Best Businesses to Start in Minnesota

Ready to start a business in Minnesota? We can help you form your dream business in just minutes. 

Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes

Excellent 4.8 out of 5 stars 17,434 reviews

What is the best business to start in Minnesota? We’ll discuss many options today, but it may put your mind at ease to know that Minnesota is a great place to start a business. It has competitive tax rates, easy-to-navigate regulations, and a fairly large, diverse, and well-educated workforce.

If you live in Minnesota and dream of running a company and being your own boss, now is the time to start. Creating your own business doesn’t have to be difficult. Even though it may seem complex at first, with our help, it gets a lot easier. We can walk you through the steps and even help you decide what kind of company by offering up ideas on the best businesses to start in Minnesota.

The Most Profitable Small Business Ideas in Minnesota

The best business in Minnesota to start is one that you’ll enjoy doing. You’ll be working at it every day, so you want something you look forward to every morning. So let’s take a look at 7 of the best small businesses to start in Minnesota.

Idea #1: Tourism Agency

One of the top industries in Minnesota is tourism. So, it’s a good idea to tap into that already existing industry. Minnesota has over 11,000 lakes and over 6,000 rivers and streams. It would be fairly easy to tap into the vast number of people already visiting Minnesota’s tourism spots. The state even offers grants every year to help businesses in the tourism industry.

Idea #2:  Christmas Tree Business

Minnesota has a huge Christmas holiday tradition and is an easy place to grow and sell Christmas trees. The Minnesota Christmas tree industry is very strong. A half a million Christmas trees are harvested each year in the state, resulting in a $30 million a year industry. This is also the kind of seasonal business that is perfect for someone who wants their own company but doesn’t want to have to work at it year-round.

Idea #3:  Online Content Creator

Being an online content creator can be done wherever you have an internet connection. If you have a knack for writing, you can do this job from home, the local park, or even on vacation. There are hundreds of companies around the country — and indeed, around the world — looking for freelance writers in every type of industry you can imagine. 

Idea #4:  Hunting Guide

Hunting is a big tradition throughout Minnesota. Northern and Central Minnesota are energetically known as having the best deer hunting in the state, particularly public land hunting. Central Minnesota, from around Park Rapids to Brainerd, reportedly has some of the highest deer numbers in the state. Thousands of hunters come from out of state and out of the region to hunt. If you are already an avid hunter, many of these out-of-staters are likely in need of a hunting guide.

Idea #5:  Wood Logging and Milling

A lesser-known best small business in Minnesota is the logging and milling of lumber. Current technology allows for logging and milling plants to be set up right on peoples’ property. This is great news and a fantastic opportunity for those who want to maintain their private forests, keep them healthy, and make a profit in the process. This also includes the production of firewood.

Idea #6: Agriculture

Another good business to start in Minnesota relates to the agriculture industry. We aren’t talking about buying a huge farm, although that’s still a great business to own. But you don’t need hundreds of acres to make some good money by growing fresh vegetables. Road-side fresh veggie stands can be quite profitable. You can also sell your goods at the hundreds of local flea markets.

Idea #7:  Handyman

When considering business ideas in Minnesota, don’t forget about the handyman business. If you’re good at doing small jobs for people fixing things around the house, this is an easy way to make good money. A lot of construction companies won’t take on small projects. So, many people in need can’t find anyone to take care of small things that need to be fixed around the house. So if you want to maintain a flexible schedule while helping your neighbors and other homeowners keep their places up, becoming the local handyman may be a perfect fit for you.

Why These Are the Best Small Businesses to Start in Minnesota

These are some of the good businesses to start in Minnesota for the following reasons:

  • Little start-up expenses
  • Most of these businesses are home-based
  • Many of these businesses work well with existing Minnesota industries
  • Easy to set up with little paperwork and can be started quickly

Play to your strengths when deciding which new business to start. Sit down and write out what you think you’re good at and what you’re not so good at. This will help focus your choices.

Best Cities in Minnesota for Starting a Business

The best place to start a business in Minnesota may depend upon what type of business you want to create. For example, if you want to start a hunting tour guide company, you may want to right locate your operations in the middle of the state’s most popular hunting regions. Here are some suggestions of the best cities to start a Minnesota company:

  • St. Paul
  • Duluth
  • Grand Rapids
  • International Falls

The good thing about Minnesota is that there are a good number of nice places to live and work in both metropolitan and rural areas.

Once you’ve decided what you want to do, we can help you start your company with our Minnesota startup business resources and services. Our services are designed to help you get everything done easily, quickly, and correctly. First, we can help you decide what kind of business structure is best for your plans by comparing different business structures. Whether it’s a Minnesota LLC or a Minnesota corporation, we can walk you through the steps to create your company. 

Form Your Business with Us

When you take advantage of our services, you have all of the information necessary to get your company started in the easiest and quickest way possible. Successful small business owners focus their time efficiently to make their company a success. The more time you spend on growing your business and the less time you focus on business compliance research and paperwork, the more successful you’ll be. After helping you launch your enterprise, we’ll help you stay compliant with all governmental regulations through the use of our Worry-Free Compliance Service.

FAQs

  • Minnesota has a huge tourism industry that trickles down to positively impact many other types of businesses. So, the best businesses to start in Minnesota may be something that’s related to tourism or benefits from it in some way.

  • It’s actually fairly easy to start your business, especially with our help. So, you can spend more time growing your business, rather than managing paperwork.

  • There are many franchise opportunities available in Minnesota. Some of the best franchise opportunities are in the food and retail industries.

  • One of the best online businesses to start relates to affiliate marketing services with online retail companies like Amazon.

  • Your at-home business should be one that plays to your strengths. Try to start a business in an area where you already have some knowledge and skill.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

zenbusiness logo

Written by Team ZenBusiness

Best Businesses to start in each state

Ready to start a business? More leading business idea's listed by state.

Start Your Minnesota LLC