Encasing your Minnesota rental property in an LLC layers your investment with the warmth of legal security and financial benefits, ensuring it thrives in the Land of 10,000 Lakes’ frosty and fertile real estate climate.
Starts at $0 + Minnesota state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
For many real estate investors, setting up a rental property LLC in Minnesota can be a great way to protect yourself and your assets. However, if you’re thinking about renting out your property and forming an LLC, there are a few important things you should know first.
When you’re ready to get started, we’ll be here to walk you through the process. Use our guide below to learn more about how to set up a rental property LLC in Minnesota, and then head over to our Minnesota LLC Formation Service page to see what we can do to help you launch your real estate limited liability company today.
Many people choose to own and rent out their real estate properties under their own individual names. Doing so is perfectly acceptable and legal. However, there are a number of benefits that come with creating an LLC for your rental properties instead. Some of these benefits include:
Additionally, some states permit the formation of what’s referred to as a series LLC (SLLC). Through a series LLC, you can create one overarching umbrella LLC with multiple “series” underneath it for each investment property you own. This can provide additional protection for each separate property’s assets. Importantly, however, you may not currently form a series LLC under Minnesota law. Therefore, until state law is changed, this only applies to you if you own property outside of Minnesota and wish to set up a series LLC in a state where it’s allowed.
Creating a rental property LLC in Minnesota may not be for everyone. Thus, before you take any next steps, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
When selecting a name for your LLC, be sure to choose one that meets the state’s requirements. We can do a business name search for you to see if the business name you want is available. If it is, let us reserve the name while you get the filing paperwork together.
Businesses in Minnesota are required to appoint a registered agent. This person is responsible for receiving important documents on behalf of the LLC, such as state correspondence and legal notices. If you need a Idaho registered agent, we can help you find one.
To officially form your rental property LLC in Minnesota, you need to file Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State’s office and include the appropriate filing fee.
Your LLC’s Operating Agreement is one of your most important business documents. It governs how your LLC runs and provides instructions for anything from voting procedures to dissolve the company. If you’re not sure how to create an Operating Agreement, we offer operating agreement templates that can serve as a guide.
The IRS assigns businesses a nine-digit EIN that is used to identify their enterprise. Having one is necessary for certain business matters, such as opening a business bank account, hiring employees, and getting financing. You can apply for an EIN yourself on the IRS’s website, or we can do it for you with our EIN service.
After you formally set up and register the LLC entity with the state, you’re ready to proceed with the next steps.
If you own your rental property or properties outright, you’ll need to transfer title to the property through a transfer deed from yourself to the LLC. However, if there’s an existing mortgage on the property, don’t transfer ownership quite yet. First, speak with your lender to verify whether they will require any additional paperwork or changes to the terms or rates of your loan.
Once you’ve executed the deed, you must then file it with the county where the real estate is located. Additionally, if applicable, don’t forget to pay any requisite title transfer tax.
Finally, make sure to update any existing tenants, and draft or update any rental agreements to reflect the ownership change.
Many people can benefit greatly from setting up an LLC for a rental property in Minnesota. In general, forming an LLC business entity is a great idea for anyone who’s considering renting out their property. This is true regardless of whether you intend to rent out the property for residential or vacation purposes.
In most situations, it’s easier to create your LLC first, before investing in real estate. Then, any properties you buy can be titled in the name of the LLC from the outset. But you don’t necessarily have to do things in this order.
Even if you’re already renting out your property, you can still benefit from the many advantages that come along with creating a Minnesota real estate LLC. It will simply require some additional paperwork. In short, all you’ll need to do is set up the LLC entity and then transfer any properties you may own from yourself, in your individual capacity, to the LLC.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of owning and operating a rental property LLC in Minnesota, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs, both new and more experienced, feel some trepidation when starting a new venture. Fortunately, however, you don’t have to navigate this process on your own.
In the long run, setting up an LLC is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself as you start and grow your business. Let us help you write a business plan, then start, manage, and grow your rental property LLC in Minnesota today.
Minnesota LLC for Rental Property FAQs
There are a number of different benefits of creating an LLC for a rental property in Minnesota. Notably, an LLC offers personal liability protection from legal and financial issues that may arise in the course of renting your property.
As long as the name you choose complies with Minnesota’s LLC naming requirements, you can name your LLC nearly anything. However, many real estate investors choose to name the entity after the property address or some variation thereof.
Most states require businesses from another state that operate within their borders to register as a foreign entity. However, suppose you live outside of Minnesota and formed your Minnesota LLC for real estate you own in Minnesota. In that case, your Minnesota LLC only conducts business in Minnesota; so you shouldn’t have to register that entity as a foreign entity in your home state.
Nevertheless, always check with your home state to ensure that you’re complying with its requirements.
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.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
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