How Do You Register an LLC Yourself with Michigan LARA?

The process has four parts. First, pick a name that is available and includes a required designator such as "Limited Liability Company" or "L.L.C." Second, name a resident agent with a Michigan street address, which can be yourself if you live in the state. Third, submit the Articles of Organization to LARA online or by mail. Fourth, handle the follow-up: get a free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS and file an annual statement with LARA every year.

According to the IRS, an EIN costs nothing when you apply directly, and the LLC should be formed with the state before you apply. LARA's guidance on annual reports and annual statements says each Michigan LLC files an annual statement by February 15 every year after it is organized. The fee is $25.00, and a $50.00 penalty applies if the statement arrives after February 15. An LLC formed after September 30 does not file a statement the following February 15. LARA warns that failing to file can lead to dissolution, revocation, or loss of good standing.

LARA's current fee schedule sets the Articles of Organization filing fee. Confirm that figure on LARA's site before you file. This guide lists only figures verified against official sources, and the filing fee is not among them.

Michigan LLC fees, deadlines and requirements

Filing a Michigan LLC step by step

1. Choose and check the name. The name must include a designator that identifies it as a limited liability company, such as "Limited Liability Company," "L.L.C." or "L.C." It also has to be distinguishable from names already on file with LARA, which you can check with LARA's business entity search. Some words imply regulated activity, such as banking or insurance, and may need approval from the agency that licenses that activity. If the name you want is close to an existing one, pick another now rather than risk a rejected filing.

2. Appoint a resident agent. Michigan uses the term "resident agent" for what other states call a registered agent. The agent receives legal papers and official mail for the LLC at a Michigan street address, called the registered office. A member who lives in Michigan can serve at no cost. Keep in mind that this address appears in public records. Owners who live outside the state or want to keep a home address off the record often hire a commercial agent.

3. File the Articles of Organization. You can submit this form to LARA's Corporations Division online or by mail. Online filing is generally faster to process. The form asks for the LLC's name, the registered office address, the resident agent's name, and an organizer's signature. It may also ask about duration and management structure. Check LARA's current fee schedule and pay the filing fee when you submit. Keep the approved copy, because banks and the IRS may ask for it.

4. Write an operating agreement. Michigan does not ask you to file one, but a written agreement sets out ownership, voting and what happens if a member leaves. It stays in your records and never goes to LARA.

5. Get an EIN from the IRS. Once LARA approves the Articles, apply for an EIN directly with the IRS. The IRS states that the number is free and that no one should pay a third party to obtain it. The IRS also advises forming the entity with the state first, so wait for the approval.

6. Note the reporting rules. FinCEN's beneficial ownership page confirms that companies formed in the United States are exempt from federal BOI reporting. A Michigan LLC has nothing to file with FinCEN.

7. Calendar the annual statement. LARA expects the $25.00 annual statement by February 15 each year after organization. If the LLC is formed after September 30, the first statement is not due until the February 15 after next. Missing the deadline adds a $50.00 penalty, and continued failure to file can cost the LLC its good standing or lead to dissolution. This is the recurring task most likely to be forgotten.

Filing it yourself versus using a service

Doing it yourself costs the state filing fee, plus $25.00 each year for the annual statement. If you serve as your own resident agent, there is no agent fee. The Articles form is short. Most people can complete it in one sitting once they have a name and a Michigan address. The real risks are a name LARA rejects, a missing designator, or a forgotten February 15 deadline. All three are avoidable with care and a calendar reminder.

Using a service does not remove the state fee. It adds convenience, and on some plans, recurring charges. ZenBusiness pricing, for example, is:

• Starter: $0 plus the state fee
• Pro: $199 per year
• Premium: $299 per year

On every tier, including Premium, the registered agent service is a separate $199 per year. It is discounted to $99 for the first year when you form with ZenBusiness. Other providers, such as LegalZoom and Northwest Registered Agent, structure packages differently, and their prices change. Compare their terms before deciding.

A service earns its cost in two situations. The first is when you need a Michigan resident agent and have no Michigan address. The second is when you want someone else to track the February 15 annual statement. If either applies, compare ZenBusiness's LLC plans. If neither applies, filing directly with LARA does the same legal job for less.

Note that this site earns a commission on some links. That does not change the comparison above.

FAQ