Minnesota Noncompete Agreement: What's Included and Enforceability

Quick Facts — Noncompete Agreement Lawyers

Is a Non-Compete Agreement Enforceable in Minnesota?

Yes. In Minnesota, courts will enforce a non-compete agreement as long as it is reasonable, and the employee knows at the beginning of the employment relationship that there will be a non-compete agreement.

According to the courts, a non-compete agreement is reasonable when it protects the employer’s goodwill without imposing limits on the employee that are greater than necessary.

How Long Does a Minnesota Non-Compete Agreement Last?

Non-compete agreements can be used when employers hire new employees or when a business is purchased, and the new owner wants to prevent the previous owner from continuing to do business. The maximum term for a non-compete used for hiring employees is two years while the maximum term for business sales is ten years.

How Do You Get Around a Non-Compete Agreement in Minnesota?

To get around a non-compete agreement in Minnesota, an employee will have to show that the agreement is unreasonable and the limitations put in place by the contract are more than necessary to protect the employer’s business interests.

Unreasonable terms could include a duration that is too long or a geographic area that is too large. Non-compete agreements will also be deemed unreasonable if the contract is preventing an individual from finding work and earning a living.

What Voids a Non-Compete Agreement in Minnesota?

A non-compete agreement must include consideration to be a legally valid contract. Consideration is when the parties exchange something of value. In some states, courts have ruled that continued employment is sufficient consideration for signing a non-compete, however Minnesota has more strict standards.

In Minnesota, if a non-compete agreement is a separate contract from an employment contract, there needs to be additional consideration in the form of substantial economic benefits. These benefits can include:

  • Increased salary
  • Promotion
  • Guaranteed long term employment
  • Professional development

Without additional consideration, a Minnesota non-compete agreement will be void.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I hire a lawyer to draft a noncompete agreement in Minnesota?

See Noncompete Agreement by State

See Real Non-Compete Agreement Projects

Florida NDA and NCA Review
  • Florida
  • 7 lawyer bids
  • $225 - $500
View Details
Utah Non-compete analysis Review
  • Utah
  • 3 lawyer bids
  • $495 - $1,850
View Details
California Review non-compete and proprietary invention agreement Review
  • California
  • 7 lawyer bids
  • $495 - $1,500
View Details
Florida Review Noncompete Agreement Review
  • Florida
  • 8 lawyer bids
  • $240 - $700
View Details
Florida Review Employment Contract Non-Compete Clause for Chiropractor Review
  • Florida
  • 4 lawyer bids
  • $150 - $399
View Details
Texas Non-compete settlement agreement Review
  • Texas
  • 10 lawyer bids
  • $300 - $999
View Details

See all Non-Compete Agreement projects in Minnesota


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


Need help with a Noncompete Agreement?

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 19,278 reviews

Meet some of our Minnesota Noncompete Agreement Lawyers

Emmanuel A. on ContractsCounsel
View Emmanuel
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
June 7, 2024

Emmanuel A.

Law Clerk
Free Consultation
Raleigh, North Carolina
3 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN
Elon University School of Law

Results-driven young lawyer with over 2 years of combined legal experience. Adept at legal research, contract drafting, reviewing policies, client relations, and case management. Possess a J.D. from Elon Law School and am a member of the Minnesota State Bar in good standing.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Emmanuel is fantastic and very easy to work with! We are so pleased with his quality of work, responsiveness, and attention to detail, and look forward to working with him again on future projects."

Harry N. on ContractsCounsel
View Harry
5.0 (5)
Member Since:
November 21, 2025

Harry N.

Business Lawyer
Free Consultation
Anoka, MN
20 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN IL
University of Minnesota

Experienced business advisor and in-house counsel with extensive litigation experience, representing parties in a variety of complex commercial disputes, including securities, financial fraud, contract, and antitrust litigation.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Great job. Made it clear what my options were and my position in negotiations were."

Heather B. on ContractsCounsel
View Heather
4.7 (20)
Member Since:
November 30, 2025

Heather B.

Founder & CEO
New York, New York
8 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN NY
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

Delivering proactive and strategic guidance to health and fitness professionals and entities as they scale.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Heather provided an excellent review of this document. She had great communication and was prompt with her work. She did an excellent review and found multiple areas to strengthen this document. Heather is fantastic!"

Misi A. on ContractsCounsel
View Misi
Member Since:
December 20, 2023

Misi A.

Senior Counsel
Free Consultation
Inver Grove Heights
19 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN
Mitchell Hamline College of Law

As a Senior Legal Professional, I have 16+ years experience with extensive background in commercial transactions and as a corporate generalist. I am well versed in contracts lifecycle, risk assessment, compliance, and healthcare regulations. My competencies extend to contract management and detailed project management skills. I have leveraged my legal contracts expertise to mitigate organizational risk, reduce costs, and drive multi-million-dollar revenue increases.

