Minnesota vs New York: Legal Cost Comparison (2026)
Full side-by-side breakdown of legal fees in Minnesota and New York — LLC formation, divorce filing, small claims limits, and notary fees.
LLC Formation Costs: Minnesota vs New York
| Metric | Minnesota | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $155 | $200 | ✓ Minnesota |
| Annual Report | $0 | $9 | ✓ Minnesota |
| Publication Cost | $0 | $200 | ✓ Minnesota |
| Franchise Tax | $0 | $25 | ✓ Minnesota |
| Est. Year-1 Total | $155 | $425 | ✓ Minnesota |
Filing Fee
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Annual Report
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Publication Cost
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Franchise Tax
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Est. Year-1 Total
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Minnesota: Minnesota's formation fee is moderate — but check for city/county business license requirements.
New York: New York's publication requirement forces new LLCs to publish in two newspapers for 6 weeks — costing $1,000–$2,000 in NYC, or $40–$150 upstate.
Minnesota: No annual report fee after the initial formation.
New York: NYC access — unmatched for finance, media, fashion, and tech businesses.
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Start My LLC Today →Small Claims Court: Minnesota vs New York
| Metric | Minnesota | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Claim Limit | $15,000 | $10,000 | ✓ Minnesota |
| Min Filing Fee | $75 | $15 | ✓ New York |
| Contract SOL | 6 yrs | 6 yrs | Tie |
Max Claim Limit
✓ Minnesota is cheaper here
Min Filing Fee
✓ New York is cheaper here
Contract SOL
It's a tie
Divorce Filing Costs: Minnesota vs New York
| Metric | Minnesota | New York | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $365 | $335 | ✓ New York |
| Sheriff Service | $60 | $60 | Tie |
| Children Surcharge | $0 | $0 | Tie |
Filing Fee
✓ New York is cheaper here
Sheriff Service
It's a tie
Children Surcharge
It's a tie
Notary Fees: Minnesota vs New York
| Metric | Minnesota | New York |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgment | $5 | $2 |
| Jurat | $5 | $2 |
| RON Fee | — | $25 |
Acknowledgment
Jurat
RON Fee