How to search Michigan records
- Search the registry by business name or identification number.
- The record shows resident agent, registered office and filed documents.
- Michigan uses the term resident agent instead of registered agent.
Open the official Michigan search
Michigan SOS, corporation and LLC search
Michigan Secretary of State Business Search
Michigan does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Michigan Secretary of State business search" are looking for the Michigan LARA, Corporations Division and its MiBusiness Registry search. It is free to search by name or identification number, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Michigan Entity Search
An entity search of the Michigan business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Michigan expects an annual statement yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Michigan Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Michigan corporate entity search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Michigan LLC Search
Run the Michigan LLC search with the exact name, then note the identification number. Forming a Michigan LLC costs $50 and the annual statement is $25. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Michigan Business Name Search
A Michigan business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Michigan lets you hold a name for 180 days for $25. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Michigan sole proprietors register assumed names with the county clerk; corporations and LLCs file them with LARA.
Michigan LARA Business Entity Search
LARA is the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and its Corporations Division keeps the business register. A LARA business search and a MiBusiness Registry search reach the same records. The Michigan Secretary of State handles driver and vehicle services, not companies. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Michigan Tax ID Lookup
A Michigan tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Michigan tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
MiBusiness Registry and resident agents
Michigan's Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs moved its business filings to the MiBusiness Registry, replacing the older Corporations Online Filing System. Michigan uses the term resident agent for the registered agent, and the record shows the registered office alongside filed documents.
Michigan filing facts
| Record number | Identification number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $50. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual statement, $25, yearly |
| Due | February 15 |
| Name reservation | $25 for 180 days |
| Agency phone | 517-241-6470 |
What a Michigan LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Three-year state total | $100 | ||
A short February filing
LLCs file a $25 annual statement by February 15. An LLC formed after September 30 skips the following February, a detail that confuses many new owners. Name reservations last six months, longer than most states. Michigan does not sell its register in bulk; data is available only through public records requests, as noted in data downloads by state.
Assumed names and resident agents
Michigan LLC assumed names are filed with LARA and last five years. When you search a Michigan company, check its assumed names to see every brand it uses, and confirm the resident agent address before serving papers, since the annual statement is the main way that address gets updated.
How Michigan compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | $50 | $25 | Yearly | $25 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | None | $39 |
| Indiana | $95 | $15.50 | Every 2 years | $10 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 | Yearly | $15 |
Before you rely on a Michigan result
- LLCs formed after September 30 do not file an annual statement the following February.
- Assumed names for LLCs are filed with LARA and last five years.
Bulk Michigan business data
Not offered. FOIA request only.
Searching beyond Michigan
Registries next to Michigan: Ohio business search, Indiana business search, Wisconsin business search.
Michigan business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Michigan?
The state filing fee is $50. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $25 a year in state fees.
When is the Michigan annual report due?
Michigan calls it the annual statement. It costs $25, it is filed yearly, and it is due February 15.
Can I reserve a business name in Michigan?
Yes. A name reservation costs $25 and holds the name for 180 days.
When is the Michigan LLC annual statement due?
February 15 each year, for $25. LLCs formed after September 30 skip the next February.
Is the Michigan business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the MiBusiness Registry search costs nothing. The Michigan LARA, Corporations Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Michigan?
The Michigan LARA, Corporations Division. Its business line is 517-241-6470, and its free search is the MiBusiness Registry search.
What number identifies a business in Michigan?
Michigan assigns each entity an identification number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Michigan businesses?
No bulk download is offered. FOIA request only. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
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