- Business Corner
- Michigan LLC Formation Services
Best Michigan LLC Formation Services of 2026, Compared on Five-Year Cost
Michigan Registered Agent is the cheapest Michigan LLC formation service over five years, at $545 for a complete LLC with the EIN filed, on prices checked October 30, 2026. BusinessRocket, our own service, has the lowest five-year cost of the national services that file everything ($693), and all ten services file the same $50 Articles of Organization with LARA.
On this page
| # | Provider | Best for | Year one in Michigan | Five years in Michigan | Agent renewal | EIN filed for you | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan Registered Agent | The lowest five-year cost, with the EIN filed | $249 | $545 Lowest | $49/yr Lowest | $50 at sign-up | Compare |
| 2 | Michigan LLC Service | The lowest first year if you get your own EIN | $129* Lowest | $625* | $99/yr | Guide only (Standard) | Compare |
| 3 | BusinessRocket Our service | The lowest five-year cost of the national services, everything filed | $197 | $693 Lowest national | $99/yr | Included; $79 more for a non-US resident | Start my LLC |
| 4 | Northwest Registered Agent | The lowest first year from a national service | $139 Lowest national | $739 | $125/yr | $50; $200 without an SSN | Compare |
| 5 | Bizee | A $0 package with the resident agent included | $219 | $915 | $149/yr | $70 | Compare |
| 6 | Mainstay Filing | One flat yearly price that files your annual statement | $249 | $1,145 | In the $199/yr plan | Included with an SSN or ITIN | Compare |
| 7 | ZenBusiness | Guided setup and compliance reminders | $447 | $1,343 | $199/yr | $99 | Compare |
| 8 | LegalZoom | Attorney guidance at formation | $477 | $1,573 | $249/yr | $79 | Compare |
| 9 | Rocket Lawyer | Legal documents and attorney questions after formation | $494 | $2,090 | $125/yr + $249 membership | $70 | Compare |
| – | Tailor Brands | Branding tools with your formation | $348 | Not ranked | $199/yr | $99 | Compare |
Includes Michigan's $50 fee. A complete LLC is the filing, a resident agent, an EIN and an operating agreement at each provider's cheapest published combination; five years adds four agent renewals and four $25 annual statements. *With an EIN you get free from the IRS. Tailor Brands isn't ranked because its Lite plan doesn't say a written operating agreement is included.
- Prices checked Oct 30, 2026
- 10 services compared
- Michigan fees from LARA and the LLC Act
- No affiliate links
- Published by BusinessRocket
By Alex Chernavsky, founder and CEO of BusinessRocket · Prices checked · Disclosure: BusinessRocket publishes this comparison and ranks third on five-year cost. We don't use affiliate links, and every price comes from the companies' own websites, so you can check it.
What are the best Michigan LLC formation services in 2026?
The best Michigan LLC formation services in 2026 are Michigan Registered Agent for the lowest five-year cost ($545 with the EIN filed), Michigan LLC Service for the lowest first year ($129 if you get your own EIN), BusinessRocket for the lowest five-year cost of the national services that file everything ($693), and Northwest Registered Agent for the lowest first year from a national service ($139). Bizee, Mainstay Filing, ZenBusiness, LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and Tailor Brands each fit one narrower need. All ten file the same $50 Articles of Organization with LARA's Corporations Division, so the state's part doesn't change; the resident agent renewal, the EIN and whose address goes on the public record do.
- Lowest five-year cost: Michigan Registered Agent, $545 with the EIN filed
- Lowest first year: Michigan LLC Service, $129 if you get your own EIN
- Lowest five-year cost from a national service, everything filed: BusinessRocket, $693
- Lowest first year from a national service: Northwest Registered Agent, $139 with the EIN filed
- $0 start with the agent included: Bizee
- One flat price every year: Mainstay Filing, $199 a year with the annual statement filed for you
- Guided setup and reminders: ZenBusiness · Attorney guidance: LegalZoom · Legal documents after formation: Rocket Lawyer · Branding: Tailor Brands
Our verdict
If you'll keep your LLC three years or more and want every piece filed for you, Michigan Registered Agent costs the least, because its resident agent renews at $49 a year against our $99. If you want a national company that files everything, including the EIN for founders who live outside the US, BusinessRocket costs the least over five years. If you'll close the LLC within two years, Michigan LLC Service or Northwest costs less than either of us.
