How to Start an LLC in Michigan

LLC in MI: If you want to form a Michigan LLC online or by mail, you need to submit the Articles of Organization with the Michigan Secretary of State for $50. For details, follow the 7 steps given in this article.

An LLC in Michigan basically links an organization’s limited liability with the pliability and shortage of formalities. All these are offered by any sole proprietorship or an association.

We would recommend setting up an LLC in MI for any entrepreneur whose objective is to restrict liability for professional lawsuits and debts.

Tip of the Day: Michigan LLC formation by yourself is mostly hectic and time taking. Hiring a reliable LLC formation service is not only a good choice, but saves you from overspending. Therefore we recommend you to:

Introduction:

Now, what is an LLC? A Limited Liability Company (LLC) unites the best of partnerships, sole ownerships, and corporations into one organizational entity providing full protection to liabilities, tax incentives or flexible business structures, etc.

It only costs almost 50 USD to initiate an LLC in Michigan.

All you’ve to do is to submit a certificate of your new business with the State Minister.An entrepreneur can either apply online, drop a mail, or visit the office in person to build a new LLC.

In this article, we will explain the LLC formation method in Michigan. So let’s get started!

Outlining the LLC Formation Process
(7 Steps)

  1. Pick a Name for Your Michigan LLC
  2. Find a Registered Agent for Your LLC
  3. Submit the Articles of Organization
  4. Establish an LLC Operating Agreement
  5. Follow the Tax and Other Administrative Requirements
  6. Fulfill Your State Tax Commitments
  7. Submit Annual Reports

Next, we are going to discuss the steps one by one to make to clear for all of the viewers and new entrepreneurs.

Step One

#1: Pick an LLC Name

The first and foremost part of building an LLC in MI is to pick up the right company name. Try to select a name that corresponds to Michigan standards and is conveniently accessed by prospective customers.

What Instructions Should Be Followed While Naming an LLC?

  • Every business owner should include “Limited Liability Company” to his new company or the abbreviation of it, LLC.
  • Avoid using the words that can mystify your LLC name with the government agencies, such as State Organizations, Treasury, FBI, etc.
  • Make sure to choose a unique name from other corporations, Michigan LLCs, or limited liability parties.
  • If you want to fit in a few confined words like an attorney, bank, university, etc., it might demand hiring a licensed lawyer or doctor for additional documentation.

The next step is to verify access to your chosen name in Michigan. Make sure if the name is still available or utilized by another entity.

You can visit Michigan’s official state website to check on Business Registry Search. Furthermore, one can also generate a name through an LLC Name Generator online.

Step Two

#2: Find a Registered Agent

Another vital step is to find a reliable Registered Agent to form an LLC in MI.

How do you define a registered agent? He is an official entity or an agent hired for attending your organization’s tax data, lawsuit notices, legitimate paperwork, and government issues with your company, etc.

There are some limitations when choosing a registered agent in Michigan. The person should be a Michigan inhabitant who would be able to perform your business tasks from within the state.

You may also nominate yourself for the official documentation, but we personally recommend to go for ZenBusiness. Besides offering a free first year of their registered agent services, the company will form your Michigan LLC only for $49 plus state filing fee.

Step Three

#3 File an Articles of Organization

Business formation services available online help you greatly from filing your articles of organization to drafting an operating agreement. During the formation of an LLC in MI, it’s crucial to submit your articles of organization linked with the Secretary of its State. A general article should cover up the following:

  1. Name and web address of your LLC’s planner
  2. The official name and address of Michigan LLC
  3. Details of your LLCs registered entity
  4. Details of your company members
  5. The official LLCs emails
  6. Entrepreneur’s signature
You can submit your articles either online or by posting a mail. It will only charge $50 for the filing fee.

To file your articles of organization online you need to complete the online application at LARA Corporations Online Filing System. You can also download the article of organization form and send it to the following address by mail, or in-person:

Mailing Address:
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau — Corporations Division,
P.O. Box 30054,
Lansing, MI 48909.

File In-Person:
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,
2501 Woodlake Cir.,
Okemos, MI 48864.

DIY Cost of Forming an LLC in Michigan ($50)

The main LLC formation cost through the DIY route is the state filing fee of your Certificates of Organization. Currently, the state of Michigan charges you $50 for filing your LLC and it may be subjected to revision by the state. The filing fee of articles of organization is the same, regardless you submit online or through the mail.

Step Four

#4: Establish an LLC Operating Agreement

An LLC operating agreement is constitutional paperwork that sketches the rules and regulations for a new company and also outlines the entrepreneur’s operating procedures to form a new LLC in MI.

Although not necessary, creating an operating agreement will benefit a company for sure.