Nichole M. on ContractsCounsel
View Nichole
Member Since:
March 19, 2024

Nichole M.

Solo Practitioner
Free Consultation
Midlothian, Texas
3 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN TX
UNIVERSITY OF DENVER STURM COLLEGE OF LAW

Ms. Melton-Mitchell is a seasoned executive that has obtained a law degree and is practicing law as a second career. She has spent over 25 years in the health care industry and is well versed in health law, contract law, financial law, trusts and estates, M&A and other types of transactional law. She maintains evening and weekend hours to allow clients flexibility in connecting with her around their schedule.

Song L. on ContractsCounsel
View Song
Member Since:
April 15, 2024

Song L.

Business and Real Estate Lawyer
Free Consultation
Minnesota
30 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN
University of Minnesota Law School

In her professional life, Song Lo brings in a depth experience as general counsel to various companies and organizations in business and the real estate arena. Over the last 26 years, she has advised both companies and individuals in the areas of corporate investments, real estate development and contracts across multiple markets.Song has extensive experience in understanding how the law impacts companies wherever they might be in their age and stage. Important to investor and entrepreneur efforts, she has advised in the acquisition and transfer of shareholder stocks and assisted in the restructuring of private companies. Her specific areas of expertise are in corporate organization, mergers and acquisitions, employment, investments and real estate development. Specifically in real estate, Song participated in all aspects of development including pre-development and successfully gaining entitlements necessary for residential, senior housing and commercial projects. She holds experience both as legal counsel and as co-developer of real estate development projects. She was an owner and developer of senior cooperatives in Minnesota, with the LifeStyle Communities Group, promoting innovation and active living for all seniors. And, she brings all of this experience to the table at Raven Enterprise Group and RJP Development to enhance and support its services to consult and develop meaningful real estate development projects.

Jocelyn W. on ContractsCounsel
View Jocelyn
Member Since:
April 21, 2024

Jocelyn W.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Venice, CA
13 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MN IL
Vermont Law School

Jocelyn A. Walters-Hird focuses her practice on conservation law and other real estate matters. She has provided counsel on dozens of conservation easement transactions as well as fee sales and acquisitions, including the structuring, negotiating, and closing of such projects. Prior to joining the conservation community, Jocelyn worked as a litigator, which has informed her approach to drafting workable documents and resolving post-transaction issues. With both in-house counsel and private practice experience, Jocelyn has a unique skillset allowing her to problem solve and provide sound legal advice to land trusts, landowners, and other organizations. She is the former Sr. Staff Attorney at the Minnesota Land Trust, where she led the legal team of the state’s largest non-profit land trust. She also worked as Attorney for Conservation Partners, LLP, a nationally-recognized boutique law firm that has assisted land trusts and landowners in protecting hundreds of thousands of acres of land. Jocelyn now serves as Contracted Counsel for the firm.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Lawyer Reviews for Minnesota Noncompete Agreement Projects

Review Employment Contract Non-Compete Clause for Chiropractor

5.0

"I’m very grateful for [Attorney Name]’s guidance in reviewing my contract. They were responsive, knowledgeable, and made a potentially stressful situation feel manageable."

Florida
Review
Non-Compete Agreement
ContractsCounsel User

Real Estate Development - Non Compete / Non Solicitation

5.0

"This is the type of attorney you want in your corner - 10 out of 10."

Texas
Drafting
Non-Compete Agreement
ContractsCounsel User

Contract Review and Legal Advisement for Noncompete Agreement

5.0

"Excellent work and great communication. Thanks Ivan!"

Texas
Premium
Review
Non-Compete Agreement
ContractsCounsel User

Review Non-Compete Agreement in Colorado for New Business Start-Up

5.0

"Was able to answer questions and provide guidance in an effective manner, thanks Patrick!"

Colorado
Hourly
Review
Non-Compete Agreement
ContractsCounsel User

confidentiality and non-compete agreement review

5.0

"Ryenne provides excellent service and highly recommended"

Illinois
Review
Non-Compete Agreement
ContractsCounsel User

Employment

Noncompete Agreement

Connecticut

Asked on Jun 3, 2023

Noncompete agreement and promotions?

I recently accepted a promotion within my company and was asked to sign a noncompete agreement. I am concerned that if I accept the promotion and then leave the company, that I will not be able to take a similar position with another company. I am also worried that if I don't accept the promotion, I may be at risk of being terminated. I need to know what my rights are and what the implications are of signing the noncompete agreement.

Thomas L.

Answered Jun 16, 2023

It depends on the terms of the non-compete and the size of your employer. Without seeing the agreement and knowing the size of your employer, I can't offer more advice.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Employment

Noncompete Agreement

New York

Asked on Jun 4, 2023

Noncompete agreement and industry restrictions?

