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Start an LLC by State › Michigan

Starting an LLC in Michigan: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Michigan, file the Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and pay the $50 state fee. Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement every year, due February 15, for $25. Every Michigan LLC must keep a resident agent with a Michigan street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Michigan

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) business records.
  2. Name a resident agent: a Michigan resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Michigan or authorized there, whose business office (or, for a person, residence) is the registered office.
  3. File the Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and pay $50.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement every year, due February 15, for $25.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Michigan’s fees.

Michigan LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$50
Formation document
Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700)
Yearly filing
Annual Statement, every year, $25
Due
February 15
Registered agent
Required. A Michigan resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Michigan or authorized there, whose business office (or, for a person, residence) is the registered office.
Agent address
The address has to be a registered office in Michigan, which does not have to be the place of business. P.O. boxes are not accepted.
Filing fee rank
4th lowest of 50 (3 states charge less, 40 charge more)
Best overall for a Michigan LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Michigan’s $50 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Michigan compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Michigan$50$25 / yr
Indiana$95$32 / 2 yrs
Ohio$99None
Wisconsin$130$25 / yr

All 50 states

Michigan LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Michigan?

$50 to the state to file. Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement every year, due February 15, for $25. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Michigan require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement every year, due February 15, for $25.

Do I need a registered agent in Michigan?

Yes. A Michigan resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Michigan or authorized there, whose business office (or, for a person, residence) is the registered office.

Can I form a Michigan LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) directly with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and pay the $50 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources