Starting a business can be exciting and overwhelming, especially when trying to determine if the name you want is already being used. Maybe you’re in Michigan, looking to start your business there, but you’re not sure if your desired name is taken. Or perhaps you’re looking into another business and you’re trying to determine whether they’re legitimate so you can do business with them.
If any of that has happened to you (or is happening to you right now), don’t worry, you’re not alone!
The good news? Michigan makes this a lot easier with a very helpful tool. The Michigan business entity search tool allows you to immediately see if a business name is already in use, verify the status of a business, or look up other important information on any business registered in Michigan.
In this article, I’ll guide you through how to use this tool step by step so that you can find these issues easily.
Key Takeaways
- The Michigan business entity search allows you to check if a business name is available or verify business details.
- You can search by business name, entity ID, or registered agent name.
- The feature helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures that you are working with legitimate businesses.
Why Do You Need to Use the Michigan Business Entity Search Tool?
Before moving forward with the steps, let us have a quick look at why you would need this tool in the first place.
If you’re starting a business or just doing some research, the last thing you want is for the name you’ve chosen to already be taken. Imagine all the time and effort you have invested. This is the reason it’s so important to utilize the search tool so you can avoid these kinds of issues.
The other reason you might want to use the search tool is if you’re researching another company. If you’re doing business with a company and you need to know if they’re still in business, the search tool can tell you this.
It’s a free tool, and anyone can utilize it, so there’s really no excuse not to try it out.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Alright, now the main point: how to use the tool. Don’t worry, it’s not that difficult once you learn what to do.
Step 1: Go to the Michigan Business Entity Search Page
The first thing you need to do is go to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) website. Here’s how you can begin:
- Go to Michigan’s Business Entity Search page.
- Search for the section “Corporations, LLCs & Partnerships.”
- Click on “Search for a Business.”
Step 2: Choose Your Search Parameters
You will be presented with some search choices on the search page. Here you can customize your search parameters. You have three methods to search:
- By Business Name: If you know the exact business name, you can use that.
- By Entity ID Number: If you already have the business ID number, you can use that.
- By Registered Agent Name: You can also enter the name of the registered agent who works with that company (the company or individual who handles the business’s legal problems).
Tip: If you are unsure about the complete name, you might search by part of the name. For example, if you happen to know that the name has the word “Tech,” you can search all the companies that have that word.
Step 3: Review Your Search Results
When you enter Search, you will get a list of entities that match your search. You will get the following search results:
- Entity Name: The name of the business.
- Entity Type: You’ll discover if the business is an LLC, Corporation, Nonprofit, etc.
- Status: This will tell you whether the business is Active, Inactive, or Dissolved.
- Entity ID Number: Each business is given a unique ID number by which it can be recognized.
- Filing Date: The date on which the business was filed.
- Registered Agent: The name or business of the registered agent.
Step 4: Get More Detailed Information About the Business
If you want to search deeper, click on the business name from the search results. This will open a page containing more details about the business, such as:
- Business Address: The address of the business.
- Officers/Management: These are the people operating the business, if available.
- Annual Report: This will tell you when the company last filed an annual report, which you will need to know for certain businesses.
Step 5: Take Action
Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to act. If you’re starting a business and the name you want is available, you can go ahead and register your company.
If you’re researching another company, you might choose to contact them, create a partnership, or make a business decision based on what you’ve learned.
FAQs
How to find available Michigan LLC names?
You can search Michigan LLC names by visiting the Michigan Business Entity Search tool on the LARA website and entering the LLC name in the search field.
How to find a Michigan business registered agent?
You can find the registered agent from a search of the business in Michigan Business Entity Search, where the name of the registered agent will be noted.
What is in a Michigan business entity search?
You might view details like business name, entity type, and status (active or inactive), registered agent, and filing date.
Conclusion
The business entity search feature in Michigan is a simple yet useful resource for any Michigan resident looking to start a business or verify information on an existing business. Go to the website of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, and start using the search feature today.
