Regardless, these outfits are capitalizing on the rush for data in their attempt to circumvent their customers in what could be described as the polar opposite to Vendor Relationship Management (VRM).

I’ll write more on VRM later – quite an interesting initiative!

Ok so yeah, here’s how to opt out this scheme (unless you like being advertising to): http://www.networkadvertising.org/managing/opt_out.asp

h/t Seth Godin

Here’s how to DIY at cost in no time:

1. Pick your name & make sure it’s available by checking the Minnesota Secretary of State website here.
2. If you’re not going to file immediately, you may want to reserve your name using this form ($35).  The risk in waiting is that someone else comes along and snatches the name you have in mind – stranger things have happened.
3. I would also recommend securing a corresponding domain at the same time ($10).  Ideally,  I would think the goal would be to find an exact name/domain match:
4. Complete & print the “LLC Articles of Organization” form*.  This form is super easy to fill out on your own, all relevant instructions are included.
5. Either mail in your “LLC Articles of Organization” form with the proper funds ($160)  or file them online here for an extra ($10)**.
6. Is it really that easy to file for a single member Limited Liability Company in Minnesota? YES!
7. If you had previously filed an assumed name (DBA) with the same name as your new LLC, you’ll want to negate that with this form ($free).
8. Of course there are many other aspects to owning, managing, and leveraging your single member LLC in MN, but that’s beyond me…

*why can’t you edit & save changes to your computer?  How ridiculous!

**Adding insult to injury, if you opt for the online submission, you have to print the forms out and then scan them into your computer just so that you can upload them to the site.  Imagine the time/hassle/ink saved if you could just save the pdf and then upload it directly to the site. Of course I went outta my way to find a pdf editor that allowed me to make edits, save changes, and do it the way it should be done.   But really, why make it harder and more complicated than it needs to be!?!?