How to Form a Michigan LLC

The very first step in your Michigan LLC formation process is to choose a distinctive and legally compliant name for your business. Your chosen name should reflect your brand’s identity in the best way possible and needs to be memorable. While we understand that shortlisting the perfect name for your LLC is a challenge on its own, we still recommend following the guidelines mentioned below,

• Most importantly, the name you choose for your Michigan LLC should be different from other registered business entities in the state. These entities include everything from corporations to sole proprietorships to LLCs. You can check the availability of names by doing an LLC name search online through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 
  
  
• Your chosen LLC name should display its limited liability status. It should have appropriate abbreviations like, 

1. Limited Liability Company
2. Limited Company
3. LLC 
4. LC.
5. LC
6. LLC(Most business owners stick with this one)

• It goes without saying, but your Michigan LLC name should have no vulgar, rude, or forbidden words as per the Michigan state regulations. 
  
  
• Avoid using terms like “board,” “trustee,” “insurance,” “State Department,” or any other word related to any government agency, as they can restrict your LLC’s identity.
  
  
• Also, refrain from using words that might confuse people and make them think your LLC is something it’s really not or is providing services it really isn’t, like a bank, corporation, FBI, or CIA.
  
  
• Check that your chosen name is not already used as a website domain to avoid any trademark or legal issues. You can also check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s site for federal trademarks.

• Some words like “lawyer,” “bank,” “credit union,” or “attorney” have special restrictions because of their professional nature. If you use them, you will have to provide additional documentation licensing to the Michigan state government.
    
• If your LLC intends to provide any professional services licensed by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, you need to use abbreviations like “Professional Limited Liability Company,” “PLLC,” or “P.L.L.C.”
  
  
• Similarly, a worker cooperative should use terms like “Limited Worker Cooperative Association,” “LWCA,” or “L.W.C.A.”
  
  
• Lastly, if you plan on using the name of a living individual in your LLC’s name, you will require their written consent.

Still unsatisfied? Here’s a complete list of naming rules and regulations for a Michigan LLC.

If you already have the perfect legally compliant name in mind but aren’t prepared to form your LLC just yet, you have the option of reserving your name by filing an Application for Reservation of Name. There’s a $25 fee, which is payable as a check or money order to the State of Michigan. 

The form will reserve your name for up to six months. You have the option to submit your application online, or you can download the form mentioned above and then submit it by mail to 

P.O. Box 30054, Lansing, MI 48909,

Or, in- person at

2407 N. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906

For more information, you can dial (517) 241-6470. 

Lastly, if you aren’t comfortable using your official registered name in the real world, you always have the option to use a Trade name instead. Trade name(assumed name/fictitious name/DBA) is basically a way to operate under a different name than your legal name. 

You need to register your trade name with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs by filing a Certificate of Assumed Name. The filing fee is $25, and the registration lasts for up to five years.