Michigan LLC Cost

The following are fees you could see when you start your own LLC in Michigan:

Michigan LLC Filing Fee – $50

Filing your Michigan Articles of Organization costs $50. Filing your Application for Reservation of Name costs $25. This is the baseline Michigan LLC filing fee. If you need your documents processed within hours, your filing fees can be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Planning ahead saves money.

Annual Filing Fee – $25 – $75

Once your LLC is up and running, you’ll have to submit your LLC’s Annual Statement to LARA by February 15th of each year. This filing costs $25 annually for Michigan LLCs, and $75 for a Professional Limited Liability Company’s Annual Statement and Annual Report.

Save yourself a headache and money by using our Annual Report Service to help you stay on top of your LLC’s annual reporting obligations.

Resident Agent Fee – Free

This is one Michigan LLC cost that everyone can agree won’t break the budget. Michigan is one state that allows you to act as your own Resident Agent. However, being your own agent means that you will need to be available during business hours to accept legal papers and communicate with the government for business purposes. While “free” sounds good on paper, many businesses prefer to hire a Resident Agent who can be available during business hours without taking you away from your work.

Finding a Resident Agent that meets all of your business needs as well as Michigan’s legal requirements can be a challenge. We can help you find the right Resident Agent at the right price for your LLC with our Michigan Resident Agent Service.

Paying for your paperwork is only the beginning when you’re running your own business. There are other Michigan LLC costs that you don’t want to be surprised by.

Certificate of Good Standing

To open business bank accounts, get financing, and attract investors, you will need to obtain a copy of your Certificate of Good Standing. Uncertified copies of your Certificate of Good Standing are free through a Business Entity Search. However, if you need a certified, official copy, LARA charges $10 for each certificate if ordered online, by mail, or over the phone. In-person orders are $12.  We can help with our Michigan Certificate of Good Standing Service.

DBA Name in Michigan

A “doing business as” or DBA is a name your business uses that is different from your name or the business’s registered name. In Michigan, this is known as an Assumed Business Name.

There is a one-time fee for filing a single Certificate of Assumed Name. Your business can have more than one Assumed Business Name. However, you’ll need to pay the fee each time you assume a new name for a new office or product. Each new filing comes with a one-time fee of $25.

Foreign LLC

A foreign LLC is simply an LLC originally formed in another state that is doing business in Michigan. To operate your out-of-state  LLC in Michigan, you need to file an Application for Certificate of Authority to Transact Business in Michigan with LARA. The foreign LLC cost in Michigan is $50.

Business Licensing

Your Michigan LLC cost can rise with the cost of permits and licensing. You might have to pay fees for:

• Business licenses
• Federal, state, and local permits
• Professional registrations

With our partners at Avalara, we can give you a Business License Report. Your customized report will break down what licenses, permits, and registrations your business needs. This can help you manage the cost to start a business in Michigan.

For just $0 plus state fees, we can form your Michigan LLC for you in just minutes. No LegalZoom promo code required: Pay just $0 plus filing fees for fast LLC formation in Michigan. 

Yes. Failure to pay your fees on time can mean penalties, late fees, and even legal sanctions. Late fees can jeopardize the legal protections that the LLC structure offers to your business. 

If you are not able to obtain financial assistance or a waiver, then the government can refuse to accept your filing. Simply put, if you cannot pay your filing fee, your Michigan LLC is not official. You would then have the choice of selecting a business entity like a sole proprietorship or general partnership that carries more personal liability. While it is true that the average cost to start a business in Michigan is pricier if you are using an LLC, the LLC format comes with much greater personal protection from liability and can save money in the long run.

You pay your Articles of Organization fees to LARA’s Corporations, Securities, and Commercial Licensing Bureau. 

When it comes to the cost to start a business in Michigan, your single largest LLC fee is your Articles of Organization filing fee, which is $50. You may pay higher fees if you need your filings expedited or you have to pay late fees and penalties. 

Your Michigan LLC cost can be paid using a check, money order, or credit card. Cash is no longer accepted. If you pay by credit card, you might be charged an additional convenience fee from the state’s credit card processing company.