You can find Minnesota business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, through the Minnesota Secretary of State Business Filings Online portal. This free online database provides immediate access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

Below, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the Minnesota database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Minnesota's system.

Summary table: Finding your Minnesota entity information

How to search for Minnesota business entities

Access the Minnesota business entity search to look up any registered business by name, file number, or registered agent name.

Minnesota's system supports partial matches (searching "North Star" will return "North Star Logistics LLC"), but using your complete legal name as registered ensures you get precise results. The system is not case-sensitive and treats punctuation as spaces for matching purposes.

Minnesota offers robust filtering options for its business entity search. You can select between "Begins With" or "Contains" search scope, filter by filing status (Active, Inactive, or both), and choose whether to include prior names in your search results. This flexibility makes Minnesota's system particularly effective for name availability checks and competitive research.

Click the entity name in the results to view complete details, including your entity number, formation date, registered agent information, and complete filing history with downloadable documents.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)

• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Nonprofit Corporation, Cooperative, etc.)

• Original Filing Number (Minnesota's primary entity identifier)

• Formation/file date

• Current status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, etc.)

• Name type designation (Current Legal, Former Legal, or Assumed)

How to find your entity number in Minnesota

Your Minnesota entity number, officially called your "Original Filing Number," follows a long numeric format like 448230000028 and was assigned by the Minnesota Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Minnesota entity number

1. Minnesota business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in the entity details page

• Labeled as: "Original Filing Number"

• Format: Long numeric string of varying lengths, typically 12+ digits

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document

• Usually labeled as "Original Filing Number”

• Stamped by the Minnesota Secretary of State

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Minnesota Secretary of State documents

• Used as your account identifier for renewals and amendments

Minnesota entity number format

• Format: Long numeric string; length varies (typically 12+ digits)

• Example: 448230000028

• Pattern note: Minnesota uses sequential numbering; newer entities have higher numbers

Minnesota uniquely maintains both an "Original Filing Number" (your public entity number) and an internal "Master ID" (a UUID-like string used for database integrity). For all practical purposes, your entity number is the Original Filing Number.

How to find your entity type in Minnesota

Minnesota recognizes numerous business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Minnesota entity type

1. Minnesota business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: In the search results table under the "Business Type" column

• Listed as: "LLC," "Corporation," "Limited Partnership," etc.

• Also shown on the detailed entity information page

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document

• May state "Articles of Incorporation" or "Certificate of Organization"

• Uses formal legal terminology

3. Annual reports

• Listed in the entity information section

• Cannot be changed without a formal amendment filing

How to find your formation date in Minnesota

Your formation date (when the Minnesota Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Minnesota business search results and on your Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation.

Where your Minnesota formation date appears

1. Minnesota business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Filing Date" in search results and entity details

• Location: Visible in both the results table and the detailed entity page

• Format: MM/DD/YYYY

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document with Secretary of State filing stamp

• May say "Filed on [date]" or "File Date: [date]"

• Sometimes includes both filing and effective dates

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date

• Used to calculate annual report due dates and renewal schedules

Formation date vs. effective date

Minnesota's formation and effective dates are typically the same, and it allows delayed effective dates only in limited circumstances for business entities. 

The "Filing Date" shown in the business search is the date the Minnesota Secretary of State processed your formation documents and is the date you should use for onboarding and compliance purposes.

Streamline entity compliance with Discern

You've got what you need from Minnesota's system: business name, entity type, Original Filing Number, and formation date. Now get those details into Discern and let our platform handle annual reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Book a demo to see how we automate the administrative burden that keeps you from focusing on growing your business.