Three Michigan facts sit behind every total: LARA charges $50 to file and $25 for each February 15 annual statement, it publishes no standard processing time, and the resident agent's street address becomes your public registered office.
What does each Michigan LLC formation service offer?
The ten Michigan LLC formation services sell different main products: Michigan-only filing and resident agent services (Michigan Registered Agent and Michigan LLC Service), national formation packages (BusinessRocket, Northwest, Bizee and ZenBusiness), one yearly plan (Mainstay Filing), legal plans (LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer) and branding (Tailor Brands). Every total includes Michigan's $50 fee.
1. Michigan Registered Agent, best for the lowest five-year cost with the EIN filed
- Year one in Michigan $249
- Five years $545
- Agent renewal $49/yr
- EIN $50
- Office in Okemos
Michigan Registered Agent has the lowest five-year cost, $545, because its resident agent renews at $49 a year, the lowest of the ten. Formation costs $149 plus the $50 fee with the first agent year included, the EIN is $50 at sign-up, and an operating agreement is free. It works only in Michigan, from Okemos.
What you get
- Formation $149 with a year of resident agent service, then $49 a year
- Its Okemos office as your registered office
- EIN filed for $50; free operating agreement and membership certificates
Where it falls short
- It doesn't say whether it files the EIN without an SSN.
- It has no Trustpilot profile, and it serves Michigan only.
2. Michigan LLC Service, best for the lowest first year if you get your own EIN
- Year one in Michigan $129
- Five years $625
- Agent renewal $99/yr
- EIN guide only
Michigan LLC Service has the lowest first year, $129, because its Standard plan includes the $50 fee, the first resident agent year and an operating agreement template. It doesn't file the EIN on Standard, so you apply to the IRS yourself, free and online in minutes with an SSN. It says it files in 2 to 5 business days.
What you get
- Basic $89, Standard $129, Pro $229.99, each with the $50 fee included
- Standard: agent for year one, then $99 a year
- Pro: 24-hour rush, the EIN filed and the first annual statement filed
Where it falls short
- Standard gives an EIN guide, not a filed EIN.
- Its site lists renewals of $69 and $99 a year by plan, and it has no Trustpilot profile.
3. BusinessRocket, best for the lowest five-year cost of the national services with everything filed
- Our service
- Year one in Michigan $197
- Five years $693
- Agent renewal $99/yr
- Non-US resident EIN +$79
- Trustpilot 4.7 (1,599)
BusinessRocket has the lowest five-year cost of the national services that file everything, $693, which is $46 less than Northwest and $222 less than Bizee. The Essentials package ($147) includes the EIN, an operating agreement and the first resident agent year, and the agent renews at $99. Founders who live outside the US pay $79 more for the EIN, $772 over five years, against $889 at Northwest, whose EIN costs $200 without an SSN.
What you get
- Starter $0, Essentials $147, Supreme $249 (rush processing and annual statements filed, then $99 a year), plus the $50 fee
- Processing: 10 to 12 business days (Starter), 7 to 8 (Essentials), 1 to 4 (Supreme)
- A web domain, a business phone line, logo design and a bank account concierge in every package
- Chat 24 hours a day; phone Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT at 888-700-8213
Where it falls short
- Michigan Registered Agent costs $148 less over five years and is cheaper from year three.
- Northwest costs less in years one to three, and Michigan LLC Service every year if you get your own EIN.
- Our terms (updated September 2, 2026) refund the service fee only before processing starts, and the agent renews until you cancel.
