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Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.
Cassie Bottorff
Cassie BottorffEditor
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
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Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that include estates, probate, finance, business, bankruptcy and more. Her website is www.BretteSember.com.
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Table of Contents
- What Is a Business Entity?
- Search by Name
- Search by ID Number
- Search by Executive Name
- Naming Your LLC
- Frequently Asked Questions
Show more
When you’re ready to start a business, there are important steps to legally create a business entity. In Michigan, forming a business entity requires you to have an original name. Coming up with a unique and memorable name for your business is easiest when you have an idea of what’s already out there. This article covers how to form a business entity and how to search to make sure your name is distinct.
To quickly search registered businesses in Michigan, visit the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ business entity search.
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What Is a Business Entity?
A business entity is a way in which a business is organized and recognized by the state. One way to do so in Michigan is by creating an LLC.
What Is an LLC?
LLC stands for limited liability company. This is a common way for people to start small and medium-sized businesses. Even if you’re starting a one-person operation, an LLC is important because it protects your personal assets and lets you easily designate business expenses for tax purposes.
How To Form an LLC
To form an LLC in Michigan, you have to file paperwork with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The application is relatively simple and requires a small filing fee.
If you’re overwhelmed by the process and need assistance, there are many LLC services that can help you with this process and get a head start on your business.
Search by Name
To register your LLC officially, you need a unique name for your business that is not being used by another company in your state. Do a Michigan business entity search for the name you want to use for your business, but leave out “LLC” for the time being. Although LLC will be in your official name, it’s easier to find business names that would be too similar without the LLC. You should also try the name search with and without punctuation marks and apostrophes to cover your bases.
If your search doesn’t turn up any similar names, your LLC name is available. If you see some names that are a little similar but you’re not totally sure, you can call the Corporations Division’s office to see if your chosen name will work.
Search by ID Number
Businesses in Michigan are also assigned an identification number when they register with the Bureau of Commercial Services. This ID number should not be confused with an Employer Identification Number (EIN), which is the number assigned to an LLC by the IRS for tax purposes. A business’s ID number can be found on its Articles of Incorporation.
Search by Executive Name
Names of the executives of a business are also public information. You can search for an executive and any other businesses they’re affiliated with by the executive’s name as well.
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Naming Your LLC
When you have completed all of your searches and settled on your name, you have to make sure to include Limited Liability Company, LLC or L.L.C. in the name of your business. It’s important to avoid Inc. or Corporation for naming your LLC because those are different business entities. Learn more in our comparison of LLCs vs. corporations.
Bottom Line
Finding the perfect name for your new Michigan-based business takes a bit of work, but doing your research makes it much easier to make an informed decision. Be sure to search other business entities in the state before filing formation paperwork in order to avoid costly, time-consuming delays.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find out if a business is registered in Michigan?
You can use the business entity search managed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.Search by business name, ID number or an individual’s name to find out if a business is registered in Michigan.
How do I find the owner of an LLC in Michigan?
You can find the name of the owner if you know the LLC’s name. Search by the business name on Michigan’s business entity search, and it will show the results on file.
How do I set up an LLC in Michigan after completing a business entity search?
Setting up your own LLC in Michiagn can be done in seven steps, which are decide a business name, designate a registered agent, get a copy of LLC articles of organization form from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office, prepare the LLC article of organization form, file the articles of organization form with the secretary of state, create an operating agreement and keep your LLC active.
Can my Michigan LLC operate under a different business name?
You can operate your LLC in Michigan using multiple trade names, provided you fill out a Certificate of Assumed Name for the additional pseudonyms.
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