This page covers what is specific to Brainerd: local employers, seasonal hiring, and where to get help. For the statewide rules, see the Minnesota Secure Choice requirements and deadlines.
ZIP codes with a Brainerd mailing address had 891 business locations in 2023, with about 11,787 people on payroll in the March pay period.
At least 454 of the 891 locations had 5 or more employees on site, the headcount at which Minnesota Secure Choice starts to apply. The law counts all of an employer's Minnesota employees, not one location, so treat this as a local indicator.
The most common types of business in these ZIP codes are retail trade (129 locations), health care and social assistance (115 locations) and construction (114 locations). Across Crow Wing County, the largest industry by employment is health care and social assistance (6,595 jobs), and private leisure and hospitality employment ran from 3,899 in February 2024 to 5,991 in July 2024.
100 of the 891 business locations in Brainerd's ZIP codes are in accommodation and food services or arts, entertainment and recreation, the leisure and hospitality industries where staffing levels tend to change with the season. Minnesota counts employees under Minn. Stat. §187.03, subd. 6. The rule reads: “employs five or more covered employees”. If your Brainerd business's headcount rises and falls during the year, that wording decides whether you meet the threshold, so confirm your status with Minnesota Secure Choice.
Free one-on-one advising for Brainerd businesses is available from the North Central SBDC at Central Lakes College, the Minnesota SBDC North Central Region center at Central Lakes College in Brainerd, which lists Crow Wing County.
Local business network for Brainerd: Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
Minnesota Secure Choice employer assistance: 1-855-938-1474.
If your business has 5 or more employees in Minnesota and offers no qualified retirement plan, Minnesota Secure Choice requires you to register or certify an exemption. Upcoming deadlines: 50–99 employees by December 31, 2026; 25–49 employees by June 30, 2027; 10–24 employees by December 31, 2027; 5–9 employees by June 30, 2028.
Full Minnesota Secure Choice requirements, deadlines and penalties
Book a free 15-minute compliance audit. We'll show your exact requirement, your real exposure, and whether your own plan saves you money.