Step 1: Choose a name Michigan will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “L.L.C.” or “L.C.”. It also has to differ from the names already on the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Michigan against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $25, for 6 months. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Michigan who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Michigan companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. The fee is $50. File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: for a new filing: $50 for 24 hours, $100 same day, $500 two hours, $1,000 one hour. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Michigan doesn't require one (MCL 450.4102(2)(r)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Michigan LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Michigan has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Michigan LLC annual report
Fee: $25 annual statement; $50 penalty if received after February 15. Due: February 15 each year. (Source: Annual reports and annual statements, michigan.gov.)
| After formation | Michigan |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $25 annual statement each year (by Feb 15) |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Michigan certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Michigan
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing | $50 |
| First year, state fees | $50 |
| Each year after | $25 |
Over five years, Michigan's state fees come to $150. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Frequently asked questions, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Annual reports and annual statements, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Name reservations (PDF), michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-07
michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-07
MCL 450.4204, legislature.mi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Filing fees (PDF), michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-08
Limited liability company forms, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Forms, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Michigan business roadmap, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Naming a limited liability company, michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Broch bus name rev august2022 (PDF), michigan.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Michigan
- Choose a name Michigan will accept and check it against the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Michigan.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs ($50).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Michigan?
$50 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $50 in the first year and $25 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Michigan?
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: for a new filing: $50 for 24 hours, $100 same day, $500 two hours, $1,000 one hour.
Do I need an operating agreement in Michigan?
Michigan doesn't require one (MCL 450.4102(2)(r)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Michigan online?
Yes. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs takes the Articles of Organization online, for $50.
When is the Michigan LLC annual report due?
February 15 each year.
Does Michigan require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Michigan's recurring filing: $25 annual statement each year (by Feb 15).