This legal agreement guarantees all entrepreneurs to remain on the same boat, which ultimately lessens further business clashes.

Step Five

#5: Follow the Similar Tax and Other Administrative Requirements

A few extra taxes and other administrative requirements might implement to your new LLC that includes:

Employer Identification Number – It is just like a Social Security Number, so if your company has more than one employee, you can get this EIN by paying extra. This nine-digit code will check into your tax issues and assist you in creating a new bank account, hiring new staff, etc. One can submit an online form at the IRS website to get an EIN for his company.

Official Licenses – Sometimes, your new LLC in Michigan might demand the official state licenses or other approvals, depending on the business type and its location. So, there are Economic Resource Units in Michigan leading you to authorities to guarantee proper licensing, registration, or permissions within the state.

Step Six

#6: Fulfill Your State Tax Commitments

After getting a Michigan LLC, there are several responsibilities on a business entity that should be fulfilled. For instance, in a few cases, one has to check with the Michigan Department of Revenue (MIDOR) for selling products or assembling sales tax, etc.

For your convenience, MIDOR has an online platform, so you can register yourself from there through Business Taxes Registration Application. For more information, you can review detailed LLC articles on our website.

Step Seven

#7: Responsibly Submit Annual Reports

All limited liability companies in Michigan, after their creation, are obliged to submit their annual (or biennial) reports. For more details on how to file an annual report or state-specific fee, read our article on LLC annual (or biennial) report.

Due Date: In Michigan, you need to submit your annual report with $25 as a processing fee due by February 15 every year.

Late Filings: In case you are unable to submit the required annual report before the due date, it will place your LLC in “Delinquent” status with the state. Further failure to file an annual report may result in the dissolution of your LLC in Michigan.

Additional Information on Forming an LLC in Michigan 

Register a Foreign LLC in Michigan 

Entrepreneurs often form an LLC in a state other than the state of their residence to have some tax benefits and reduce LLC formation cost. Moreover, some business owners have their LLC franchises in multiple states. In such cases, they register their LLCs or franchises as foreign LLC in all states where they operate their business.

If you have an LLC in any other state and wish to open a franchise in Michigan or want to form an LLC in Michigan while you are a non-Michigan resident, you can form a foreign LLC by downloading a foreign LLC application and mail it to:

Mailing Address

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs,
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau,
Corporations Division,
P.O. Box 30054,
Lansing, MI 48909. 

Registration fee of Foreign LLC in Michigan :($50 – nonrefundable)

Hiring Employees in Michigan  

To run your business in a compliant manner, you have to follow the State of Michigan’s Labor and Economic Opportunity guidelines while hiring employees for your existing business or new LLC. Some of the major points are stated below;

  • Verify the employment status of individuals, such as whether the potential employee is a US resident; if not then are they permitted to work in the US, are they of a certain age to work for that particular job, etc
  • Report new hiring to the state
  • File quarterly reports on wages and taxes
  • Report job refusal 

Acquire Relevant Business Licenses and Permits to Operate in Michigan  

To successfully operate your LLC in Michigan, you must acquire permits and license to comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For instance, to operate a pest control business, you need to acquire a license from the department of agriculture and fulfill the state’s certification requirement, etc

The requirements and fees for business licenses and permits vary from state to state. Work thoroughly on prerequisites and compliance-related information for your business before officially filing your LLC with the state. However, the following resources may help;  

  • Hire a reliable, professional service like ZenBusiness to do a license and permit search for you. Many LLC formation services do this as a part of their LLC formation packages.
  • Visit the US Small Business Administration (SBA) guide for federal license and permit information.
  • Government of Michigan website’s State License Search section helps you learn the state’s license requirements.
  • Visit your local county clerk’s office and seek information about local licenses and permits.

Obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan  ($10-$12.5 nonrefundable)

A Certificate of Good Standing, aka Certificate of Compliance in Michigan, verifies that your LLC has been legally formed and is being operated and maintained in a compliant fashion. This document is needed for;

  • Filing your business as a foreign LLC 
  • Seeking fundings and investments from banks or other people
  • Acquiring or renewing relevant business licenses or permits

You can request the certificate of good standing online from Michigan’s Secretary of State’s official website.

Dissolving Your LLC in Michigan 

In case you no longer wish to continue your LLC in Michigan at any point in the future, you must officially dissolve it; otherwise, you may face tax liabilities, penalties, and legal troubles.

LLC Dissolution Fee: ($10 – nonrefundable)

In Michigan, you can dissolve your LLC by following 3 basic steps:

Final Verdict

We hope this article has helped you in every aspect of forming an LLC in Michigan. If you still have any questions or confusion, please ask in the comment section.

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