4. Northwest Registered Agent, best for the lowest first year from a national service
- Year one in Michigan $139
- Five years $739
- Agent renewal $125/yr
- EIN $50 ($200 without an SSN)
Northwest Registered Agent has the lowest first year of the national services, $139: its $39 formation with a year of resident agent service, a $50 EIN and the $50 fee. Its address goes on your filings in place of yours, which is why AI answers and review sites often call it the best for privacy.
What you get
- Formation $39 with the first agent year, then $125 a year
- EIN $50, or $200 without an SSN; a free operating agreement template
- LARA's 24-hour rush for $50 more
Where it falls short
- Its agent costs $76 a year more than Michigan Registered Agent's.
- The operating agreement is a template it offers to anyone.
5. Bizee, best for a $0 package with the resident agent included
- Year one in Michigan $219
- Five years $915
- Agent renewal $149/yr
- EIN $70
Bizee, formerly Incfile, files a Michigan LLC on its $0 Basic package with the first resident agent year included. A complete LLC adds the EIN ($70) and an operating agreement ($99), $219 in year one, and the $149 agent renewal makes five years $915. Standard ($199) and Premium ($299) bundle the EIN and agreement.
What you get
- Basic $0, Standard $199, Premium $299, plus the $50 fee
- The first agent year in every package, then $149 a year
Where it falls short
- Its renewal makes it $222 dearer than BusinessRocket over five years.
- Bizee's own estimate for Basic runs to weeks.
6. Mainstay Filing, best for one flat yearly price that files your annual statement
- Year one in Michigan $249
- Five years $1,145
- $199 every year
- Annual statement filed
Mainstay Filing charges $199 a year for the formation, the resident agent and the annual statement filing, with state fees at cost, and it applies for the EIN as part of formation if you have an SSN or ITIN. Year one in Michigan is $249 and each year after $224, so five years come to $1,145.
What you get
- Formation, agent and annual statement in one $199 yearly price
- EIN and operating agreement with no separate charge (with an SSN or ITIN)
Where it falls short
- It costs $452 more than BusinessRocket and $600 more than Michigan Registered Agent over five years.
7. ZenBusiness, best for guided setup and compliance reminders
- Year one in Michigan $447
- Five years $1,343
- Agent renewal $199/yr
- EIN $99
ZenBusiness files on its $0 Starter plan in 7 to 10 business days, and its Pro plan ($199 a year) cuts that to 1 business day and adds compliance tools. The resident agent costs $199 a year from year one, and the EIN and operating agreement are $99 each, so a complete LLC costs $447 in year one.
What you get
- Starter $0, Pro $199 a year, Premium $299 a year
- Compliance reminders and a dashboard
Where it falls short
- Its first year costs more than double BusinessRocket's.
8. LegalZoom, best for attorney guidance at formation
- Year one in Michigan $477
- Five years $1,573
- Agent renewal $249/yr
- EIN $79
LegalZoom's Pro ($249) and Premium ($299) packages add attorney guidance to the filing. Its $0 Basic files the Articles and nothing else, so a complete LLC adds the EIN ($79), an operating agreement ($99) and the resident agent ($249 a year), $477 in year one.
What you get
- Basic $0, Pro $249, Premium $299
- Attorney guidance in Pro and Premium
Where it falls short
- Its $249 agent is the most expensive renewal of the national services.
9. Rocket Lawyer, best for legal documents and attorney questions after formation
- Year one in Michigan $494
- Five years $2,090
- Agent $125 + membership $249/yr
- EIN $70
Rocket Lawyer sells formation inside its Plus membership ($249 a year), which also covers legal documents and attorney questions. With the resident agent ($125 a year) and the EIN ($70), year one costs $494, and the membership and agent make each year after $374.
What you get
- Legal templates and attorney questions while you're a member
Where it falls short
- It's the most expensive of the ten over five years, and its $149 Standard plan leaves out the agent and EIN.
