In Minnesota, a DBA is an assumed name certificate filed with the Secretary of State under Minnesota Statutes section 333.01. The filing fee is $30, as of October 2026. After filing, you publish the certificate in a qualified newspaper for two successive issues. The certificate stays in force as long as you file the annual renewal each year, which is free, and a lapsed certificate can be reinstated for $25.
Minnesota's assumed name rules fit in a handful of short sections in Chapter 333. They're cheap compared with most states, but they come with two steps people forget: the newspaper notice after filing, and the yearly renewal that costs nothing but still has to be done.
Who needs an assumed name in Minnesota
Section 333.01 says no person shall carry on a commercial business in Minnesota under any designation, name or style that doesn't set forth the true name of every person interested in the business, unless they file a certificate with the Secretary of State. The certificate gives the name and business address the business uses, and the true name and address of each person conducting it.
Section 333.02 adds the timing: the certificate must be filed, and published, before the business starts under that name. So this is something to do at setup, not after your first customer.
Name rules in section 333.01
The assumed name can't include certain words or their abbreviations unless the filer is entitled to use them. The list includes corporation, incorporated, limited, chartered, professional association, cooperative, limited partnership, limited liability company, professional limited liability company, limited liability partnership and professional limited liability partnership. A sole proprietor can't trade as Smith Plumbing LLC without an LLC behind it.
There's also a misuse rule. Subdivision 2 bans using an assumed name to intentionally misrepresent the geographic origin or location of the business.
Section 333.055 says the Secretary of State must accept certificates that meet the rules and are paid for, even if the assumed name isn't distinguishable from other assumed names already on file. In plain terms, Minnesota won't stop two businesses filing the same assumed name, so a certificate isn't brand protection.
The newspaper notice
Under section 333.01, the certificate is published after it's been filed with the Secretary of State, in a qualified newspaper in the county where the person has a principal or registered office, for two successive issues. One of the people conducting the business signs the certificate. Newspapers set their own rates for legal notices, so ask for a price before you place it, and check the paper counts as qualified for legal notices in your county, because a notice in the wrong paper doesn't meet the rule.
What it costs
Section 333.055 sets the fees, as of October 2026:
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Each filing submitted for an assumed name, such as the original certificate or an amendment | $30 |
| Annual renewal | No fee |
| Reinstating an expired certificate, filed with the annual renewal | $25 |
The annual renewal, and what happens if you miss it
Section 333.055 says a certificate is effective on filing and stays in effect as long as an annual renewal is filed in each calendar year after the year of the original filing. The renewal must include the assumed name and the address of the principal place of business.
If you miss a year, the certificate expires in the calendar year after the year with no renewal. It isn't the end of the world: an expired certificate can be reinstated by filing the annual renewal with the $25 reinstatement fee. Certificates that were on file on September 5, 2011 were exempt from the yearly renewal until their original ten-year term ran out, and those that expired at the end of that term can be reinstated the same way.
Because the renewal is free, the easiest habit is to file it as soon as each new calendar year starts, so it never slips.
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Each state has its own quirks, and the Pennsylvania DBA guide covers another set of them.
A quick Minnesota checklist
- check the name doesn't use a restricted word like LLC or incorporated unless you're entitled to it
- file the assumed name certificate with the Secretary of State and pay the $30 fee
- publish the certificate in a qualified newspaper in your county for two successive issues
- keep the newspaper's proof with your records
- file the free annual renewal each calendar year, with the assumed name and principal place of business address
If you move your principal place of business or your details change, file an amendment so the certificate stays accurate. Each filing other than the annual renewal costs $30, as of October 2026.
For the official steps in another state, see the Illinois DBA guide.
What happens if you don't file
Section 333.06 is the enforcement rule. If a business that should have filed starts a civil action before filing, on a contract or transaction made for the business, the defendant can plead that failure in abatement. All proceedings are then stayed until the certificate is filed, and if the defendant wins the case, they're entitled to tax $250 costs on top of other statutory costs.
So skipping the $30 filing can stall a debt claim and add to what you pay if you lose. If you're weighing a DBA against forming a company, our LLC vs sole proprietorship comparison and the DBA registration guide cover the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DBA cost in Minnesota?
The Secretary of State charges $30 for each filing for an assumed name, the annual renewal is free, and reinstating an expired certificate costs $25, as of October 2026, under section 333.055.
Does a Minnesota assumed name need to be published?
Yes. Section 333.01 says the certificate is published after filing in a qualified newspaper in the county of the principal or registered office for two successive issues.
How often do I renew a Minnesota assumed name?
Every calendar year after the year of the original filing. The annual renewal is free and must include the assumed name and the principal place of business address.
What happens if my Minnesota assumed name expires?
It can be reinstated by filing the annual renewal with the $25 reinstatement fee, as of October 2026.
What if I sue someone before filing my Minnesota assumed name?
The defendant can plead the failure in abatement, the case is stayed until you file, and if the defendant wins they can tax $250 costs, under section 333.06.
