If you’re looking for information about how to file a DBA in Minnesota, this guide will help get the process started. Whether you’re just starting out or want to change your business name, all is covered here.
Important! Please keep in mind that DBA is not a business structure, so it won’t protect you from liabilities, lawsuits, or any other unforeseen situations. DBA stands for Doing Business As. – often precedes the name under which a business operates, which is not the legal name of the business.
Therefore, before starting, make sure you understand the difference between informal business structures such as sole proprietorship and formal ones like corporations and LLCs.
To register or renew the trademark, trade name, or service mark for your company in Minnesota you need to file the application to the Secretary of State. Here is what you need to do:
Minnesota Business Entity Search
Your company’s trade name should be unique and have not been acquired by any other entity in Minnesota. Moreover, this name must also meet the business name requirements of Minnesota.
First, you have to search the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website portal for the DBA, Business, & Fictitious names. Check the portal thoroughly to know whether the name that you wish to have for your business has already been taken by someone or not. Make sure, this name isn’t already in use.
Note: You can also find a complete guide on business name search here.
Once you are done searching, the next step is to review the naming requirements of the state of Minnesota. In general, your DBA should not include:
- LLC, Incorporated, Corp., or any other business entity suffix unless the business is actually an LLC, or corporation.
- Any terms that are used financial institutions, including: “bank,” “banco,” “banc,” “banker,” “banque,” “savings and loan association,”“trust company,” “savings bank,” “credit union,” or other related words.
Register Your Minnesota DBA
File a Minnesota DBA Online With Cyberdrive Minnesota or download the Assumed Business Name Application and send it to
DBA Filing Address:
Minnesota Secretary of State – Business Services
Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building
60 Empire Drive, Suite 100
St Paul, MN 55103
Minnesota DBA Filing Fee
$30: for filling through mail
$50: for filing online and expedited in-person
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The following information must include in the Minnesota trade name form:
- Your business name and adress
- Owners/partners of the business and addresses
- Entity type (eg; LLC, sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation)
- Trade name’s description
Publish Notice of Your Minnesota DBA
The state of Minnesota requires you to publish your Certificate of Assumed Name in the legal notices section of a qualified newspaper for two consecutive issues. The publishing newspaper must be in the county where your principal place of business is located.
Select a suitable newspaper from your respective county and follow their instructions. Once the publication is done, the newspaper will return an affidavit of publication and the copy of newspaper ad, which should both be kept.
Renew, Change or Withdraw Your Minnesota DBA
Renew Your Fictitious Name With the State
Every year by December 31, the Certificate of Minnesota Assumed Business Name needs renewal. So, for the renewal of DBA in Minnesota, apply online or download the Assumed Name Annual Renewal form and send it to:
DBA Filing Address:
Minnesota Secretary of State – Business Services
Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building
60 Empire Drive, Suite 100
St Paul, MN 55103
In case you renew your DBA on time, there will be no fee. However, after passing the deadline, you can reinstate an expired assumed name by filing the current year’s renewal. In that case, you have to pay $25 if submitted by mail or $45 for expedited service, in-person, and online filings.
Change Your Fictitious Name ($25)
If you wish to make changes in your Minnesota assumed business name, you can do it by filling online or downloading the respective DBA Amendment application and sending it to the address mentioned in the above section. The amendment fee is $30 if filed by mail and $50 if done online or in-person expedited service.
Withdraw Your Fictitious Name
You can cancel your Minnesota assumed business name by filling in the Cancellation Certificate of DBA application at the address mentioned in the renewal section. You can also cancel your MN DBA by applying online. There is no Minnesota DBA cancellation fee.
