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Hello and welcome to another edition of our Business Services newsletter. Minnesota is a great place to do business, and as your Secretary of State, I’m committed to keeping it that way. I'm excited to announce an important development that gives our office the power to stop business fraud in its tracks. A new law in Minnesota, which was proposed and supported by our office, empowers our Business Services division to work with business owners to terminate fraudulent filings -- a type of scheme when someone unknown to a business owner uses the business identity to open lines of credit or otherwise illegitimately engage in financial transactions without the knowledge of the owner. This type of fraud can be devastating for businesses, potentially leading to unauthorized loans and bank accounts, and misuse of government funds.
This program will take effect in January 2026. Any time, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our office with any questions about setting up your business. We appreciate everyone who runs a business in our state and contributes to our great entrepreneurial spirit.
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 Steve Simon, Secretary of State
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The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State now offers two new reports based on Minnesota Business Snapshot (MBS) survey data. Launched in 2016 by Secretary Simon, the MBS survey has collected voluntary information from nearly 800,000 registered Minnesota businesses. The data gathered by this five-question survey makes it easier and more convenient for business owners to identify potential partners, for consumers to target their spending, and for the public and educational institutions to better understand the economic and demographic makeup of our state’s business community.
The two reports, updated daily, offer insights on business entities by community and industry, and a summary of survey responses, providing valuable resources for identifying potential partnerships and understanding the state's economic makeup.
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 Survey Says
A report that summarizes all MBS survey data, offering a broad view of Minnesota’s business landscape.
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The deadline to renew your business is December 31, 2025. All registered businesses and nonprofits must renew their filing each calendar year — and for most businesses, it's free. You can renew at any time during the year, so there's no need to wait until December!
Visit our website for simple, step-by-step instructions to check if you need to renew and how to complete the process.
If your business has been dissolved or is inactive, you can also find information on reinstating at sos.mn.gov/reinstate.
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Reminder: Be wary of solicitations and official-looking mail
Business owners in Minnesota have reported receiving official-looking mail from third-party companies implying that they must pay a fee to complete filings for business renewals or to comply with reporting requirements.
Please note that many filings can be completed through our office for free or at a lower cost than what is being offered. You can view the fees associated with various filings handled by our office at sos.mn.gov/fees.
The Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State will never send renewal notices or correspondence by mail, nor does it issue Dealer License Certificates. Our office will only send annual courtesy emails about renewing your business.
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If you ever visited our public counter in person way back when, you might remember taking a number and waiting your turn. That’s a thing of the past! This is a reminder that we are appointment-only to help keep things running smoothly.
You can book a time online at sos.mn.gov/appointment. Please note: spots open up 14 days in advance.
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Did you know? Employers can request a free on-site safety and health consultation.
Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Workplace Safety Consultation, at no cost, helps employers that want to learn how to improve safety and health at their worksite.
MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation (WSC) works with employers and employees to solve safety and health problems before they occur. It offers free on-site consultation services, upon request, to help employers improve their safety and health records and lower accident costs. MNOSHA WSC consultants help employers recognize hazards, make recommendations for solving problems, and suggest other sources of help that are available. The visit by a consultant is scheduled for a mutually agreeable time and can encompass the entire site, a piece of machinery, or a specific work operation.
Contact MNOSHA Workplace Safety Consultation at osha.consultation@state.mn.us, 651-284-5060, or 800-657-3776.
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Check out these resources from DEED’s Office of Small Business and Innovation, created to help startups and small businesses succeed.
DEED is Minnesota's economic development agency, offering programs to support business growth, attract new companies, and provide resources to help small businesses thrive.
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Do you have any questions about registering, renewing, or anything else related to Business Services? Please share them with us! The survey is anonymous, and we appreciate your feedback.
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Did you know? We offer business information in 11 languages:
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Stay in touch! Follow Business Services on Instagram for business reminders, resources, and education from our office: @mnsecofstate |
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