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Michigan does not run its company register through a Secretary of State. The register belongs to the Corporations Division of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, known as LARA. The public lookup is the Business Entity Search, part of the MiBusiness Registry Portal. Documents that are endorsed filed can be viewed there. Ordering certificates and filing need a login. Many people still search for a "Michigan secretary of state business search", but LARA's Corporations Division is the office that keeps these records.
Michigan LLC and corporation search on the MiBusiness Registry Portal
The portal replaced LARA's older online services. The previous Business Entity Search on cofs.lara.state.mi.us and the old online filing site have been permanently retired. If a bookmark or an old article points there, use these addresses instead:
- Business Entity Search: michigan.gov/corpentitysearch
- Filing and orders: michigan.gov/corpfileonline
- Marks and insignia search: michigan.gov/corpmarksearch
- Certificate Verification Search: michigan.gov/corpverifycertificate
Search for the entity, then open it. The record appears in a slide drawer, which is where the File Online and Request Certificate options sit. You can look a company up without filing anything. To file or order, you log in with a MiLogin for Business account, and LARA warns that the user ID is not your email address.
The Corporations Division records each company's resident agent, the person named to accept mail, documents and service of process, on the public record, along with its registered office address. That makes the search a quick way to find who receives legal papers for a Michigan company. Our registered agent lookup guide explains how to use that. The Division's search links also include a Historic Card File Search.
What Michigan's standing labels mean
The Corporations Division uses different outcomes for each entity type when annual filings stop. LARA's annual reports page says a failure to file leads to dissolution, revocation or not good standing status, after a two-year grace period, or one year for foreign corporations:
- Dissolution applies to Michigan corporations.
- Revocation applies to foreign corporations.
- Not in good standing applies to LLCs and professional LLCs.
A company in any of these states can lose the rights to its name and assumed names. Notices of impending dissolution, revocation or not good standing go out 90 days before the due date. Our business entity status guide covers what each one means for a contract or a bank account.
Michigan LLC names and reservations
An LLC name must contain Limited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. A professional LLC uses Professional Limited Liability Company, P.L.L.C., PLLC, P.L.C. or PLC. Corporation, Incorporated, Corp. and Inc. are not allowed in an LLC name. Check the name on the Business Entity Search before you file. Our guide to checking LLC name availability has tips for testing close variants.
To hold a name, file the Application for Reservation of Name, form CSCL/CD 540. For an LLC it costs $25 and lasts for six months following the month of filing. Corporations pay $10. When the reservation expires you can file again for another term, and you can transfer a reservation at no fee. See our name reservation guide.
Annual statements and good standing in Michigan
Every Michigan LLC files an Annual Statement starting the year after formation. It is due February 15 and costs $25, or $75 for a professional LLC. An LLC formed or qualified after September 30 skips the next February 15. LARA lists a $50 penalty fee for a statement received after February 15. Email reminders go out 90 days before the due date to the address on the company's record. Paper filings are no longer accepted, so statements go through the portal.
Corporations file an Annual Report by May 15, also $25, with a late penalty that starts at $10 for May 16 to May 31 and rises each month. Nonprofit corporations file by October 1.
An LLC that has lost good standing over missed statements files a Certificate of Restoration of Good Standing, form 770. It costs $50 plus $25 for each missing year, and the current year's $25 too if you file on or after February 15.
The Certificate of Good Standing costs $10, or $12.50 expedited, and arrives by email. LARA also runs a Certificate Verification Search for checking certificates. Our certificate of good standing guide explains when you need one.
The filing fees schedule lists Articles of Organization at $50 and a foreign LLC's Certificate of Authority at $50. A profit corporation pays $10 plus an organization fee based on authorized shares, starting at $50 for up to 60,000 shares. A nonprofit pays $20 in total. Expedited review runs from $50 for 24-hour service on formation documents up to $1,000 for one hour.
Bulk data from Michigan
Use the Business Entity Search to check Michigan companies one at a time. If you need records in bulk, ask LARA directly.
Starting a company here? Read our guide on how to start an LLC in Michigan, the Michigan registered agent rules and a Michigan operating agreement guide.
Also see our guides to the Michigan DBA and Michigan business license.