Lookup Business Entity | Form Corporation | FAQ
Business owners can choose between a sole proprietorship, a partnership, a limited liability partnership, a limited partnership, a limited liability company, or a corporation. If your company is based in Michigan, you’ll be pleased to learn that conducting a business search is simple and straightforward.
| Official Website: | http://www.michigan.gov/corporations/ |
| Address: | P.O. Box 30054, Lansing, MI 48909 |
| Phone: | 1(517) 241-6470 |
| E-Mail: | CorpsMail@michigan.gov |
| Fax: | 1(517) 241-0538 |
Michigan Business Search Shortcut
Need help forming an LLC in Michigan? Create an LLC in minutes with ZenBusiness.
How to Lookup a Business Entity in Michigan
The first thing you should do is visit the Michigan Business Entity Search Page. You’ll be able to search for businesses by name, keyword, or identification number once you’ve arrived at the page.
Michigan Secretary of State Business Search by Name
- To search for a specific entity in Michigan, go to the Michigan secretary of state’s business search page, select the top option, then input the name into the column before clicking Search.
- A list of search results will appear on a different page. Scroll through the companies until you discover one you’re interested in learning more about. Click on the entity name to access the business details.
- You may access all of the material that the Corporations Division has made public on this page. You’ll also be able to look at the photographs of all the documents that have been filed.
Michigan Secretary of State Business Search by Key word
- Visit the website and put the keyword into the field provided to find the name database for a certain word. Click Search when you’re ready.
- A list of names generated from the results of your search will appear on a secondary page. To continue, select the entity you’d want to look into.
- You’ll be able to see all of the details that the state government has made public, and also the entity’s filing history, on this page.
>>MORE: Illinois Secretary Of State Business Search | New Jersey Secretary of State Business Search | Connecticut Secretary Of State Business Search | North Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search | South Dakota Secretary of State Business Search
Michigan Secretary of State Business Search by Identification Number
- Searching by identification number offers the most refined results because each active entity in Michigan has just one. When you’re through, put the name into the search box on the page.
- The active entity matching the ID number, as well as the dormant enterprises that previously had the number, will be listed on a side page. Click on the entity name to access the business details.
- In this part, you will be able to check certain business facts concerning the organization in issue. You’ll also be able to check through all of the company’s filings by viewing document pictures.
Steps to Form a New Corporation in Michigan
1. Name Your Corporation
The name of your corporation must include the terms “Incorporated,” “Corporation,” “Company,” or “Limited,” or a short version of one of those phrases. The name of your corporation must be distinct from that of other corporate names that are currently on record with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.
By checking the Michigan business name database, names may be examined for availability. By submitting an Application for Reservation of Name to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Commercial Services, you can reserve a name for six months.
2. Select a Registered Agent in Michigan
The state of Michigan requires every business to have an agent for legal process serving. If a company is sued, this person or business consents to take court documents on the company’s behalf. An entity with a certificate of power to conduct business in Michigan such as Northwest Registered Agent and GoDaddy, a Michigan resident, a Michigan company, or a foreign entity may serve as a registered agent.
3. Organize a Business Meeting
The first corporate directors are chosen by the incorporator and serve on the board up until the inaugural annual shareholder meeting. At the first board meeting, the directors pick corporate officials, choose a corporate bank, establish the corporation’s fiscal year, approve the issuing of shares of stock, and adopt a formal stock certificate form and official seal.
4. Obtain an EIN
Obtaining an employer identification number (EIN) is required for your business. For taxation reasons, this identification number serves as the corporation’s Social Security number. Among other things, it enables you to recruit staff and create a company bank account. The IRS website has an online application that you may use to get an EIN. You will require this number for future documents and to file your company’s tax filings, so keep a record of it.
5. Incorporate in Michigan by filing the Articles of Incorporation
The articles must contain the following information: the corporation’s name; its intention; the number of shares it is permitted to issue; the name and address of the agent receiving service of process; the name and address of the resident agent receiving service of process; and the names and addresses of all incorporators.
6. Create and approve bylaws for the corporation
The fundamental guidelines for running your organization are outlined in the bylaws, which are internal corporate documents. They are not reported to the government. Corporate bylaws are not legally needed for your company, but you should nonetheless adopt them since they define how your company will operate and demonstrate to lenders, creditors, the IRS, and other parties that your company is genuine.
7. Determine whether the new company requires any federal, state, or local business licenses
Take time to investigate any necessary permissions or licenses to maintain your new firm on the legal straight and narrow. Depending on the type of company services you offer, the county or city where your firm is situated, and if you employ people, different permissions and licenses may be required.
8. Calculate your payroll tax obligations
Note that corporate taxes must be paid separately from shareholder profits taxes. Federal and state governments require the proper returns to be filed annually in order to do this.
9. Determine the filing requirements for federal, state, and local taxes.
Every corporation in Michigan is obliged to submit an annual report by May 15 of each year. You must provide the following details in this report: business name; the name and location of the registered agent; executives’ and directors’ names and addresses; a description of the kinds of business services offered; shareholders’ names and addresses (for professional corporations)
10. Get other necessary requirement
Make a phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards for the firm, as well as a physical and/or mailing address.
>>MORE: Idaho Secretary Of State Business Search | Washington Secretary of State Business Search | Ohio Secretary Of State Business Search | Arizona Secretary Of State Business Search | South Carolina Secretary Of State Business Search
Frequently Asked Questions on Michigan Secretary of State Business Search
Can I change the name of my Michigan business entity?
You can modify the name of your Michigan legal business entity by amending your Articles of Incorporation or Organization. We may alter your Michigan company or LLC on your behalf, including changing the name.
What’s the Best Way to Prevent Someone Else from Using My Michigan Business Name?
Incorporating your business in Michigan, either as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a corporation, is the simplest way to protect your Michigan business name. If you want to be extra safe, you might register your Michigan company name as a trademark. It’s important to note that registering a fake or “doing business as” (DBA) name in Michigan would not protect it.
What agency in Michigan is in charge of managing and registering business names?
The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is responsible for forming businesses in Michigan. They are in charge of the Michigan company registry, and we will check their business name database on your behalf.