Tailor Brands, best for branding tools with your formation (not ranked)
- Year one in Michigan $348
- Agent $199/yr
- EIN $99
- Not ranked
Tailor Brands bundles formation with logo and website tools, and its Lite plan files for $0 plus the $50 fee; with its agent ($199 a year) and EIN ($99), year one costs $348. We don't rank it, because Lite doesn't say a written operating agreement is included.
Also checked, not ranked. InCorp forms a Michigan LLC for $99 plus a $5 processing charge and the $50 fee, with its agent at $129 a year from year one, and doesn't list EIN or operating agreement prices on its Michigan page. Inc Authority files for $0 plus the fee with the first agent year and the EIN free, but doesn't publish its agent renewal or operating agreement prices.
How do the Michigan LLC formation services compare side by side?
The Michigan LLC formation services differ most on the resident agent renewal ($49 to $249 a year), what the EIN costs to have filed, whose address goes on your public filings and how long they say their own work takes.
| Provider | Lowest package | Resident agent | EIN | Operating agreement | Stated processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan Registered Agent | $149 | Year one included, then $49/yr | $50 at sign-up | Free | Says LARA takes 2 to 3 business days online |
| Michigan LLC Service | $89 with the fee | Standard: year one, then $99/yr | Guide; filed on Pro ($229.99) | Template on Standard | 2 to 5 business days |
| BusinessRocket | $0 | Year one free, then $99/yr | In Essentials ($147); $79 more for a non-US resident | In Essentials | 10 to 12 business days (Starter), 7 to 8 (Essentials), 1 to 4 (Supreme) |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 | Year one included, then $125/yr | $50; $200 without an SSN | Free template | 24 hours with LARA's $50 rush |
| Bizee | $0 | Year one included, then $149/yr | $70, or in Standard ($199) | $99, or in Standard | Weeks on Basic; faster on Premium |
| Mainstay Filing | $199/yr | In the yearly price | Included with an SSN or ITIN | Included | Not stated |
| ZenBusiness | $0 | $199/yr, not included | $99, or in Pro | $99, or in Pro | 7 to 10 business days (Starter); 1 (Pro) |
| LegalZoom | $0 | $249/yr, not included | $79, or in Pro ($249) | $99, or in Pro | Not stated |
| Rocket Lawyer | $249/yr membership | $125/yr | $70 | Template | Not stated |
| Tailor Brands | $0 | $199/yr | $99 | Not stated on Lite | Not stated |
Published prices, October 30, 2026 (Rocket Lawyer October 27). Michigan's $50 fee is extra, except in Michigan LLC Service's prices, which include it.
Is Michigan Registered Agent, BusinessRocket or Northwest better for a Michigan LLC?
Michigan Registered Agent is better if you'll keep the LLC three years or more and have an SSN, BusinessRocket if you want a national company to file everything or you live outside the US, and Northwest if you'll close the LLC within two years. BusinessRocket is cheaper than Michigan Registered Agent in years one and two ($197 and $321 against $249 and $323); from year three the $49 agent wins. For a founder outside the US without an SSN, five years cost $772 with BusinessRocket and $889 with Northwest.
How did we compare Michigan LLC formation services?
We compared ten Michigan LLC formation services on eight criteria, using the prices and terms each company published on its own website between October 25 and 30, 2026, and Michigan's fees from LARA's fee schedule and the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act. We rank them by the five-year cost of a complete Michigan LLC, cheapest first, and each "best for" label names the need that service fits.
- Cost: the complete first-year cost, the five-year cost and the resident agent renewal
- What's included: the EIN (including for founders outside the US), the operating agreement and the agent in the lowest package
- Service: stated filing time, whose address becomes the registered office, refund terms and independent reviews
The method is the same one behind our national comparison of the best LLC formation services, which covers every state.
Sources, checked October 25 to 30, 2026. Each provider's pricing, terms and Michigan pages; the Michigan LLC Act (MCL 450.4102, 450.4203, 450.4207 and 450.5101); LARA's fee schedule and form CSCL/CD-700; the IRS Instructions for Form SS-4; FinCEN's beneficial ownership rule; and Trustpilot.
