A Michigan corp search isn’t done through the Secretary of State. Michigan corporations and LLCs are registered with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division, and the free Business Search in the new MiBusiness Registry Portal is the official place to look up a company or check whether a name is taken.
If a name is open, you can reserve it until the end of the sixth full calendar month after you apply: $25 for an LLC name or $10 for a corporate name. LLCs and corporations that trade under another name file a Certificate of Assumed Name with LARA; sole proprietors and partnerships file with their county clerk.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Michigan (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Michigan, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Michigan registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | MI Registered Agent.org | Michigan registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Michigan Registered Agent.co | Michigan registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Michigan. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. MI Registered Agent.org
MI Registered Agent.org is a Michigan registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Michigan Registered Agent.co
Michigan Registered Agent.co is a Michigan registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Michigan corp search at a glance
| Topic | Michigan (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | LARA, Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, Corporations Division |
| Search tool | MiBusiness Registry Business Search (free) |
| Online filing | MiBusiness Registry Portal |
| Name reservation | $25 (LLC) / $10 (corporation); Form 540 |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $50 (Form 700) |
| LLC amendment (name change) | $25 (Form 715) |
| Assumed name (entities) | $25 (LLC) / $10 (corporation); Form 541, renewal Form 542 |
| LLC annual statement | $25, due February 15 |
| Sole proprietor DBA | Filed with the county clerk |
Fees are from LARA’s Corporations Division filing fee schedule. Mainstay Filing’s Michigan LLC cost guide puts the startup costs in one place.
How to do a Michigan corp search (business entity search)
Michigan replaced its old Corporations Online Filing System with the MiBusiness Registry Portal. Old COFS search links now point to a notice page, so use the new Business Search.
1. Open MiBusiness Registry Business Search
Go to michigan.gov/corpentitysearch. You can search without logging in; an account is only needed to file documents or order certificates and copies. Credentials from the old system didn’t carry over, so create a new account if you’ll file.
2. Search the core of your name
Type the distinctive words and leave off LLC or Inc. For “Great Lakes Glassworks LLC,” search “Great Lakes Glass” and scan every result that resembles it.
3. Open each close match
Selecting a business opens a slide-out drawer with its details, including status and entity type. Active entities, current reservations and assumed names registered by other companies can all make your name unavailable or confusing.
4. Try variations
Repeat the search with plurals, alternate spellings and numbers written both ways. A clean result is a good sign, but LARA confirms availability when it reviews your filing.
Using the Michigan corp search to check an existing company
Many people run a Michigan corporation search for reasons other than naming a new business. The same Business Search helps you:
- Vet a contractor or vendor by confirming the company is registered and checking its status before you sign or pay a deposit.
- Find the resident agent if you need to send legal papers to a company.
- Confirm a filing went through after you submit Articles of Organization or an annual statement.
- Order certificates or copies of filed documents, which requires logging in to the portal.
For any of these, search the company’s exact legal name first, then try shorter versions if nothing comes up, since many businesses trade under a brand that differs from their registered name.
Michigan business name rules
- Distinguishable: a new LLC or corporate name must be distinguishable from names of existing entities, reserved names and assumed names on LARA’s records.
- LLC designator: a Michigan LLC name must include “limited liability company” or an abbreviation such as “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
- Corporate designator: a corporation needs “corporation,” “company,” “incorporated” or “limited,” or an abbreviation.
- Governing law: LLCs are formed under the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act (MCL 450.4202).
- Regulated words: names implying banking, insurance or a licensed profession may need regulatory approval.
Need ideas? Namechk’s business name generator turns keywords into names you can run through the Michigan search.
How to reserve a business name in Michigan
Michigan uses one form, the Application for Reservation of Name (Form 540), for corporations, limited partnerships and LLCs.
- Fee: $25 for an LLC name; $10 for a corporate name.
- Length: under MCL 450.4205 (LLCs) and MCL 450.1215 (corporations), the reservation lasts until the end of the sixth full calendar month after the month you file.
- Transfer: the right to the reserved name can be transferred by filing a notice of transfer that names the new holder.
- How: online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal or on paper.
That’s one of the longer reservation periods in the country, which makes Michigan reservations useful if your launch is a few months away. Filing early in a month gives you the most time, since the clock runs to the end of the sixth full month after the filing month.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
LARA’s records don’t include federal trademarks. Search the USPTO trademark database before committing to a name, especially if you’ll sell outside Michigan.
Then check online availability. Namechk looks up domains and social media usernames at once, and the domain name generator can suggest close alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Assumed names (DBAs) in Michigan
Where you file a Michigan DBA depends on your business type.
LLCs and corporations: file with LARA
- Form: Certificate of Assumed Name (Form 541), filed online or on paper.
- Fee: $25 for an LLC; $10 for a corporation.
- Renewal: assumed names must be renewed with a Certificate of Renewal of Assumed Name (Form 542), same fee.
- Ending it: file a Certificate of Termination of Assumed Name (Form 543).
Sole proprietors and partnerships: file with the county clerk
Individuals and general partnerships doing business under a name other than their own register it with the clerk of the county where the business is located. County clerks set their own forms and fees.
After the search: forming a Michigan business
Once your name is confirmed, our Michigan LLC guide covers each step:
- File Articles of Organization (Form 700, $50) through the MiBusiness Registry Portal.
- Appoint a resident agent with a Michigan registered office. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package; our Michigan registered agent guide explains the requirements.
- Get an EIN and register with the Michigan Department of Treasury if you’ll collect sales tax or withhold payroll.
- File the $25 annual statement by February 15 each year. Our Michigan start-a-business guide lists local licenses.
FAQs
How do I do a Michigan corp search?
Use the Business Search in LARA’s MiBusiness Registry Portal at michigan.gov/corpentitysearch. Michigan corporations and LLCs are registered with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, not the Secretary of State. Searching is free and doesn’t require an account; you only need to log in to file documents or order certificates.
Why doesn’t the old Michigan corporation search work?
Michigan replaced its Corporations Online Filing System with the MiBusiness Registry Portal. Old COFS search links now lead to a notice page. Use the new Business Search instead, and create a new account if you plan to file, because credentials from the previous system didn’t transfer.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Michigan?
A Michigan name reservation costs $25 for an LLC name or $10 for a corporate name, using Form 540. The reservation lasts until the end of the sixth full calendar month after the month you file, under MCL 450.4205 and 450.1215, and it can be transferred to another person.
How do I file a DBA in Michigan?
LLCs and corporations file a Certificate of Assumed Name (Form 541) with LARA: $25 for an LLC or $10 for a corporation, with renewals on Form 542. Sole proprietors and general partnerships register their assumed name with the clerk of the county where the business is located instead.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Michigan?
LARA charges $50 to file Articles of Organization (Form 700) for a Michigan LLC. After that, the LLC files an annual statement each year by February 15, which costs $25. Name reservations ($25) and assumed names ($25) are optional extra filings.
Is a Michigan name available if the search shows nothing?
Probably, but it isn’t guaranteed. LARA confirms availability when it reviews your reservation or Articles, and a business may hold federal trademark rights without appearing in the state search. Check the USPTO database, then reserve the name or file promptly.
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