Minnesota Employment Agency
Licensing requirements for Minnesota employment, staffing and talent agencies.
This page provides an overview of employment services licensing in Minnesota for individuals and agencies. You will find state requirements, application fees, filing instructions, and more. For assistance with licensing, please contact us to learn about our software and managed license services.
Companies that provide employment services in Minnesota must apply for a license prior to doing business. Depending on the services offered, businesses may need to apply for more than one license type, and in some cases, an individual license will be required as well.
Company Licenses
Minnesota Employment Services Company Licenses
Minnesota Employee Leasing Company License
| Agency: | Minnesota Department of Commerce Employee Leasing Company Registration Unit |
| Law: | |
| Fact Checked: | 6/8/21 |
Initial Registration
| Form: | |
| Agency Fee: | $100 |
| Required Attachments: |
|
| Fact Checked: | 6/8/21 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Employee leasing company licenses are issued for the life of the company.
Minnesota Employee Leasing Company Registration Exemption
Initial Registration
| Agency: | Minnesota Department of Commerce |
| Instructions: | |
| Agency Fee: | $100 |
| Notes: | There is no application for exemption. Instead follow the instructions for applying for an exemption. |
| Fact Checked: | 6/8/21 |
Renewal Not Required
Not required
Exemptions do not expire and remain valid for as long as the company continues to meet exemption qualifying criteria.
Companies acting as employment agencies in Minnesota must obtain the following licenses before offering employment services. Applications usually require proof of incorporation or a certificate of authority.
Minnesota Employment Agency License
| Agency: | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry |
| Fact Checked: | 3/12/18 |
Initial Registration
This section applies to firms that are applying for a license in Minnesota for the first time.
| Form: | http://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-230990#/detail/appId/0/id/230990 |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
| Fact Checked: | 12/7/16 |
Registration Renewal
This section applies to firms that are already licensed in Minnesota and need to renew their license.
| Form: | http://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-230990#/detail/appId/0/id/230990 |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
| Due: | Annually |
| Fact Checked: | 12/7/16 |
Minnesota Talent Agency License
| Agency: | Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry |
| Notes: | Minnesota does not have a separate talent agency license, but an employment agency license may be required. |
| Fact Checked: | 4/3/18 |
Initial Registration
| Form: | http://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-230990#/detail/appId/0/id/230990 |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
| Fact Checked: | 12/7/16 |
Registration Renewal
| Form: | http://mn.gov/elicense/a-z/?id=1083-230990#/detail/appId/0/id/230990 |
| Agency Fee: | $250 |
| Due: | Annually |
| Fact Checked: | 12/7/16 |
Employee Leasing Company - Enter into leasing contracts with other businesses that require labor. The leasing company loans its workers to the lessee while still providing specified responsibilities, such as workers compensation insurance, to the employees. This includes long term (6 months or more) temporary arrangements but often excludes temporary help arrangements. Unlike professional employer organizations, employee leasing companies are contracted when an employer needs to hire staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Employment Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment for a person.
Professional Employer Organization - PEOs take on the human resources role for businesses and act as a co-employer in the sense that the client company's workers are administratively employees of the PEO but functionally these employees are controlled by the client company. Unlike employee leasing companies, PEOs are contracted when an employer already has staff and does not want to handle human resources responsibilities.
Staffing Agency - An entity that procures temporary or part-time employment for a person who then works under the supervision of a worksite employer.
Talent Agency - An entity that, for compensation, procures or attempts to procure employment or placement for an artist. (Certain art forms are excluded)
American Staffing Association
Staffing, recruiting, and workforce solution industry advocacy group.
National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS)
Education and training oriented association for personnel services providers.
National Association of Professional Employer Organizations
(NAPEO)
Provides advocacy efforts, information, and other services to members of the employment
industry.
