Compliant Bootlegger · All wholesale states · DTC tool
Minnesota Wholesale Distribution Reference
Three-tier distribution reference for out-of-state suppliers of wine, beer, spirits and cider. General information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with state authorities. Listed agency fees are not Compliant Bootlegger service fees.
Minnesota — wine
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Importer’s License
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $420
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – Importer’s Representative
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – per label
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No – but assigned wholesalers must be listed on the license application
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- Maximum of 3 liters, only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – brands may be only registered by primary sources or their authorized agent; wholesalers may only purchase from brand registrants
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $0.08 per liter on all still wine with an ABV of 14% or less; $0.25 per liter on all still wine with an ABV greater than 14% but no more than 21%; $0.48 per liter on all still wine with an ABV greater than 21% and all sparkling wine
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – LB37 Distilled Spirits And Wines Shipped
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Minnesota — beer
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Malt Beverage Importer’s License
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- $1,600 annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes – not required to have a salesperson, but representatives need to receive an id card for $35 annually
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes – Brand
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- Not reported by source; confirm with the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- No more than 3 gallons of any brand, limited to brands not purchased by retailer in previous 12 month
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes – brands may be only registered by primary sources or their authorized agent; wholesalers may only purchase from brand registrants
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- $2.40 per barrel for beer at an under 3.2%ABW; $4.60 per barrel for beer above 3.2%ABW
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- Yes
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Yes – monthly LB41, includes tax payment
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Minnesota — spirits
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Minnesota is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state spirits manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Minnesota.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- Minnesota requires an Importer's License for out-of-state suppliers to sell to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Minnesota charges $420 for its out-of-state supplier license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- No, you do not need money held in bond to obtain a license in Minnesota.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Minnesota requires an Importer's Representative for suppliers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Minnesota requires product brand/labels to be registered per label before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- Yes, Minnesota does require price posting.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, Minnesota does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. However, assigned wholesalers must be listed on the license application.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Minnesota does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Minnesota does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Minnesota, a spirits supplier may provide samples of a maximum of 3 liters, and only of brands the retailer has not purchased in last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, there are no franchise rules in Minnesota that can restrict a spirits supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, in Minnesota spirits brands may be only registered by primary sources or their authorized agent; wholesalers may only purchase from brand registrants.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No, there are no specific come to rest provisions in Minnesota.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- Minnesota imposes an excise tax on spirits of $5.03 per gallon, plus one cent per bottle.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Minnesota does not require out-of-state suppliers to remit the excise taxes.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Minnesota requires the LB37 Distilled Spirits and Wine Shipment Report from out-of-state suppliers on their sales to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Minnesota — cider
Distribution overview
- Control-state restrictions
- No, Minnesota is not a control state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Self-distribution to retailers
- No, an out-of-state cider manufacturer may not self-distribute to retailers in Minnesota.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Licensing
- Supplier license / registration
- A Minnesota Importer's License costs $420.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - State license fee
- Minnesota does not require suppliers to hold a bond in the state to apply for a license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Bond requirement
- Yes, Minnesota requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold an Importer's Representative license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Sales representative requirements
- Yes, Minnesota requires salespersons employed by a supplier to hold an Importer's Representative license.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Product & territory registrations
- Product / label registration
- Yes, Minnesota requires that cider products are registered per label before they can be sold to in-state wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Price posting
- No, Minnesota does not require posting prices.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing distributor agreements
- No, Minnesota does not require Distributor Agreements to be filed with state regulators. However, assigned wholesalers must be listed on the license application.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Filing territory assignments
- No, Minnesota does not require territory assignments to be filed with state regulators.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Exclusive territory / brand rules
- No, Minnesota does not have rules on the exclusivity of territory or brand assignments between suppliers and their wholesalers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Distributor relationships
- Retailer samples
- In Minnesota, suppliers can provide a maximum of three liters as samples to retailers, but only of brands the retailer has not purchased in the last 12 months.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Franchise restrictions
- No, in Minnesota there are not franchise rules that can restrict a supplier's ability to negotiate or cancel their distributor agreements.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Primary-source purchasing rules
- Yes, in Minnesota brands may be only registered by primary sources or their authorized agent. Wholesalers may only purchase from brand registrants.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Warehouse / come-to-rest requirements
- No, Minnesota does not require cider to come to rest at a wholesaler warehouse before being delivered to retailers.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.
Taxes & reporting
- State excise tax
- In Minnesota, ciders with an ABV of 7% or less are taxed at $0.15 per gallon, and ciders with an ABV greater than 7% are taxed at $0.30 per gallon plus $0.01 per bottle.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier excise-tax responsibility
- No, Minnesota wholesalers, not out-of-state suppliers, are required to pay the excise tax on ciders sold in the state.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law. - Supplier reporting
- Minnesota requires out-of-state cider suppliers to file the LB37 Distilled Spirits And Wines Shipped.
Source guide retrieved 2026-10-08; retrieval is not verification of current law.