Starting a business in Forest Lake, MN
LLC, corporation, or nonprofit, filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State. Your EIN, Minnesota Business Tax ID, D-U-N-S Number, and operating agreement or bylaws are all included. One flat fee, no subscription, no upsells.
What Forest Lake requires, and what it doesn't
No general city business license.
Forest Lake doesn't require a general business license. City Code licenses only certain types, such as massage businesses, pawnbrokers, peddlers and solicitors, tobacco, liquor, gambling, and amusements.
Running it from home.
In most residential districts, a home business needs a Certificate of Compliance from the city. Only residents may work in it, it can use no more than 25% of the home's floor area, and outdoor storage or display is not allowed.
Local support.
Forest Lake has a city Economic Development Authority (EDA) that meets at City Hall, 1408 Lake Street South.
Same flat price as anywhere in Minnesota
$155 state filing fee plus a $245 service fee, $400 total. The fee covers the entity filing, EIN, Minnesota Business Tax ID, and D-U-N-S setup.
Who this is for
Contractors, restaurants and food trucks, salons, consultants, and family businesses, whether you're opening a storefront or running things from your home in Forest Lake.
City rules change. Check with the City of Forest Lake before opening.