How does BusinessRocket deal with its conflict of interest when comparing Michigan LLC formation services?
Our conflict of interest
BusinessRocket deals with the conflict by ranking on a number you can check, using no affiliate links, and placing two cheaper Michigan services above ourselves. Michigan Registered Agent costs $148 less over five years, Michigan LLC Service $68 less if you get your own EIN, and Northwest $58 less in year one. We publish this page because we file Michigan LLCs, and our claim is narrower: the lowest five-year cost of the national services that file everything.
What did this Michigan LLC formation service comparison not test?
- We didn't place orders, so checkout prices and add-ons can differ from the published prices.
- We didn't time filings; the times listed are what each provider states.
- Michigan Registered Agent, Bizee, ZenBusiness and LegalZoom don't publish whether their EIN costs more without an SSN.
How much does a Michigan LLC formation service cost in total?
A Michigan LLC formation service costs its package price plus Michigan's $50 filing fee, plus whatever the provider charges for the resident agent, EIN and operating agreement you'll need, and every year after that you pay the agent renewal and the $25 annual statement. On October 30, 2026, a complete Michigan LLC came to between $129 and $494 in year one, and between $545 and $2,090 over five years.
Package + $50 LARA fee + resident agent + EIN + operating agreement = the cost of a complete Michigan LLC in year one.
What does each Michigan LLC formation service charge for a complete LLC in year one?
A complete Michigan LLC costs $129 with Michigan LLC Service, $139 with Northwest, $197 with BusinessRocket and $219 with Bizee in year one, and between $249 and $494 with the other six, each including the $50 state fee. Michigan LLC Service is cheapest partly because its Standard plan doesn't file the EIN; among the services that do, Northwest is the lowest.
| Provider (sorted by cost) | Cheapest complete combination | Provider cost | Michigan fee | Year-one total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan LLC Service | Standard $129 with the fee (agent year one, agreement template); EIN you get yourself | $79 | $50 | $129 Lowest |
| Northwest Registered Agent | $39 (agent year one) + EIN $50; free agreement template | $89 | $50 | $139 Lowest with EIN filed |
| BusinessRocket | Essentials $147 (agent year one, EIN and operating agreement included) | $147 | $50 | $197 |
| Bizee | Basic $0 (agent year one) + EIN $70 + agreement $99 | $169 | $50 | $219 |
| Michigan Registered Agent | $149 (agent year one, free agreement) + EIN $50 | $199 | $50 | $249 |
| Mainstay Filing | $199 a year (formation, agent, EIN, agreement, annual statement filing) | $199 | $50 | $249 |
| ZenBusiness | Starter $0 + agent $199 + EIN $99 + agreement $99 | $397 | $50 | $447 |
| LegalZoom | Basic $0 + EIN $79 + agreement $99 + agent $249 | $427 | $50 | $477 |
| Rocket Lawyer | Plus membership $249 + agent $125 + EIN $70 | $444 | $50 | $494 |
Published prices, October 30, 2026 (Rocket Lawyer October 27), with no discount codes. For a founder outside the US without an SSN, Northwest's first year is $289 (its EIN costs $200) and BusinessRocket's is $276 (its non-US resident EIN costs $79 more).
See your Michigan LLC total with each service
Michigan charges $50 once to file the Articles of Organization, and $25 each year after for the annual statement.
| Provider | Provider cost | Michigan fees | Total |
|---|
Provider cost covers the filing service, a resident agent, an EIN and an operating agreement at each provider's cheapest published combination, plus agent renewals after year one (Mainstay Filing's whole plan each year). Michigan fees are the $50 filing fee and $25 for each annual statement after year one; an LLC formed after September 30 skips its first statement.
Are $0 Michigan LLC formation services free?
No, $0 Michigan LLC formation services aren't free, because LARA charges $50 to file and every $0 package leaves out something most LLCs need. BusinessRocket's Starter leaves out the EIN and operating agreement, Bizee's Basic leaves out the same two ($169 together), ZenBusiness's Starter leaves out the agent as well ($397), and LegalZoom's Basic files the Articles and nothing else ($427 more). The real cost shows up in year two, when agents renew at $99 to $249 a year.
