Minnesota DBA: File a Certificate of Assumed Name With the Secretary of State and Publish It
Minnesota DBA: File a Certificate of Assumed Name With the Secretary of State and Publish It
If you do business under any name other than your full legal name, Minnesota requires a Certificate of Assumed Name, usually called a Minnesota DBA ("doing business as"). You file it with the Minnesota Secretary of State, not your county. The filing costs $50 online or in person or $30 by mail. Filing is only half of the job. After the certificate is filed, it must also be published in a qualified legal newspaper, and skipping that step can make the certificate invalid.
This guide covers who needs a Minnesota DBA, how to check the name, how to file and publish, how to renew, and what a DBA does not do for you. Minnesota DBA registration is one step in getting set up. It is not a license, and it is not a tax registration.
Informational content, not legal or tax advice. This guide explains the general Minnesota assumed name process as of October 2026. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Talk with a qualified attorney or CPA before you decide on a business structure, a trademark strategy, or your tax treatment.
Who needs a Minnesota DBA
Chapter 333 of Minnesota Statutes requires a Certificate of Assumed Name for anyone doing business under a name that is not their full legal name. Three common situations fall under that rule:
- A sole proprietor operating as "Northwoods Bakery" or "Lakeside Lawn Care" instead of under their own name.
- A corporation, limited partnership, or LLC that uses a name other than its exact legal name on signs, invoices, or a website.
- An owner who runs a second brand, such as a side service or product line, under a separate name.
Size does not change the rule. A name that appears only on a truck, a website, or a business card still counts. If you are unsure whether a particular use requires a filing, ask the Secretary of State before you start.
Do not confuse a DBA with forming an LLC or corporation. Those filings go through Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation, and the LLC filing costs $155 online or in person or $135 by mail. LLC and corporation formation does not require publication. A DBA is a separate filing with its own publication requirement, so an LLC that uses a trade name still has to complete the DBA steps.
Check the name before you file
The Secretary of State will not accept an assumed name that cannot be distinguished from a name already on file. Under Minn. Stat. 333.055, subd. 4, the name must be distinguishable from existing entity names in state records. Search those records at mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search before you pay anything. A general web search does not check the state record, and a name that looks unused online can already be taken on file.
If your chosen name conflicts with an existing entity, a consent form can resolve some conflicts. Ask the Secretary of State which form applies to your situation, and read it before you sign.
A filed DBA is not a trademark. It gives you no exclusive rights to the name, so another business can still use a similar name, and a DBA will not stop a trademark dispute. If you plan to build a brand around the name, a trademark search and attorney review are separate steps.
Step 1: File the Certificate of Assumed Name
- Get the form. Download the Certificate of Assumed Name from the Secretary of State assumed name page.
- Complete it. Enter the assumed name and the owner or entity information. Write down the county of your principal place of business, because you will need it for publication.
- Choose a filing method. File online through Business Filings Online (the Minnesota Business and Lien System) at mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search, in person, or by mail.
- Pay the fee. The amounts are below.
- Keep the stamped form. The Secretary of State does not issue a separate certificate. The stamped, filed form is your proof of filing.
| Filing method | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Online | $50 |
| In person | $50 |
| By mail | $30 |
Check the Secretary of State site for current processing times. This guide does not state a turnaround, so allow extra time if you have a launch date.
Step 2: Publish the certificate
After filing, the certificate must be published for two consecutive issues in the legal notices section of a qualified legal newspaper. The newspaper must serve the county where your principal place of business is located. Minnesota has 87 counties, so the county matters. Confirm your principal place of business before you choose a paper, and do not assume it is your home address.
- Find a qualified legal newspaper in the county of your principal place of business. Ask whether the paper is qualified to publish legal notices and whether it will run a Chapter 333 certificate.
- Send the paper the assumed name and filing details from your stamped form.
- Confirm the two consecutive issue dates in writing.
- Request the affidavit of publication. The newspaper returns it, and you keep it with your business records.
Newspaper rates are set by each paper and are not part of the state fee schedule. Ask for a quote before you file so you know the total cost.
Do not skip this step. Failure to publish may render the certificate invalid. A stamped filed form without completed publication is not a finished DBA.
Renewal and reinstatement
A Minnesota DBA must be renewed each year, and the renewal costs nothing. This guide does not state a renewal date, so check the Secretary of State record for your certificate's renewal date and the steps that apply.
A lapsed certificate can be reinstated. The current Secretary of State fee schedule lists reinstatement at $65 by mail or $85 online or in person. The older statute text for Section 333.055 prints a $25 reinstatement figure, so the two sources do not match. Confirm the amount with the Secretary of State before you send payment. The gap between a $0 renewal and a reinstatement fee of $65 to $85 is the main reason to calendar the renewal.
If you change the name or close the business, ask the Secretary of State which filing applies. This guide does not cover those steps.
What a DBA does not do
- It is not a license. Minnesota has no general statewide business license. A DBA is a filing, not permission to operate.
- It is not a trademark. It gives no exclusive rights to the name.
- It does not create a separate legal entity. A sole proprietor using a DBA is still the same legal person. An LLC or corporation is a different structure with different liability rules, and an attorney can explain which fits you.
- It does not register you for taxes. That is a separate step with the Department of Revenue.
Taxes after you file
Before you make taxable sales, register with the Minnesota Department of Revenue for a Minnesota Tax ID and a Sales and Use Tax account. You can start at the Department of Revenue new business registration page. Revenue registration is not a license, and it does not replace the DBA filing. The state sales tax rate is 6.875 percent, with local taxes on top, so confirm the total rate for your location.
Ask a CPA how your income will be taxed before you file. A sole proprietor, an LLC, and a corporation report income differently, and the choice affects your returns.
Licensing is by trade, not by DBA
Minnesota issues no general statewide business license. Licenses and permits come from the agency that regulates your trade or activity. Depending on your work, that can include the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), the Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division, the Office of Cannabis Management, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), MnDOT, the Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) office, and the professional boards. To browse by topic, agency, or an A to Z index, use License Minnesota at mn.gov/elicense.
Local rules add another layer. Zoning and city licenses vary by category. Minneapolis and St. Paul license by category, and neither issues a general business license. Minnesota has 87 counties, about 853 cities, and about 1,780 townships, so check with your city or township before you open a location or start a home-based operation.
Common mistakes
- Filing the DBA and never publishing it.
- Publishing in a newspaper outside the county of your principal place of business.
- Checking the name with a web search instead of the state business records.
- Losing the affidavit of publication.
- Treating the DBA as trademark protection.
- Letting the renewal lapse, which turns a $0 renewal into a reinstatement fee.
When to get professional help
A basic sole proprietor DBA is a manageable filing. Talk with a qualified attorney before you use a name close to an established brand, plan to sell the name, or share the business with partners. Talk with a CPA about how the business will be taxed. The Minnesota Small Business Development Center Network, administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), can help you think through the decision at mn.gov/deed/business/help/sbdc.
Official resources
- Minnesota Secretary of State: sos.mn.gov
- Business search and Business Filings Online: mblsportal.sos.mn.gov/Business/Search
- Assumed name (DBA) forms and fees: sos.mn.gov/business-liens/business-forms-fees/assumed-namedba
- Minnesota Department of Revenue: revenue.state.mn.us
- License Minnesota: mn.gov/elicense
- Minnesota Small Business Development Center Network: mn.gov/deed/business/help/sbdc