How to Start an LLC in Michigan

First, you need to gather basic information about your LLC, including the names and addresses of the managers or members. The LLC members are typically the people who own and run the business. They are also the ones who can take profits out of the business to pay themselves.

You will need a distinctive and original name for your Michigan LLC that’s not used by any other business in MI and we can help. Our easy-to-use business name search tool effortlessly searches the business registry of the MI Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

We’ll check if your business name is available or if it’s already in use by an LLC or corporation in Michigan. If it is, you can search for another name in Michigan or elsewhere. If not, congratulations, you’re on your way to starting a business.

There are a few rules you’ll need to follow when choosing an LLC name. You can find out more in our guide to searching for and naming your Michigan LLC.

Learn about Michigan LLC business naming rules.

Search For Your Michigan LLC Name

Every Michigan LLC must have a designated street address. That could be your home address (if you’re running the company from your residence), your company’s office building or any physical address of your preference. The address can be outside the state of Michigan and can be a P.O. Box.

Every MI LLC must have a “Registered Agent,” known in Michigan as a “Resident Agent” when it is formed. This is an official position; the Registered Agent is someone who receives official legal and tax correspondence and has responsibility for filing reports with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

This position can be filled by you, another manager in the business or a dedicated Registered Agent service. Your MI Resident Agent must have a physical street address in Michigan and must be present to receive important documents for your company during business hours.

At Incfile, all of our packages include a Michigan Registered Agent service that is free for the first year and just $119 per year afterward. We also have a dashboard where you can log in and easily view any document your Registered Agent has received on your behalf.

Learn more about Michigan Registered Agents.

You will need an EIN to identify your business to the IRS. You use this number when filing and paying taxes or when submitting payroll information and payments for your employees. You can obtain one directly from the IRS, or we can get one for you as part of the Michigan LLC business formation process.

In many states, the Secretary of State is the body responsible for registering and managing LLCs, whereas in Michigan, it's the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Once you've gathered all the information for your Michigan LLC, you’ll need to file a formal document with the state. This document is known as your “Articles of Organization,” and filing the document creates your Michigan LLC. Here’s what is typically included:

• Your business name and address
• Details of your Resident Agent
• Purpose of your business
• Name of the incorporator

You can file your Michigan LLC Articles of Organization online, mail in a form or have Incfile do it on your behalf. There is a fee to file and start an LLC in Michigan, but you only need to file your Articles of Organization once.

Form Your LLC Now

Some states, including Michigan, allow certain occupations to form “Professional LLCs.” These types of businesses typically have special requirements and licensing. Here’s what Michigan says about professional LLCs:

“A professional limited liability company, as the name implies, is a company made up of licensed persons who have been legally authorized to provide a professional service. Professional limited liability companies must consist of at least one member who is licensed in each professional service being offered. If there is more than one member, they must all be licensed to provide the services of the company. Those professions which must form as a professional service limited liability company are dentists, osteopathic physicians, physicians, surgeons, doctors of divinity or other clergy and attorneys at law.”

If your business is already operating in another state and expanding to Michigan, you’ll need to form a foreign LLC.

Find more information on Michigan filing and licensing requirements here