What does LARA charge besides an LLC formation service?
Besides the formation service's own price, LARA charges $50 to file the Articles of Organization (form CSCL/CD-700) and $25 for the annual statement each February 15. Every other state fee applies only if you need that filing, such as rush filing, a name reservation or an amendment.
| Filing or service | State fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) | $50 | Filed online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal or by mail; effective when LARA endorses it "Filed" |
| Annual statement | $25 | Due February 15; skipped the first February if formed after September 30; $15 after September 30, 2027 |
| Rush filing (new LLC) | $50 to $1,000 | $50 (24 hours), $100 (same day), $500 (2 hours), $1,000 (1 hour), on top of the $50 |
| Name reservation | $25 | Form 540 |
| Amendment | $25 | Form CSCL/CD-715; restated Articles $50 |
| Change of resident agent or registered office | $5 | Form CSCL/CD-520 |
LARA's Corporations Division filing fee schedule and form CSCL/CD-700 (Rev. 07/25); Michigan Compiled Laws 450.4207 and 450.5101, checked October 25 and 30, 2026.
What do Michigan LLC formation services cost after the first year?
After the first year, a Michigan LLC formed through a service pays the resident agent renewal, $49 to $249 a year across the ten (Rocket Lawyer adds a $249 membership), plus the $25 annual statement. Over five years, a complete Michigan LLC costs the least with Michigan Registered Agent ($545), Michigan LLC Service ($625, with an EIN you get yourself) and BusinessRocket ($693), followed by Northwest ($739).
How long does a Michigan LLC formation service take?
A Michigan LLC formation service takes its own processing time plus LARA's review, which has no published standard time: the providers here state between 1 and 12 business days for their part, and Michigan Registered Agent says LARA usually reviews online filings in 2 to 3 business days. LARA's rush review for a new LLC costs $50 (24 hours), $100 (same day), $500 (2 hours) or $1,000 (1 hour).
| Stage | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The provider prepares and files your Articles | 1 to 4 business days (BusinessRocket Supreme), 1 (ZenBusiness Pro), 2 to 5 (Michigan LLC Service), 7 to 8 (BusinessRocket Essentials), 7 to 10 (ZenBusiness Starter), 10 to 12 (BusinessRocket Starter) | In the package price |
| LARA, online filing | No published standard time; 2 to 3 business days by Michigan Registered Agent's account | In the $50 fee |
| LARA, rush review | 24 hours, same day, 2 hours or 1 hour | $50, $100, $500 or $1,000 |
Is LARA's rush filing worth it for a Michigan LLC?
LARA's rush filing is worth it only when a date depends on the LLC existing, such as a lease signing or a bank appointment; the $50 24-hour option is the cheapest way to get the filed Articles back fast. Our list of LLC processing times for all 50 states shows how Michigan compares.
Can a Michigan LLC formation service keep your home address off the public record?
Yes, a Michigan LLC formation service keeps your home address off the public record when it acts as your resident agent, because its Michigan street address becomes your LLC's registered office, the address LARA shows in its public business entity search. If you act as your own resident agent, your own Michigan street address is the one on record.
Michigan's Articles of Organization ask for the LLC's name, purpose, resident agent and registered office, and whether managers run it; they don't ask for the owners' names, though the organizer who signs appears on the filed document. Every service here that acts as your resident agent puts its own Michigan office on the record instead of your home.
Michigan Registered Agent lists its Okemos office, Northwest puts its address on your filings, and BusinessRocket's resident agent lists its Michigan address.
Which resident agent service is best for a Michigan LLC?
