Minnesota Secretary of State – MN SOS Business Search

Minnesota Secretary of State Business, Non-Profit, and UCC Division
Address: Retirement Systems of Minnesota Building, 60 Empire Drive, Suite 100, St Paul, MN 55103 
Telephone: 1(877)551-6767
Fax: 1(651)297-7067
Website: www.sos.state.mn.us
E-Mail: sos.state.mn.us/contact

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

In order to view all the options on how to look up a business entity (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership) in Minnesota as well as see if a specific name is available you will need to go to the Secretary of State’s Website.

You will have two choices, search by Name or Filing Number. The most common is to perform a query by name, but just make sure you make a detailed description as the database will pull all related entities. After making your selection you will be brought to the Results Page (See Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

Here the Secretary of State will give you a preview of the results that match your selection including a preview of its Name, Type, and Name Type. When you find your selected listing, you will want to click on the ‘Details‘ blue text link on the right side of the page. You will now be sent to the Information Page (See Below).

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have reached the final step of the search process and are now able to view all the information provided by the Secretary of State about the entity including its Type, File Number, Filing Date, Renewal Due Date, Principal Place of Business Address, State of Incorporation, Status, Registered Agent, Officer(s), and the option to File an Amendment/Renewal or Order Copies/Certificates.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Minnesota

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address and business cards.