its Minnesota LLC services.
5. Swyft Filings
Swyft Filings offers a basic package for $49 that includes all the services you'd expect from a Minnesota LLC formation service. This includes an online portal to store your important documents, assistance with submitting your articles of organization, 30 minutes of free tax advice from its in-house chartered accountants, and a registered domain name for your Minnesota business entity.
The biggest disadvantage of Swyft Filings is that you must pay $149 for its Minnesota registered agent services for a full year, which is more than three times the price of Northwest Registered Agent.
6. MyCompanyWorks
MyCompanyWorks will submit your LLC's articles of organization for $79, as well as sending compliance notifications and an online document portal where you may store your legal documents. It also provides weekly mail forwarding, a Minnesota office address, and compliance notifications.
However, MyCompanyWorks is more expensive than Northwest because it provides free registered agent service in its premium package for $279. That's seven times what Northwest charges!
MyCompanyWorks does not offer remarkable value for your Minnesota business entity, but it’s a viable choice because it has assisted more than 60,000 small business owners since its founding in 2001.
7. Inc Authority
Another expensive Minnesota LLC formation service that touts itself as a low-cost option is Inc Authority. It will help you with submitting your articles of organization for free, but that's it.
Its basic package is $399 and includes a Minnesota LLC operating agreement template, as well as assistance with obtaining an EIN. Its $799 premium package includes a free year of Minnesota registered agent service.
If all you need is an affordable means to submit your formation documents, Northwest is a far better alternative.
8. Incorporate Fast
By staying true to its name, Incorporate Fast separates itself from other Minnesota LLC formation services. It claims that if you sign up for its $99 package (plus the filing cost), it will process your Minnesota LLC's articles of organization the same day it receives your request.
Incorporate Fast doesn’t provide free tax advice or an online portal for document storage. However, if you pay $199 for its premium plan, it will apply for an EIN on your behalf.
9. BizFilings
BizFilings provides a $99 basic plan that includes LLC formation services, such as assistance with filing your formation documents to the Minnesota Secretary of State, compliance alerts, and a free year of Minnesota registered agent service. It doesn't help you draft an operating agreement, and it doesn't offer an online document storage platform or business tax advice.
10. LegalZoom
Another Minnesota online legal services firm that provides limited LLC services as part of its $99 business formation package is LegalZoom. It just helps you submit your articles of organization and provide a banking solution. That's all!
Other Minnesota LLC Services
As part of my investigation, I added the following seven Minnesota LLC services. Their services aren't really significant, but I've included them here to be more comprehensive:
11. Incorporate.com
Incorporate.com offers the same services that Rocket Lawyer does. For $99, it solely provides an online document storage site and assistance with filing your articles of organization.
12. CorpNet
CorpNet's $79 basic formation package includes compliance alerts and assistance with submitting your articles of organization for your LLC in Minnesota. It has nothing else to offer.
13. MyCorporation
MyCorporation can help you submit your articles of organization and will provide you with an operating agreement template. It doesn't provide free Minnesota registered agent services. However, these limited services will set you back $133.
14. Direct Incorporation
Direct Incorporation is a Minnesota LLC formation service that offers the same services as MyCorporationWorks, but its formation package additionally includes an EIN and a business bank account. The drawback is that this bundle costs $147.
15. InCorp
For $117, InCorp will submit your articles of organization and help you with your operating agreement. If you need more comprehensive services, you'll have to pay more.
16. Nationwide Incorporations
For the same LLC services as InCorp, Nationwide Incorporations will charge you $200.
17. SunDoc Filings
SunDoc Filings offers three basic plans. Its $79 package will process and submit your formation documents with the Minnesota Secretary of State, its $99 Key package will sort out your operating agreement, and its $279 Premier package will help you obtain an EIN.
The Best LLC Services Review Summary
I determined that Northwest Registered Agent is the best Minnesota LLC service after researching the top 10 limited liability company formation services in Minnesota.
Its $39 formation package includes everything you'd expect from a Minnesota LLC service, such as help submitting your articles of organization, a draft operating agreement, a 90-day trial of VoIP service, an online document storage portal, a business tax consultation, and a free full year of Minnesota registered agent service.
Northwest's Corporate Guides offer excellent small business advice, as well as aid with the LLC formation process.
When you're ready to start your business entity and need a Minnesota LLC service that will help you get started quickly, call Northwest Registered Agent and take advantage of my 82% discount on its formation package.
Best LLC Services Review Methodology
This is the process I followed to determine the best Minnesota LLC formation services.
Why You Should Trust Me
You should trust my recommendations on LLC formation services because I have spent significantly more time and money investigating the Minnesota LLC services industry than any rational person would.
It all started when I formed my first LLC in Minnesota. Because I lacked the essential experience to be my own registered agent, I hired a Minnesota LLC service to assist me. However, the firm I chose was rather exorbitant, and their standards were so low that the entire procedure became far too stressful in the end.