Michigan Registered Agent is the cheapest resident agent service for a Michigan LLC after year one, at $49 a year, among the ten services here. BusinessRocket and Michigan LLC Service charge $99 after a free first year, Northwest $125, Bizee $149, and ZenBusiness and Tailor Brands $199. Michigan calls a registered agent a resident agent, and it must be a Michigan resident or a company authorized in Michigan, with a registered office at a Michigan street address.
| Provider | Year one | After year one |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan Registered Agent | Included with formation | $49/yr (lowest) |
| BusinessRocket | Free | $99/yr |
| Michigan LLC Service | Included on Standard | $99/yr |
| Northwest Registered Agent | Included with formation | $125/yr |
| InCorp | $129 | $129/yr |
| Bizee | Included | $149/yr |
| Mainstay Filing | In the $199 plan | In the $199/yr plan, with the annual statement filed |
| ZenBusiness | $199 | $199/yr |
| Tailor Brands | $199 | $199/yr |
| LegalZoom | $249 | $249/yr |
You can be your own resident agent if you live in Michigan and have a street address for legal papers; a P.O. box can be a mailing address but not the registered office. Changing agents later costs $5. Our guide to the registered agent fee for an LLC covers what the service includes.
What does a Michigan LLC owe the state each year?
A Michigan LLC owes the state one annual statement each year, due February 15 with a $25 fee, and it must keep a resident agent at a Michigan registered office. An LLC formed after September 30 skips the next February's statement, so an LLC formed in November 2026 files its first one by February 15, 2028. The fee drops to $15 for statements filed after September 30, 2027.
Michigan charges no late fee for a regular LLC's statement, but after two missed years LARA can end the LLC's good standing, and its name becomes available to other businesses. Restoring it costs $50 plus $25 for each missing year. Our guide to annual reporting vs taxes explains why the statement and your taxes are separate obligations.
What are the most common Michigan LLC mistakes?
The most common Michigan LLC mistakes cost money or the LLC's good standing.
- Missing the $25 annual statement two years running, which can end good standing ($50 plus $25 a year to restore).
- Giving a P.O. box as the registered office.
- Leaving manager management out of the Articles when managers will run the LLC.
- Using "Inc." or "Corporation" in the name.
- Choosing a $0 package whose agent renews at $149 to $249 a year.
Which Michigan LLC formation service fits your situation?
The Michigan LLC formation service that fits you depends on how long you'll keep the LLC, whether you'll get the EIN yourself and whether you live in the US. Start with the complete cost over the years you expect to own it, then check the EIN, the agent renewal and whose address goes on the public record.
- Add up the first-year cost: package, resident agent, EIN, operating agreement and the $50 fee.
- Add four agent renewals and four $25 annual statements for the five-year cost.
- Check what the provider charges for the EIN if you live outside the US.
- Check whose address becomes your registered office, and read the refund terms.
Which Michigan LLC formation service works for non-US founders?
For a founder who lives outside the US, BusinessRocket has the lowest five-year cost of the services that publish a price for that EIN, $772 with its $79 non-US resident fee, against $889 at Northwest, whose EIN costs $200 without an SSN. Michigan doesn't ask for an SSN to form the LLC, and owners don't have to live in Michigan or the US; the LLC needs a resident agent at a Michigan street address. Mainstay Filing includes the EIN only with an SSN or ITIN, and Michigan Registered Agent doesn't state its terms.
The IRS also issues the EIN free without an SSN: call 267-941-1099, fax Form SS-4 (about 4 business days) or mail it (about 4 weeks). Our guide to forming an LLC for non-US residents covers the bank account steps.
Is a Michigan LLC formation service worth it?
Yes, a Michigan LLC formation service is worth it if you want the resident agent, EIN and operating agreement handled together, or you don't want your home address on the public record, because the provider's part ($79 to $444 in year one here) buys the agent and the filing, and often the EIN. No, if you live in Michigan, can be your own resident agent and are comfortable filing on the MiBusiness Registry Portal, because the $50 fee, the $25 annual statement and a free EIN are then all you must pay.
Worth it if
You live outside Michigan, want the EIN filed for you, or want a commercial address as your registered office.
