To register an LLC in Michigan, file Articles of Organization with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for a $50 fee, submitted online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal.1State of Michigan. Filing Fees That single filing brings the entity into legal existence. Getting it ready to actually operate takes a handful of additional steps: picking a compliant name, appointing a resident agent, getting an EIN, and registering with the Michigan Department of Treasury and, if you’ll hire, the Unemployment Insurance Agency.
Pick a Compliant Name
Your LLC’s name must include “Limited Liability Company” or one of three abbreviations: L.L.C., L.C., or LLC.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Act 23 of 1993 It also has to be distinguishable from every other active business entity on file with LARA, including corporations, limited partnerships, and other LLCs. Search LARA’s business entity database through the MiBusiness Registry Portal before you file to confirm your preferred name is available.
If you’re not ready to file but want to hold the name, Michigan lets you reserve it by submitting an application with a $25 fee. The reservation runs for a limited period and can be renewed with another filing. Skipping the reservation is fine if you plan to file your Articles promptly.
Complete the Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization use Form CSCL/CD-700, available on the LARA Corporations Division website or directly through the online portal.3Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Limited Liability Company Beyond the company name, the form asks for four things:
- A resident agent to accept legal documents. This can be an individual or a business entity, but must have a physical street address in Michigan. A P.O. Box alone won’t work, though a P.O. Box can be listed as a separate mailing address. Commercial registered agent services in Michigan typically charge $99 to $300 per year.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Act 23 of 1993
- A purpose statement. Most filers use a broad phrase such as “any lawful activity,” which the statute specifically allows.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Act 23 of 1993
- A duration. The default is perpetual unless you specify an end date.2Michigan Legislature. Michigan Limited Liability Company Act – Act 23 of 1993
- A management structure. Indicate whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed. Left blank, Michigan law defaults to member-managed, treating every member as a manager with full authority to bind the company.4Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 450.4401
If your LLC will have silent partners or purely financial members who shouldn’t be signing contracts on behalf of the company, choose manager-managed and name the individuals with authority.
File and Pay
Submit the completed Form CSCL/CD-700 and the $50 filing fee through the MiBusiness Registry Portal using a credit or debit card. Paper filings are accepted with a check or money order payable to the State of Michigan, mailed to the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau, but LARA strongly encourages online filing and electronic submissions process faster. Once approved, you’ll receive an endorsed copy of your Articles of Organization as official proof the LLC exists.
Expedited Options
Standard processing depends on LARA’s current workload. Three expedited tiers are available on top of the $50 filing fee:5Michigan.gov. Expedited Service Fees Schedule
- 24-hour service: $50
- 2-hour service: $500 (received by 3 p.m. Eastern)
- 1-hour service: $1,000 (received by 4 p.m. Eastern)
Draft an Operating Agreement
Michigan doesn’t require you to file an operating agreement with LARA, but the state’s LLC statute recognizes it as the governing document for how your business runs internally.6Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 450.4102 Even single-member LLCs benefit from having one, because it reinforces the legal separation between owner and business. Courts are more likely to respect your liability protection when there’s a written record showing you treat the LLC as a distinct entity.
For multi-member LLCs, the operating agreement is where you spell out capital contributions (cash, property, or services each member puts in), ownership percentages, voting rights, how distributions are calculated, admission of new members, transfers, dissolution triggers, and how remaining assets get divided. Without one, Michigan’s default rules under the LLC Act apply, and those defaults may not match what you and your partners actually agreed to.
Get an EIN
Apply for an Employer Identification Number from the IRS as soon as your LLC is approved. You’ll need it to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire employees. The IRS issues EINs online for free and typically delivers the number instantly.7Internal Revenue Service. Get an Employer Identification Number The IRS never charges for an EIN, so ignore third-party websites that ask for a fee.
Register With the Michigan Department of Treasury
If your LLC will collect sales tax, have employees, or both, register with the Michigan Department of Treasury through Michigan Treasury Online (MTO).8State of Michigan. New Business Registration The eRegistration process handles sales tax, use tax, and state income tax withholding in one application. Your federal EIN doubles as your Treasury business account number, so get that first. Electronic registrations are typically recognized within 15 minutes, with full processing up to 48 hours.
If your LLC sells tangible goods to consumers, you’ll need a sales tax license. There’s no fee for the license itself, and it becomes available on MTO once your registration is processed.9State of Michigan. Sales Tax License FAQ
Register With the Unemployment Insurance Agency If You Hire
Once you hire employees, register with the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) through the MiWAM employer portal.10State of Michigan. Register Your Business After registering, you’ll receive a 10-digit Employer Account Number within two to three business days and an authorization code by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
Carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage
Michigan requires workers’ compensation coverage for any private employer that regularly employs one or more people for 35 or more hours per week over at least 13 weeks in the prior year, or that employs three or more workers at the same time regardless of hours.11State of Michigan. Employer Insurance Requirements LLCs specifically must either carry a policy or file a Notice of Exclusion Form. Members who own at least 10% of the company can exclude themselves, but that exclusion doesn’t extend to non-owner employees. Operating without required coverage exposes you to penalties and personal liability for workplace injuries.
Check Industry and Local Licenses
Michigan does not issue a general statewide business license. Registering with LARA covers the entity’s legal existence but doesn’t authorize you to operate in regulated industries. Dozens of professions, from construction and real estate to healthcare and cosmetology, require separate state licenses through LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing.12State of Michigan. License Lists and Reports Applications and renewals go through the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS).13State of Michigan. Michigan Professional Licensing User System
Your city or county may also require a local business license, zoning clearance, or specific permits. Check with your local clerk’s office before opening. Zoning violations can force a business to shut down even after it’s fully registered at the state level.
File the Annual Statement Every February 15
Every Michigan LLC must file an Annual Statement by February 15 each year to maintain active status.14State of Michigan. Annual Reports and Annual Statements The filing fee is $25, and the statement confirms your resident agent and registered office information are still current.
The exemption for new LLCs is narrower than most guides suggest: you’re only exempt from the first February 15 deadline if your LLC was formed after September 30.15State of Michigan. Annual Filings Form in March, and you owe an Annual Statement the following February. Form in October, and you skip the immediately following February 15 but still owe one the year after.
Missing the deadline carries real consequences. After two consecutive years without filing, LARA dissolves the LLC and makes its name available for other businesses to claim. Restoring a dissolved LLC is more expensive and time-consuming than filing the $25 statement on time.
Beneficial Ownership Reporting No Longer Applies
You may have seen references to the Corporate Transparency Act’s Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reports filed with FinCEN. As of an interim final rule published in March 2025, domestic companies, including Michigan LLCs, are exempt from that reporting requirement.16Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting Older guides telling you to file a BOI report are outdated. No action is required on this for a domestically formed LLC.