Minnesota DBA Filing: Certificate of Assumed Name Cost (2026)
In Minnesota a DBA is called an assumed name, and you register it by filing a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Minnesota Secretary of State for $50 online or in person, or $30 by mail. Filing is required under Chapter 333 before you do business under the name, and you must also publish the certificate in a qualified legal newspaper for two consecutive issues. An assumed name gives no liability protection.
Quick Answer
- Minnesota term
- Certificate of Assumed Name - the DBA equivalent
- Filed with
- Minnesota Secretary of State
- Filing fee
- $50 online or in person; $30 by mail (2026)
- Required?
- Yes - before transacting business under the assumed name
- Publication
- Required - two consecutive issues in a qualified legal newspaper
- Liability protection
- None - an assumed name is only a name
- Governing law
- Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333
What a Minnesota DBA (Assumed Name) Is
A DBA (“doing business as”) is a name a business uses that differs from the owner's true legal name. Minnesota's statutory term for it is an assumed name, governed by Chapter 333 of the Minnesota Statutes and administered by the Minnesota Secretary of State. A sole proprietor named Dana Olson who operates as “North Loop Bakery,” or an LLC that markets a brand different from its exact registered name, files a Certificate of Assumed Name so the public can connect the brand to the true owner. For the national concept, see what is a DBA.
Importantly, an assumed name is not a business entity. It provides no liability protection and does not change how you are taxed. If you want a liability shield, you form a Minnesota LLC or a corporation with the Secretary of State by filing Articles of Organization - a separate filing from the assumed name certificate.
Filing Is Required in Minnesota
Unlike Arizona, where trade name registration is voluntary, Minnesota requires the filing. Under Chapter 333, a person or entity that conducts business in Minnesota under a name that is not the owner's full true name - or, for an entity, not its exact registered name - must file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State before transacting business under that name. The filing gives public notice of who is behind the name so customers and creditors can identify the real party.
Complying matters for practical reasons beyond the statute. Minnesota law limits the ability of a business that has not filed to enforce contracts entered under the unregistered assumed name until it corrects the omission, and banks, vendors, and county licensing offices routinely ask to see the filed certificate before opening an account or issuing a local license in the assumed name. Because the assumed name is a public record, the Secretary of State will reject a name that is not distinguishable from an existing one, so check availability first.
Who Files a Certificate of Assumed Name
Any business structure can - and often must - file a Minnesota assumed name:
- A sole proprietor or general partnership operating under a name other than the owners' true legal names.
- An LLC or corporation that wants to market a brand different from the exact name on its formation documents.
A single owner can file more than one assumed name, and each is a separate certificate with its own fee. The nameholder listed on the certificate must be the true legal owner - for an entity, the LLC or corporation itself, not an individual. See the distinction between a name filing and a formal entity at sole proprietorship vs LLC and single-member LLC.
How to File a Minnesota Assumed Name Step by Step
The Secretary of State runs the process through its business filing system:
- Check name availability. Search the Secretary of State's business filings to confirm your assumed name is not already registered and is distinguishable from existing names.
- File the Certificate of Assumed Name. Provide the assumed name, the principal place of business, and the true name and address of each nameholder. File online or in person for $50, or by mail for $30.
- Publish the certificate. Publish it once each week for two consecutive weeks in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of your principal place of business.
- Keep the affidavit. The newspaper provides an affidavit of publication; keep it with your business records.
Filing the assumed name does not by itself get you a state tax account or a local license. If you sell taxable goods you also register for sales and use tax with the Minnesota Department of Revenue, and many cities require their own license - see business license in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Publication Requirement
Minnesota is one of the states that pairs the DBA filing with a newspaper publication requirement. After the Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Assumed Name, you must publish it once each week for two consecutive weeks in a qualified legal newspaper in the county where your principal place of business is located. The newspaper then issues an affidavit of publication as proof.
Publication cost is not a state fee - it is what the newspaper charges - and it varies by county and paper, commonly a modest amount for a short legal notice. Do not skip this step: the assumed name filing is not considered complete for all purposes until publication is done, and failing to publish can undercut the notice the statute is designed to give. Confirm which papers qualify in your county before you publish.