File it yourself if
You live in Michigan, have one owner, can be your own resident agent and will apply for the EIN yourself.
Can you form a Michigan LLC yourself through LARA?
Yes, you can form a Michigan LLC yourself by filing the Articles of Organization (form CSCL/CD-700) through LARA's MiBusiness Registry Portal and paying the $50 fee, and the LLC exists once LARA endorses the Articles "Filed". You'll need a MiLogin for Business account, a name ending in "Limited Liability Company", "L.L.C." or "L.C.", and a resident agent at a Michigan street address, which can be you. A formation service files the same Articles and adds the rest.
- Check the name and file the Articles with LARA.
- Appoint the resident agent and registered office.
- Get the EIN from the IRS.
- Write an operating agreement, which you keep rather than file.
- Set a reminder for the February 15 annual statement.
Our guide on how to start an LLC in Michigan walks through each step.
How do you check if a Michigan LLC name is available?
You check whether a Michigan LLC name is available by searching LARA's business entity records for the same or a similar name before you file, because the name must be distinguishable from names already on record. If you aren't ready to file, you can reserve a name for $25. Our Michigan business entity search guide shows how the search works.
Can you form a Series LLC in Michigan?
No, you can't form a Series LLC in Michigan, because the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act has no series provision and LARA offers no series forms. If you want separate liability for several properties or businesses, you form a separate Michigan LLC for each one, at $50 each plus $25 a year.
What else does it cost to run an LLC in Michigan?
Beyond formation, running an LLC in Michigan costs the $25 annual statement, the resident agent renewal, $25 for each amendment and $5 to change your agent. Michigan has no franchise tax on LLCs; by default an LLC's profit is taxed on the owners' returns at Michigan's 4.25% individual rate (2026), the 6% corporate income tax applies only if the LLC elects corporate tax treatment, and sales tax is 6%. Our Michigan LLC FAQ answers the questions owners ask after forming.
Frequently asked questions about Michigan LLC formation services
How long does a Michigan LLC formation service take to form an LLC?
A Michigan LLC formation service takes its own processing time plus LARA's review, and the providers here state between 1 and 12 business days for their part. LARA publishes no standard review time and sells rush review between $50 (24 hours) and $1,000 (1 hour).
Can you be your own resident agent in Michigan?
Yes, you can be your own resident agent in Michigan if you live in Michigan and have a Michigan street address for the registered office. That address becomes public in LARA's business entity search. A commercial agent costs $49 to $249 a year among the services here.
Do you file an operating agreement with the State of Michigan?
No, you don't file an operating agreement with the State of Michigan; you keep it with your LLC's records. Michigan doesn't require one, but banks often ask for it, and it sets out who owns and runs the LLC.
What's the cheapest way to form an LLC in Michigan?
The cheapest way to form an LLC in Michigan is to file the Articles yourself through LARA for $50, be your own resident agent and get the EIN free from the IRS. With a service, Michigan LLC Service costs the least in year one ($129) and Michigan Registered Agent over five years ($545).
What happens if you miss the Michigan annual statement?
If you miss the Michigan annual statement, there's no late fee for a regular LLC, but after two missed years LARA can end its good standing. The LLC's name then becomes available to others, and restoring good standing costs $50 plus $25 for each missing year.
Can you switch Michigan LLC formation services after your LLC is formed?
Yes, you can switch after formation by appointing a new resident agent, which costs $5 with LARA on form CSCL/CD-520. Cancel the old agent's renewal so you aren't billed twice.
Do you need an EIN for a Michigan LLC?
Yes, you need an EIN for a Michigan LLC if it has employees or more than one member, and most banks ask for one to open a business account. The IRS sets these rules, not Michigan, and the EIN is free from the IRS.
Does a Michigan LLC have to file a BOI report?
No, a Michigan LLC doesn't file a beneficial ownership (BOI) report with FinCEN, because US-formed companies are exempt under the final rule that took effect on August 14, 2026. Guides that tell new Michigan LLCs to file within 30 days are out of date.
