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If your business is based in Minnesota, you’ll need a food broker license from the MDA. However, if your business is outside of Minnesota and you’re selling to Minnesota distributors, you don’t need a Minnesota food broker license.

Contact the MDA to determine your area food inspector. The area inspector may request an in-person inspection. The inspector will provide you with a copy of the MDA Food Broker license application. An electronic form of the license application is NOT available through the MDA website.

Contact the MDA or submit a Food Licensing Liaison Request. The MDA licensing liaison will email you the area inspector’s contact information.

NOTE: Please contact your area inspector at least two weeks prior to your anticipated business start date.

In addition to basic business information such as legal name, doing- business-as (DBA), physical, and mailing addresses, the following four items are required on the license application:

• Minnesota Tax ID number (associated with the business name registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State) OR your Social Security number (if filing as an individual)
• Workers Compensation Insurance policy number and effective dates if applicable (if you plan on having paid or compensated employees)
• Estimated gross annual food sales (January 1 – December 31)
• Check, money order, or cashier’s check for the license fee

The license fee for a food broker is $150.00 per year. If a food business is determined to be operating without a license, then a no-license penalty fee will apply.

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve our services, the MDA is introducing a license and permit surcharge (MINN. STAT. 17.033). This surcharge is an application processing charge that will be added to all licensing and permitting applications and renewals beginning Jan. 1, 2025. The surcharge will be calculated as 5% of the license or permit fee, with a minimum charge of $5.