After a while, I sold my second Minnesota LLC and began looking for a new job. I decided to subscribe to a premium LLC service this time, and Harbor Compliance was an obvious choice. Its dedicated account manager was really helpful during the formation of my business and its premium services provided my Minnesota business with everything it needed to be compliant with the state.
It's worth noting that my experience isn't limited to using these services. While looking for my third company opportunity, I asked a few acquaintances (and a business-minded family member) about their business setup procedures and saw a common pattern. A lot of business advice is too obscure or contradictory for most people to understand.
That's why I launched BoostSuite: to help entrepreneurs choose the best Minnesota LLC formation service to help them establish their firms, and I've since helped over 1,000 small business owners do exactly that.
How I Selected the Best LLC Service
To determine which Minnesota LLC formation services were worth investing in, I conducted a four-stage, five-factor analysis.
Stage 1: Reviews
The first part was examining the online reviews of 60 Minnesota LLC services, which took days of scanning review sites like TrustPilot, Google Business, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau because most LLC services want their clients to share their experiences on these sites.
Using this strategy, I was able to tell the difference between LLC services that marketed bogus services and those that were genuine and delivered high-quality services.
Stage 2: Website Analysis
After eliminating the untrustworthy Minnesota LLC services, I examined the remaining Minnesota LLC formation services and their offerings and claims, which allowed me to understand the fundamental services that each company provided and how they differed from one another or positioned themselves in the crowded Minnesota LLC formation services market.
Stage 3: Speaking With Real Customers
I decided to call actual consumers in the following step to determine if these companies lived up to their claims. Of course, I could have relied on internet reviews for answers, but in actuality, they tend to focus on either incredibly negative or positive experiences.
To learn about their experiences with these businesses, I contacted acquaintances who had used an LLC formation service, people who had used my website, and people I had previously referred to an LLC formation service. This gave me a good understanding of how each Minnesota LLC service operates.
Stage 4: Speaking With Their Sales Teams
At the conclusion of the research process, I called their sales and customer support teams and asked them to respond to negative feedback from their customers on online review sites. This allowed me to see how their support staff dealt with dissatisfied consumers and criticism.
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Rating Factors
After going through the four-stage elimination process, I rated the remaining Minnesota LLC formation services using the five factors listed below.
Factor 1: Reviews
Some businesses give free Minnesota LLC formation services, including assistance with completing your formation paperwork, but then charge you for each subsequent service. Others, such as Northwest, provide a number of business services in their low-cost formation bundle.
I had to start my rating process here due to the clear discrepancies in services.
Factor 2: Price
The cost of services was the second factor I looked at throughout my inquiry. It is pointless to invest your start-up capital in a Minnesota LLC service just to run out of finances to operate your business.
Some LLC services are free, while others charge more than $400 for their basic services. It was vital to separate those who supplied the best value for money from those who did not.
Factor 3: Ease of Sign-Up
The speed and ease of the registration process was the third factor I used to rank these services. Some organizations employ archaic technologies, but others provide contemporary, user-friendly platforms that lessen the time and effort required to incorporate an LLC in Minnesota.
I signed up for each of these business formation services so that I could go through their registration process and ensure that any bugs or difficulties with filling out the forms had been sorted out.
Factor 4: Ease of Use
I extended my analysis of the sign-up method to other areas of the websites to determine how user-friendly they were. This included forming a fictitious company and submitting my formation papers to the Minnesota Secretary of State.
This assessment approach allowed me to differentiate between LLC registration services with simple back-end systems and those that required more time and effort to operate.
Factor 5: Customer Service
Customer service quality was the fifth and last factor in my testing methodology. This is where I saw a substantial difference in how the majority of LLC providers treated their customers.
Many firms outsource customer care to contact centers in foreign countries, where personnel are inexperienced with the American business start-up process. As a result, you'll end up wasting a lot of valuable time attempting to explain the problems your company or LLC is having.
Other LLC formation services, such as Northwest, have a customer service department in the United States staffed by former accountants, lawyers, small business owners, and entrepreneurs who have faced similar challenges and are always available to offer credible advice during your business adventure.
I contacted each customer care department through every available channel (online chats, emails, and phone calls) and pressed them for information on some of the services they offer.
In Conclusion
Northwest Registered Agent is the best LLC formation service provider in Minnesota. This is according to my four-stage, five-factor evaluation of all 17 formation services on this list.
Its $39 formation package is excellent value for money because it includes all the services you'll need to set up your LLC, such as assistance with filing your formation paperwork, a consultation with its accounting department, compliance alerts, an online document storage portal, a three-month trial of VoIP service, and a full year of registered agent service.
Northwest’s Corporate Guides are a team of accountants, attorneys, and business owners that provide outstanding customer support to small businesses in Minnesota.
If you're looking for an LLC formation service that can handle all of your company's official requirements, contact Northwest Registered Agent today and get an 82% discount on your LLC formation.