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How To Do a Business Entity Search in Michigan And Choose a Name For Your LLC

But before you register your Michigan LLC, you must choose an available business name that complies with Michigan’s name rules. Otherwise, the state could reject your application.

You`ll learn how to do both in this post.

Why Do You Need to do a Business Entity Search [When Starting an LLC?]

You conduct a business entity search (using the Michigan Corporations “search for a business entity” website) to ensure your desired LLC name is not the same or too similar to one previously registered.

Once you confirm availability, only form your Michigan LLC after you confirm the name complies with Michigan state name guidelines.

Michigan State Naming Guidelines

Your new LLC name must comply with Michigan’s naming requirements to ensure the state accepts your application. 

Michigan LLC naming criteria include:

  • Your LLC must be unique and distinguishable from all other business entities registered in Michigan.
  • Your LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or an abbreviation like LLC, LTD, or L.L.C.
  • Your name cannot falsely imply that your business is affiliated with a government entity (e.g., Treasury, FBI, Real Estate Commission).
  • Your LLC name cannot use words suggesting it's a financial, insurance, or medical institution.
  • Your name cannot include local government terms like “Municipality,” “Region,” or “Provincial”.
  • You cannot use terms like “trust,” “treasury,” or “stakeholder” without prior approval from the Financial Commission Department.

Conducting a Business Name Search in Michigan - Step By Step Guide With Tips

When using the Michigan business website to find a registered entity, follow these tips to ensure you use the tool correctly and confirm your name’s availability. 

  • Search is not case-sensitive, and all letters are registered as uppercase.
  • Do not add or remove any spaces to the name you are searching for.
  • Broaden your search results by using a single name keyword.
  • If searching for a Michigan LLC using the entity number, only type in the digits, nothing else.

Visit the Michigan Secretary of State’s website

Begin by visiting the Michigan Division of Corporations search page, where you can search for registered entity names.

Select your business name search options

On the LARA Corporations Filing System (search for a business entity) home page, you’ll see 4 search options:

  • Search by entity name
  • Search by individual name
  • Search by identification number
  • Search by filing number

Select “Search by entity name,” and type your name (leave out LLC).

The drop-down search box also offers four options:

  • Begins with
  • Exact match
  • Keyword
  • Soundex

Select “begins with” and start searching; Soundex search will display any similar names with alternative spellings.

If the message “No records found; try a new search using different criteria” appears, continue searching using the next option.

Reviewing results

If the search returns zero matches, your name could be available for your Michigan LLC.

If the results show matching or similar names, click on the name, and LARA will display further information, including:

  • Entity type
  • Formation date
  • LLC members’ information
  • Registered office contact details and address
  • The registered agent's name and address

Fictitious name (DBA)

A fictitious name (Doing Business As) is an alias you can trade by other than your state-registered name.

LLCs and other entities often use a DBA to do business using a catchy brand name that suits their niche and target audience.

Check the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs website to confirm your name’s availability as a DBA.

To file your DBA, use the Michigan Lara Corporation Online filing system, complete Form (CSCL/CD 541), and pay the $25 fee. 

What Can You Do Once You Have a Name [That is Available]

Once you confirm your name is available and complies with the Michigan state naming guidelines, you can ensure ownership by reserving the name, applying for a trademark, and registering it as a domain. 

Consider name reservation

Entrepreneurs not ready to file their LLC Articles of Organization can reserve a name for 120 by mail using the Application for Reservation of Name form or online using the Michigan Name Reservation tool.

However, reserving a name is an extra expense that adds to your LLC start-up costs because you register it when you file your Articles of Organization with the Michigan Secretary of State.

Consider trademarking your name

You can trademark your name to prevent other businesses from using it in Michigan and throughout the USA and check availability to avoid trademark infringement. 

Use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office search tool (USPTO) to search for national trademark registrations.

For Michigan-registered trademarks, visit the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. 

You can also search for Michigan-registered marks at 3 designated Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries. 

Ann Arbor Media Union Library: 734 647 5747 

Big Rapids Ferris Library for Information: 231 591 3500

Detroit Public Library: 313 481 1300
 
 

Consider domain registration

Your domain is often the first thing your prospective customers see, so it should be your registered business name or something similar, suit your niche, and resonate with your target audience.

Your domain can also help with your SEO and marketing efforts because when you use the right words, search engines will crawl for them, and people will use them when searching for a business in your niche. 

A great domain name is short, engaging, descriptive, easy to spell, and memorable. Most of all, it attracts visitors to your website and business.

Conclusion

Now, you can register your business name on the Michigan Corporations business entity search website.

Don’t forget to secure it as a domain and check that it’s available as a trademark.

If you need help with any of those, we offer an LLC registration service here at Tailor Brands.

FAQ

You must search to confirm your chosen LLC name isn’t already registered by an existing entity in Michigan.

Use the Michigan Taxable Entity Search tool to confirm your desired business name is available. 

For further help in conducting a Michigan name search, you can contact the Michigan Secretary of State Business Services Division by:

The fee to reserve a business name in Michigan is $25 for 120 days.

To use a DBA in Michigan, you must ensure it’s available and register it using the Michigan Lara Corporation Online filing system. 

Michigan LLC naming guidelines include:

  • Your LLC must be unique and distinguishable from all other business entities registered in Michigan.
  • Your LLC name must include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or one abbreviation “LLC,” LTD,” or “L.L.C.”
  • Your name cannot imply that your business is affiliated with a government entity (e.g., Treasury, FBI, Real Estate Commission).
  • Your LLC name cannot use words suggesting it’s a financial institution, insurance, or medical institution.
  • Your name cannot include local government terms like “Municipality,” “Region,” or “Provincial”.
  • You cannot use terms like “trust,” treasury,” or “stakeholder” without prior approval from the Financial Commission Department.

Related LLC articles

Learn more about LLC in Michigan

Picture of Terry OToole

Terry OToole

Terry is a serial entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building businesses across multiple industries – construction, real estate, e-commerce, hotelier, and now digital media. When not working, Terry likes to kick back and relax with family, explore Taoism’s mysteries, or savor the taste of fine Italian red wine.

This portion of our website is for informational purposes only. Tailor Brands is not a law firm, and none of the information on this website constitutes or is intended to convey legal advice. All statements, opinions, recommendations, and conclusions are solely the expression of the author and provided on an as-is basis. Accordingly, Tailor Brands is not responsible for the information and/or its accuracy or completeness. It also does not indicate any affiliation between Tailor Brands and any other brands, services or logos.

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