Consultation Services and Minnesota Elicensing
Our consultants field all kinds of inquiries, ranging from basic process questions (What form do I need to file, where do I get it, and with whom do I file it?) to addressing far more complex regulatory, financial, managerial, business structure and other questions.
Contact one of our consultants:
Minnesota Elicensing
The Small Business Assistance Office maintains the Minnesota Elicensing web portal where you can access licensing information on over 680 licenses/permits/registrations/certifications administered by 46 state agencies. You can find the licenses you need, whether business, professional, recreational, or vehicle in one spot. Information is accessible in a variety of ways: by topic, by agency, name of license, or using a keyword search. Features on this portal include online application and renewal forms, electronic payment options, license look-up links, and detailed contact information.
Government Contracting/Procurement/Purchasing Contacts
State of Minnesota
Minnesota Department of Administration: Materials Management Division
Vendors interested in doing business with the state of Minnesota must register through the Supplier Portal, which is part of the state's new accounting and procurement system.
View their Vendor Information where there is information for:
- Vendor Registration
Vendors interested in doing business with the State of Minnesota must register through the state's Supplier Portal. Here's where you start.
- Solicitation Announcements
Looking for solicitations for goods, services and contracts? State bid invitations and requests for proposals are posted here.
- Equity in Procurement
Minnesota small businesses can be certified as Targeted Group, Veteran-owned, or Economically Disadvantaged businesses to receive preferences when selling and bidding with the state.
- Small Business Certification
Navigate the state's certification program for businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, and those from economically disadvantaged areas.
- Certified Business Directory
Explore the state's directory of certified businesses via our searchable database or download the entire directory in list form.
- Solicitation Announcements
Track solicitations for goods and services, construction contracts, and professional/technical service contracts, as well as other public postings.
- Vendor FAQs
- Contact Admin Minnesota
Federal Government
Minnesota Procurement Technical Assistance Center (MN PTAC)
- Request Services
Sign up for one-on-one counseling assistance with local, state, and federal government contracts.
- Services
One-on-one counseling assistance with government contracting.
- About Us
MN PTAC assists businesses in securing government contracts.
- Counselors
Find a PTAC Counselor close to you.
Guidebooks
Far from generic advice, our business guidebooks are written specifically for companies that will be doing business in Minnesota and operating under Minnesota laws and regulations.
Our Guide to Starting a Business in Minnesota is the most comprehensive reference of its kind and a must read for anyone contemplating the startup or purchase of an existing business.
Our other in-depth guidebooks are produced in collaboration with major Minnesota law firms and subject matter experts on such topics as employment law, Internet commerce, securities offerings, franchising, debt financing, loan documentation, and intellectual property protection.
Guidebooks may be viewed and downloaded online. Print and electronic versions on CD maybe ordered free of charge.
Here are our current offerings:
A Guide to Starting A Business in Minnesota (36th Edition, January 2018)
Also available on CD.
An Employer’s Guide to Employment Law Issues in Minnesota (14th Edition, Spring 2018)
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Ballard Spahr LLP). Also available on CD.
Employing Servicemembers: What You should Know About USERRA (August 2017)
Also available on CD.
A Legal Guide To Privacy and Data Security 2017
(A collaboration with the law firm Gray Plant Mooty). Available only on CD.
A Legal Guide to the Use of Social Media in the Workplace (July 2013)
(A collaboration with the law firm Gray Plant Mooty). Also available on CD.
A Legal Guide To Technology Transactions (April 2012)
(A collaborative effort with the law firm Gray Plant Mooty). Also available on CD.
First Considerations In Starting A Family Child Care Business (2017) Also available on CD.
Minnesota Adopts New Limited Liability Company (LLC) Act
Single Member Limited Liability Company (SMLLC)
Minnesota's Angel Tax Credit - Small Corporate Offering Registration (SCOR) Revised November 2016
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren Ltd.). Also available on CD.
A Guide to Intellectual Property Protection (13th Edition, October 2015)
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Merchant & Gould P.C.). Also available on CD.
Loan Documentation: An Introduction for Small Businesses
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Krass Monroe, P.A.). Available only on CD.
Raising Capital: Securities Law and Business Considerations (7th Ed.) Available only on CD.