I recently signed a Noncompete Agreement with my current employer. I am looking to explore other opportunities in my industry and want to know what restrictions my noncompete agreement might have on me. I am interested in understanding the limitations of the agreement and if there are any potential implications of taking a job in the same industry.

Danielle G.

Answered Jul 11, 2023

In order to ascertain the limitations and implications, you would need to review the specific language of the agreement. If the non-compete is very broad, it's possible it would not be enforceable. In New York, for a non-compete agreement to be enforceable, it must be for a reasonable period of time and limited geographic scope. It also must protect the employer's legitimate interest. For example, the restrictions must protect confidential information or specialized skills you gained while on the job, or some other legitimate interest. If the agreement goes beyond those limitations, a court could find the non-complete to be unreasonable and unenforceable, in whole or in part. As to what restrictions your specific non-compete imposes (and the reasonableness of those restrictions), you would need to look at the specific language in the agreement. If you are unsure about the limitations, you should seek advice of counsel to help decipher the extent it would apply to your industry in general, and the likelihood it would be enforceable in court.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Employee Rights

Noncompete Agreement

Washington

Asked on Jan 19, 2025

Can my employer enforce a non-compete agreement if I was laid off due to COVID-19?

Can my former employer legally enforce the non-compete agreement I signed when I was hired, considering I was recently laid off due to the economic impact of COVID-19 and the agreement seems to restrict my ability to find new employment in my field? I have been actively seeking new job opportunities in the same industry, but potential employers are hesitant to hire me due to the non-compete agreement, which restricts me from working for competitors or starting my own business in the same field for a certain period of time. I want to understand if the non-compete agreement is still valid and enforceable given the circumstances of my layoff and the current job market conditions.

Merry K.

Answered Jan 28, 2025

I'm sorry, but your question is impossible to answer without reviewing your contract and knowing more about your type of job and compensation. Be aware that terms in such agreements are often found to be non-enforceable. You can start by reviewing the Washington State law on point: https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=49.62&full=true

Read 1 attorney answer>

Employee Rights

Noncompete Agreement

California

Asked on Sep 12, 2022

i work for a employer from illinois ,however i am in california. My contract has non compete clause. will that be enforceable

My employer has placed me in a position thru another vendor. My employer contract with that vendor is ending. So vendor contacted me. However I am in contract with my employer for 1 year contract.

Christopher M.

Answered Sep 13, 2022

Short answer: Probably no, non-compete and non-solicitation clauses are not usually enforceable on an employee in California. Long Answer: Regardless of the choice of law provision in your contract, if an enforcement action is brought against you in California, the California courts will dismiss it as it goes against the "public policy of the state" unless your employer can make a really compelling case. Most states respect the stated public policy of other states when deciding matters against their citizens, so even if the case was brought in another states courts your soon to be former employer would probably be powerless to get a judgement enforcing your non-compete.

Read 1 attorney answer>

Employment

Noncompete Agreement

Washington

Asked on Jul 11, 2023

Noncompete agreement termination options?

I recently left my job after signing a Noncompete Agreement. I am looking for a new job, but I am concerned about the restrictions in the Noncompete Agreement and how it might affect my ability to find a new job. I am looking for advice on my options for terminating or modifying the Noncompete Agreement so that I can find a new job without having to worry about any potential legal repercussions.

Merry K.

Answered Aug 15, 2023

I am a WA State employment attorney. If you didn’t receive anything in return for signing the non-compete, it may be relatively easy to get out of it. If, however, you signed in return for something, such as a severance package, it will be challenging to get out of the agreement. However, many non-compete agreements are written overly broadly and may not be enforceable under the laws of WA and other states. You may want to consult with a WA State employment attorney for a review of the documents and law(s) of the state(s) where you may want to work or set up a business. (A WA State attorney can only provide legal advice in WA, but can help you find applicable law/case decisions for other states but without providing anything beyond information, much like a law librarian).

Read 1 attorney answer>
See more legal questions…

Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a Noncompete Agreement?

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 19,278 reviews
Employment lawyers by top cities
See All Minnesota Employment Lawyers
Minnesota Noncompete Agreement lawyers by city
See All Noncompete Agreement Lawyers

ContractsCounsel User

Recent Project:
A simple Non Compete Agreement.
Location: New York
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Drafting
Doc Type: Non-Compete Agreement
Number of Bids: 9
Bid Range: $495 - $2,999

ContractsCounsel User

Recent Project:
Non-Compete Contract Review
Location: Virginia
Turnaround: Less than a week
Service: Contract Review
Doc Type: Non-Compete Agreement
Page Count: 15
Number of Bids: 4
Bid Range: $400 - $500

Need help with a Noncompete Agreement?

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 19,278 reviews

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city