Michigan LLC Formation Attorneys & Lawyers for Hire

Where are you located?
Zip Code
FIND A LAWYER

How it Works

Request Proposals
Tell us about your legal need so attorneys can prepare custom proposals. It only takes a minute and your information is strictly confidential.
Review Quotes
Our algorithm matches you with attorneys qualified to handle your legal work. You can review their proposals and schedule consultations with no obligation.
Hire Your Lawyers
When you’re ready, hire the attorney that’s right for you. Use our platform to easily collaborate online and ensure your information stays safe and secure.
Seth W.

Seth Wiener

1222 reviews
As an experienced trial lawyer and litigator, Seth Wiener has resolved numerous federal and state litigations. His cases have included everything from family law to bankruptcy to fraud and more. Before Seth formed his own firm, the Law Office of Seth W. Wiener, he worked for several prominent law offices where he gained a great deal of experience.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Steven S.

Steven Stark

579 reviews
For over 30 years, Steven Stark has offered counsel to non-profit organizations and private companies. He has a passion for helping small businesses in particular since he himself started several businesses of his own in New York and Florida. He understands the importance of small businesses having a reliable attorney to advise them about legal matters from their inception.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Scott S.

Scott Stram

393 reviews
As a member of both the New York and New Jersey Bars, Scott Stram is an accomplished lawyer with experience in a range of legal and business areas. This includes corporate law, data security, compliance, real estate, and intellectual property. Before founding Stram Law, Scott was a compliance officer for a company that performed property audits, a director of a security consulting practice, and an operations officer for Viacom and CBS.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Jake S.

Jake Siciliano

259 reviews
Jake graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he focused on international trademark and corporate law. As of 2022, he has obtained his L.L.M. in Financial Compli... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Richard G.

Richard Gora

200 reviews
Looking for an attorney with experience? Richard Gora is the exact attorney you want. Having defended over 100 cases both in state and federal courts and working with clients from around the globe, Richard has an array of different experiences. His services are wide-ranging and include business litigation, securities litigations, employment litigation, and business counsel. Prior to founding Gora LLC, he worked for Finn, Dixon & Herling LLP for eight years.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Michael W.

Michael Wieser

157 reviews
I am dedicated to working with startup entrepreneurs and early stage growth companies to provide legal stability and scalability for growing enterprises. What sets me apart... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Brig R.

Brig Ricks

146 reviews
I am a senior executive and strategic legal adviser with 19 years of experience providing legal services in international environments. I am a general counsel who can advis... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Grant M.

Grant Maynard

128 reviews
Grant represents high-growth companies in all aspects of formation, financing, and intellectual property issues. He has previously done general corporate, intellectual, and real estate work at Nebraska's oldest law firm before transitioning to a more virtual lifestyle. As an entrepreneur himself, he understands the need to balance legal and business interests.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Baruch G.

Baruch Gottesman

117 reviews
Baruch Gottesman is a corporate attorney with over a decade of experience. He is licensed to practice law in both New Jersey and New York. Baruch obtained his J.D. degree in law from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. He is skilled in providing legal assistance to startup companies, with exceptional experience in drafting, negotiating and reviewing commercial contracts. Baruch founded his own law firm in January 2010.
|
Get Proposal View Profile
Brandon P.

Brandon Pittard

64 reviews
I've spent the majority of my legal career in house at various companies, and know how to balance legal risk against the needs of a business. As legal counsel at several di... read more
|
Get Proposal View Profile
View All NEXT

Why use UpCounsel to form your LLC in Michigan?

Confused by complicated questionnaires and government forms? Want to get your questions answered by a real attorney? UpCounsel provides personalized legal services with experienced attorneys to help form your Michigan LLC the right way.
14 years

Average experience

You always get experienced professionals and high caliber work.

3x

Faster

Your work gets done quickly because professionals are always available.

60%

More cost effective

We use technology to cut traditional overhead and save you thousands.

UpCounsel has been talked about in:

Why use UpCounsel to form an LLC in Michigan

Starting an LLC in Michigan with a business startup attorney on UpCounsel is easy, informative, and cost-effective. In just three simple steps, our LLC attorneys will help you protect your business and personal assets, and help you organize your business for state and federal compliance for limited liability companies.

When forming an LLC in Michigan with UpCounsel, the attorney you choose to help you will conduct a business name search for your Michigan LLC and assist you in preparing your LLC Operating Agreement, along with providing other legal services based on your needs. Once your Articles of Organization have been prepared and successfully filed with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services, your Michigan LLC has been formed and begins its existence as a corporate entity.

Requirements for Forming a Michigan LLC

Choosing a Company Name for Your LLC

One of the first steps in the process of forming your Michigan Limited Liability Company is to choose your business name.

The business name that you choose must contain the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C." as the last words in the name of the limited liability company. The words "limited" and "company" may be abbreviated to "Ltd." and "Co.," respectively.

It must be distinguishable (not the same as or deceptively similar to) the name of any Michigan Limited Liability Company or foreign LLC reserved or registered and cannot contain the words "bank," "trust," "trustee,""incorporated," "inc.," corporation," or "corp.," or "insurer" or "insurance company" or any other words suggesting that it is in the business of issuing policies of insurance and assuming insurance risks.

Your LLC name may contain the name of one or more members.

By using UpCounsel, you can choose several business names in order of preference. Your attorney of choice can then conduct a name check for your Michigan Limited Liability Company before filing to see which names are available. Once you have chosen an available name, your chosen LLC attorney can help you properly register your name with the State of Michigan.

