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Naming Your Business
Whether you’re searching for the right Michigan business name or registering your LLC with the Michigan LARA, we can help. We’ve got all the information you need on how to perform a business entity search in Michigan, LLC naming rules, assumed names and registering your business.
General Rules for LLC Names
These rules typically apply to all LLCs, no matter what state they are formed in.
Your LLC Name Must Be Unique
How to search the state business registry and find the right name. Includes information on naming rules, assumed names, reserving a Michigan LLC name and more.
Your LLC Name Must Not Be Confused with Another Business Name
It’s not enough for your LLC name to be unique. It also cannot be similar to the name of a corporation or LLC in Michigan. To that end, you cannot use any of the following factors to differentiate your name from that of another business:
- Suffixes, such as Corporation, Company, Incorporated, Incorporation, Limited, Corp., Co., Inc., Ltd., LLC, etc.
- Definite articles, such as “A,” “An,” or “The”
- The conjunction "And," or “&"
- The singular, plural or possessive forms of a word
- Abbreviations, punctuation, symbols, fonts, typefaces, etc.
Your LLC Name Must Contain Certain Words
All LLCs must have the words “Limited Liability Company,” “L.L.C.” or “LLC” in their names, normally at the end of the name.
Your LLC Name May Have Other General Restrictions
Most states will not allow you to form LLCs with names that:
- Imply a purpose that would be illegal for your business to carry out
- Are very similar to the name of a federal or state agency or organization (e.g., FBI, FDA, Michigan Comptroller, Michigan Police, Treasury, etc.)
- Suggest affiliation with a federal or state agency or organization Use the term “Olympic” or any terms that are trademarks of the International Olympic Committee
- Imply a purpose that would be illegal for your business to carry out
Specific Rules for Michigan Business Names
The naming rules required by the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act closely follow the general guidelines all LLCs must adhere to.
How to Come Up with a Business Name
The perfect business name can be elusive. We have a complete guide to choosing the right business name, but essentially, you'll want to choose a name that will:
- Appeal to your customers
- Be memorable enough to stand out
- Best represent your product or services
- Not be used by another business
Need help coming up with business name ideas? Try our free name generator.
Michigan Business Entity Search
Once you have an idea of the business name you’d like to use, you’ll need to complete a Michigan business entity search to ensure no other business in the state is already using your chosen name. Bizee offers a fast, simple and convenient tool to look up your proposed business name. The Michigan LARA also offers a tool you can use to search the Michigan business registry to see whether someone has claimed your desired business name.
The Michigan LARA search tool lets you enter details and search by the following fields:
If the business name is already in use, you won’t be able to claim it. Try searching for a different business name instead. Note: While many states administer business creation and management through the Secretary of State office, the Michigan LARA is the organization that handles it in that state. If you’re looking to perform a Michigan Secretary of State business search, you’ll need to use the LARA’s business search tool.
Find Out Whether Your Preferred Business Name is Available in Michigan With Bizee’s Free Tool
Check Your LLC Name
Trademarks and Service Marks
You must be careful that your Michigan LLC name doesn’t infringe on the service mark or trademark of another business. The easiest way to make sure your proposed business name doesn’t engage in such a violation is to perform a trademark search through Bizee. If it's not in use, you may register it as a trademark yourself.
Make Sure Your Business is Starting Off on the Right Foot When It Comes to Intellectual Property.
Bizee’s Trademark and Registration Service
Michigan DBA or Assumed Name
You may do business under a name different form your llc's legal name. While many states refer to this as a trade name, fictitious name or "doing business as" (DBA), Michigan calls it an assumed name. You may decide to use a Michigan assumed name for a variety of reasons. For example, your primary business may be called Michigan Alternative Energy Company, LLC, and you have a chain called Residential Solar Power Systems. You could register an assumed name just for that brand. You'd do that with the Assumed Name Certificate form, or you can have Bizee do it on your behalf with our DBA service. Note: A trade name is not the same as a trademark. Learn more about trademark vs. DBA.
Register and Manage a DBA or Assumed Name Through Our Easy-to-Use DBA Name Service
Bizee’s Assumed Name Service
Register Your Business Name with the Michigan LARA
Once you’ve completed a Michigan business search, checked availability, followed the naming rules and decided whether you need an assumed business name, you can register your LLC name. There are a couple of ways to do this.
- If you don’t want to form your LLC right now, you can reserve the business name with the Michigan LARA. You'll need to complete an Application for Reservation of Name and file it with the Michigan LARA. Once you do so, your name will be reserved for six months. You don't need to reserve a name if you're forming your business right away.
- If you’re ready to start your LLC, you can file your Articles of Organization with the Michigan LARA or have Bizee do it for you.
Bizee Can Handle All Your Formation Paperwork With the State of Michigan for You — and We’ll Do It for Free!
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FAQs About Naming Your Michigan LLC
How Do I Search for My Michigan LLC Business Name?
Use our free Business Name Search tool and enter your desired business name. You can also perform a Michigan business entity search of the state's registry, which will tell you whether any corporations or LLCs in the state are using that name.
Are There Any Rules on Naming My Michigan LLC?
Yes. Most LLCs will be bound by general rules (applicable to all LLCs). Michigan's rules are very similar. We’ve detailed these rules above.
Can I Do Business Under a Different Name Than My LLC Name in Michigan?
Yes. You can opt to conduct business under an assumed name. Details are above.
Can I Reserve a Name for My Michigan LLC?
Yes. The Michigan LARA allows you to reserve a name if you don’t want to start your business right away. Details are above. If you're ready to start your business now, you don't need to reserve a name.
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