Minnesota DBA Fees and Renewal (2026)
Assumed name fees are set by the Minnesota Secretary of State. The table shows the amounts a typical filer encounters; confirm current figures on the Secretary of State fee schedule before you file.
| Item | Mail fee | Online / in-person | Set by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Assumed Name (per name) | $30 | $50 | Secretary of State |
| Amendment to assumed name | $30 | $50 | Secretary of State |
| Newspaper publication (two weeks) | Varies by county/paper | Legal newspaper | |
| Federal EIN | $0 (free) | IRS | |
A Minnesota assumed name does not carry the annual renewal that LLCs file; it remains on the Secretary of State's record, and you file an amendment (with a fresh publication) if the nameholder or the name changes. If your business closes or you stop using the name, you can cancel the certificate. Because the Secretary of State periodically updates its filing rules, confirm the current renewal or amendment process on its assumed name page.
Assumed Name vs LLC, EIN, and Trademark
A DBA is often confused with three other things. It is not a Minnesota LLC, which is a liability-protected entity formed by filing Articles of Organization. It does not by itself require a new EIN - a sole proprietor can use an existing EIN or Social Security number, and an LLC keeps its own EIN, because an assumed name is just a name. And it is not a trademark: an assumed name registration gives no exclusive nationwide rights, which come only from a registered trademark. See how to trademark a business name for brand protection, and remember an assumed name does not replace the LLC's annual renewal or a local business license.
How Minnesota Compares to Other States
DBA rules vary widely, so a process that works in one state does not transfer. Minnesota files assumed names at the state level with the Secretary of State, makes the filing mandatory, and adds a publication requirement. Arizona, by contrast, files trade names at the state level but makes registration optional and imposes no publication step - see Arizona DBA filing. California files DBAs at the county level with its own publication rule - see California DBA filing - and Texas allows both state and county assumed-name filings, covered in Texas DBA filing. When you move a business across state lines, re-check the local rule rather than assuming Minnesota's model applies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a DBA in Minnesota?
In Minnesota a DBA is an assumed name - a name different from the owner's true legal name. You register it by filing a Certificate of Assumed Name with the Secretary of State under Chapter 333.
How much does a Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name cost?
$50 online or in person, or $30 by mail. A separate newspaper publication cost applies and varies by county. See Minnesota LLC cost for related fees.
Is a DBA required in Minnesota?
Yes, if you do business under a name other than your full legal name or your entity's exact registered name. Chapter 333 requires filing the certificate before transacting business.
Do I have to publish a Minnesota assumed name?
Yes. You publish the certificate once each week for two consecutive weeks in a qualified legal newspaper in the county of your principal place of business, then keep the affidavit.
Does a Minnesota assumed name give liability protection?
No. It is only a registered name. For a liability shield, form an LLC or corporation; for exclusive brand rights, register a trademark.
Related
- What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Minnesota
- Minnesota Articles of Organization
- Minnesota registered agent
- How much does a Minnesota LLC cost?
- Minnesota annual renewal
- Minnesota operating agreement
- Business license in Minnesota
- How to dissolve an LLC in Minnesota
- How to get an EIN
- How to trademark a business name
- Arizona DBA filing (sibling)
Sources
- Minnesota Statutes - § 333.001, Definitions (assumed name).
- Minnesota Statutes - § 333.01, Certificate of Assumed Name; filing and publication (two consecutive issues in a qualified legal newspaper).
- Minnesota Statutes - Chapter 333, Trademarks and Assumed Names.
- Minnesota Statutes - § 322C.0108, Company Name (distinguishable-name standard for entities).
- Minnesota Statutes - § 322C.0201, Articles of Organization (LLC formation is a separate filing).
- Minnesota Secretary of State - Business Filing & Certification Fee Schedule (PDF) ($50/$30 Certificate of Assumed Name).
- Minnesota Secretary of State - Start a Business (assumed name and entity filings).
- Minnesota Secretary of State - Business Help (filing methods and name search).
- Minnesota Department of Revenue - Business Tax Education (sales and use tax registration).
- Minnesota Department of Revenue - Business Taxes (Minnesota Tax ID).
- IRS - Doing Business As (a DBA does not by itself require a new EIN).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- Legal Information Institute (Cornell) - Trademark (why a name filing is not a trademark).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Minnesota Secretary of State before acting.