How to look up Michigan business entity information

All Michigan business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) business search portal. This free database provides access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

We'll walk you through exactly how to search the Michigan database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Michigan's system.

Summary table: Finding your Michigan entity information

How to search for Michigan business entities

Access the Michigan business entity search to look up any registered business by name, entity number, or filing number. Michigan's system offers exceptional flexibility compared to other states, including a 'Soundex' search that finds business names that sound phonetically similar to your search term.

The system supports partial matches, so searching "Great Lakes" will return "Great Lakes Technology LLC," but using your complete legal name as registered provides the most precise results.

Click on any entity name in the results to access the full entity profile, which includes formation details, registered agent information, filing history, and current status. Michigan's search interface displays results in a sortable table format, making it easy to navigate through multiple matches.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Nonprofit Corporation, PC, PLLC, etc.)
• Michigan Entity ID (8-digit format; older entities may have shorter IDs)

Formation/registration date, current status (Active, Dissolved, Revoked, etc.), and registered agent information are only available when you click through to the detailed entity page.

How to find your entity number in Michigan

Your Michigan entity number, officially called your "Michigan Entity ID," is a unique number assigned by LARA when your entity was formed; its exact format may vary.

Where to locate your Michigan entity number

1. Michigan business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and at the top of the entity details page
• Labeled as: "ID Number" or "Entity ID"
• Format: 12345678 (8-digit numerical format)

2. Articles of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "File Number," "Document Number," or "Entity ID"
• Stamped or printed by Michigan LARA

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official LARA documents
• Used as your account identifier for the state’s portal
• Referenced in all state filing confirmations and notices

Michigan entity number format

• Format: 8 digits (numerical only)
• Example: 12345678
• Pattern note: Sequential numbering system based on order of filing; numbers do not indicate formation year or entity type

How to find your entity type in Michigan

Michigan recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Michigan entity type

1. Michigan business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under the entity name
• Listed as: "Entity Type" or "Business Type"
• Common types include: LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, PC, PLLC, Nonprofit Corporation

2. Articles of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the specific entity type being formed
• Uses formal legal language matching Michigan statutes

3. Annual reports and filings

• Listed in the entity information section on all state filings
• Cannot be changed without a formal amendment through LARA

How to find your formation date in Michigan

Your formation date (when LARA officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Michigan business search results, and you can confirm it as the filing or approval date found in official state records.

Where your Michigan formation date appears

1. Michigan business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Date Registered" or "Registration Date"
• Location: Displayed in search results and prominently on the entity details page
• Format: Standard MM/DD/YYYY format

2. Articles of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document with LARA filing stamp
• May show "Filed on [date]" or "Date Filed: [date]"
• Sometimes includes both the received date and filed date

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate annual report due dates and compliance schedules

Formation date vs. effective date

Michigan allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When LARA processed your paperwork
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date)

For most Michigan entities, the formation date and effective date are identical, as delayed effective dates are less commonly used in Michigan filings.

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