Introduction to Franchising (3rd Edition, January 2008)
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Briggs and Morgan, P.A.). Available only on CD.
A Guide to Biotechnology Finance (1st Edition, August 2005)
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum LLP). Available only on CD.
A Guide to Biotechnology Finance - 2009 Supplement
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Lindquist & Vennum LLP). Available only on CD.
Why and How to Conduct a Human Resources Audit in Minnesota
(A collaborative effort with the law firm of Rider, Bennett, Egan & Arundel, LLP). Available only on CD.
Small Business Notes Newsletter
Small Business Notes is a monthly newsletter that provides timely, accurate and useful information on topics of interest to small businesses in Minnesota.
Select the links below to view, download and print current and past issues.
August 2018
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Issues Invitation to File Briefs on Questions of Employee Use of Employer E-Mail and Communications Systems for Protected Activity
July 2018
U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Physical Presence Nexus But Allows “Economic Nexus” for Collection of State Sales Tax by Online Sellers
Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Seeks Comment on Proposed Goals for Disadvantaged Businesses
U.S. Department of Labor Issues Regulation Amendments to Increase Employers’ Ability to Offer Health Coverage to Employees
June 2018
Will Cryptocurrencies Ever Make Sense for Small Businesses?
April 2018
Small Business Issues Emerge in Oral Argument on Internet Sales Tax Collection
March 2018
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Cost of Remediation as an Affirmative Defense to Suit Under the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) [Disability Support Alliance; Eric Wong v. Heartwood Enterprises, LLC, No. 16-1759 (March 21, 2018)]
February 2018
Minnesota Court of Appeals Affirms that the Minnesota Human Rights Act Does Not Impose a Duty on Employers to Engage in an Interactive Process to Identify Possible Disability Accommodations
January 2018
“Kill-Quill” Legislation to Get U.S. Supreme Court Review
Federal Court Upholds U.S. Small Business Administration Decision to Remove Business from List of Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business but Says that Decision Leads to “Draconian and Perverse Results”
December 2017
New Tax Law Makes Important Expansions for Small Business Expensing
November 2017
Pre-Mark-Up Business Provisions in the Proposed “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (H.R. 1)
October 2017
Certiorari Sought in Case Questioning When Copyright Registration Occurs
September 2017
U.S. Tax Court Rebuffs IRS Effort to Narrow Scope of “Reasonable Reliance” on Advice of Tax Professional
SEC Advisory Committee on Small and Emerging Companies Asks Full Commission to Act Soon on Issue of Finders and Financial Intermediaries
August 2017
2017 Legislature Clarifies Exemptions From Securities Integration for Offerings Using MNvest Crowdfunding
2017 Legislature Imposes Sales Tax Obligation on Some Marketplaces That Facilitate Sales by Third Party Sellers Located Outside Minnesota
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Small Business Takes Testimony On Reversing the Decline in Entrepreneurial Activity
July 2017
Congress Takes Testimony on Joint Employer Standards
June 2017
First Decision in Lawsuit on Website Accessibility Under Federal Americans With Disabilities Act
May 2017
U.S. Supreme Court Decision May Work to Restrain "Patent Trolls"
February 2017
Federal Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Issues Guidance to Federal Agencies on Implementing January 30, 2017 Executive Order on Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs
January 2017
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Bill Amending Regulation D to Allow for Road Shows and Demo Days Without Running Afoul of Prohibition on General Solicitation
October 2016
U. S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Adopts New Rules Amending Regulation D and Intrastate Offerings
September 2016
U.S. Department of Labor Announces Adoption of Final Rule Requiring Paid Sick Leave for Employees of Federal Contractors
July-August 2016
U.S. Securities Exchange Commission Prevails in Litigation by States on Regulation A+ Securities Offerings
June 2016
Minnesota Department of Commerce Publishes Adopted Permanent Rules Regulating MNvest Crowdfunding Securities Offerings
Small Business Prevails in Government Procurement Case Before U.S. Supreme Court
May 2016
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case on Separation of Functionality and Decoration for Copyright Purposes
March 2016
Will There Be A Reconsideration of State Sales Tax Collection by Out-Of-State Vendors?
February 2016
U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Contract Set-Aside for Veterans
January 2016
Securities and Exchange Commission Releases Report With Recommendations for Changes to Definition of Accredited Investor