Articles of Organization: When forming an LLC in Michigan, the Articles of Organization must be filed with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services. Michigan state law requires that certain information be included in your Articles of Organization when forming your Michigan LLC.

This information must include:

  1. The LLC name and address.
  2. The purpose of the LLC.
  3. The name and address of the registered agent for service of process on the LLC.
  4. Whether LLC's duration is for a specified period or infinite.
  5. A statement acknowledging that LLC will be manager-managed rather than member-managed (if applicable).

Additionally, a Michigan LLC formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

Organizers: One or more people may form a LLC, yet they do not need to be members of the LLC.

Minimum Number of LLC Organizers: One (or more).

Eligibility: An organizer may be an individual, partnership, limited partnership, trust, estate, association, corporation, limited liability company, or other entity, whether domestic or foreign.

LLC Operating Agreement: Although not required, LLC members may adopt an operating agreement for the company, which may also be amended and repealed as allowed by the agreement or applicable law. The Articles of Organization may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the power of the members to adopt, amend, or repeal an operating agreement. If there is more than one member, any operating agreement shall initially be agreed to, in writing, by all of the members.

Membership: A limited liability company must have one or more members.

Eligibility Requirements: A natural person or an entity.

Procedure for Membership: The member may acquire an interest in the LLC directly from the limited liability company at the time of formation and, after formation, at the time provided in and upon compliance with the Articles of Organization or the operating agreement or, if not provided, only upon the vote of a majority in interest of the LLC members, excluding the vote of the person acquiring the membership interest, and only when the person becomes a party to the LLC's operating agreement.

Resident Agent needed for a Michigan LLC

UpCounsel attorneys can also provide your business with a registered agent in Michigan. Every Michigan LLC must have a registered agent in Michigan, which is the person or office designated to receive official state correspondence and notice if the company is "served" with a lawsuit. A Michigan resident, corporation, or a foreign corporation that has the authority to transact business in Michigan may act as a registered agent, as long as they have a physical street address in Michigan.

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services (SEC OF STATE??)

Once you create an LLC in Michigan, the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services will require that certain recurring responsibilities and duties be fulfilled. The most important of these are explained below.

For further information, contact the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services.

Recurring Responsibilities and Duties for Michigan LLCs

Annual Report: Each limited liability company shall provide an annual report to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services regarding its financial condition to each of its members. This must be filed every year by February 15. The filing fee for the annual report is $25.

Records: Each Michigan limited liability company must keep the following records open to inspection at its office:

  1. A current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each member and of each holder of an economic interest in the limited liability company set forth in alphabetical order, together with the contribution and the share in profits and losses of each member and holder of an economic interest.
  2. If the LLC is manager-managed, you will need a current list including the full name and business or residence address of each manager.
  3. A copy of the Articles of Organization and all amendments thereto, together with any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Articles of Organization or any amendments thereto were executed.
  4. Copies of the limited liability company's federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the six most recent taxable years
  5. A copy of the LLC's Operating Agreement, if in writing, and any amendments thereto, together with any powers of attorney pursuant to which any written operating agreement or any amendments thereto were executed.
  6. Copies of the limited liability company's financial statements, if any, for the six most recent fiscal years.
  7. The books and records of internal affairs as they relate to the limited liability company for at least the current and past four fiscal years.

Filing Fees for a Michigan LLC

Filing of the Articles of Organization must be made with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau of Commercial Services in which the LLC was organized, along with the appropriate state filing fee. The fee for this is $50 and the Articles may be emailed or mailed along with the fee.

Taxes for a Michigan LLC

Having an LLC in Michigan can offer certain tax advantages over having a corporation, including the availability of more tax deductions. Additionally, an LLC is not required to be a separate tax entity like a corporation; instead, it can be considered a "pass-through entity," so that the owners of the LLC report business losses or profits on their personal tax returns, just like in a partnership.

Federal Income Tax: Unless you elect to tax the limited liability company as a corporation, the IRS will treat a single-member LLC in Michigan as a sole proprietorship for tax purposes. This means that the LLC itself does not have to pay taxes or file a tax return. Unless you elect to tax the limited Liability company as a corporation, the IRS treats multi-member LLCs as partnerships for tax purposes. This means that LLC owners will each need to pay taxes on their lawful share of the profits on their personal income tax returns, not just on the LLC itself. However, if you file IRS Form 8832, you may elect for corporate taxation if you regularly need to keep a substantial amount of your profits in the LLC.

Federal Tax Identification Number: Your LLC will need to obtain a federal tax identification number, which is also known as an Employment Identification Number (EIN). An EIN is similar to an individual's social security number. You will need an EIN for your LLC as long as there is one member, even if the LLC does not have employees. For certain tax filing requirements the attorney you choose on UpCounsel can help prepare your Federal Tax ID Application, if you have not done so already.

Start Your Business Off Right with an Affordable LLC Formation Attorney in Michigan

What Our Customers Have to Say

"UpCounsel gives me access to big-firm lawyers minus the big-firm price tag. I work with several attorneys on the platform and there are never surprises...I always receive quality legal work at competitive rates that larger firms simply cannot match."

Scott Woods
SVP & General Counsel

"Every startup needs to know about UpCounsel. We found great attorneys at great prices and were able to focus our resources on improving our business instead of paying legal bills."

Sean Conway
Co-founder & CEO

"Before UpCounsel it was hard for us to find the right lawyer with the right expertise for our business. UpCounsel solves those problems by being more affordable and helping us find the right lawyer in no time."

Tristan Pollock
Co-founder & COO

Find the best lawyer for your legal needs

Find a lawyer