Thinking about forming a Michigan LLC? A limited liability company is formed by filing the Articles of Organization (form CSCL/CD-700) with LARA's Corporations Division. After formation, you'll maintain compliance through annual filings.
Michigan keeps ongoing costs predictable with clear fee structures and straightforward requirements. The state updates requirements occasionally, so it's worth checking the LARA website before filing.
Here's the complete breakdown of what you'll pay, how long each method takes, and your online options:
The $50 base fee stays the same whether you file online or by mail, and the only difference is timing. Online filings typically process in about ten business days, while mailed paperwork can take nearly four weeks.
Racing against a deadline? Michigan's expedited services can dramatically cut your wait time, but only for documents submitted by mail or in person. The 24-hour service adds $50, same-day processing costs an extra $100 (submit by 1 p.m.), the 2-hour service adds $500 (3 p.m. cut-off), and the 1-hour service adds $1,000 (4 p.m. deadline).
Miss these cut-offs, and the clock starts the next business day, so overnight shipping makes sense for the faster options. The quickest service totals $1,050, but you'll have your approved Articles in about an hour.
Michigan's numbers make a strong case for itself. The $50 Articles of Organization fee looks even better when compared to neighboring states:
Every neighboring state charges at least $45 more, sometimes three times as much, just to start your business.
The savings continue after formation. Michigan's Annual Statement costs just $25 yearly, tying Wisconsin for the region's lowest recurring fee. Illinois wants $75 annually, Indiana charges $31 for paper filings, and Minnesota's renewal is free but offsets this with higher upfront costs. Ohio skips annual reports entirely, but its steeper formation fee often cancels that advantage within a few years.
From a national perspective, Michigan remains a bargain. Most states charge $100–$132 for initial filings, making Michigan about half the typical cost. Annual reports nationwide usually range from $50–$100, again putting Michigan's $25 fee on the more affordable end.
Michigan also has no publication requirement, an expense that can cost hundreds in states like New York or Arizona. With straightforward $50 filing, modest $25 renewal, and optional expedited options, Michigan offers one of the most wallet-friendly environments for you as an entrepreneur who'd rather invest in growth than paperwork.
Beyond basic formation costs, several optional and situational expenses might pop up as your business evolves. Knowing these potential fees helps you plan better and avoid surprises that can lead to that overwhelming feeling of compliance uncertainty.
Staying on schedule with annual filings saves you money. Michigan charges a late filing penalty of $10 per month (capped at $50). Meeting deadlines helps you avoid these unnecessary costs that can add up quickly when managing multiple entities.
Michigan's compliance requirements seem straightforward, but tracking deadlines and managing multiple entity obligations creates complexity. Discern eliminates this uncertainty. Our platform centralizes your entity data, pre-fills Michigan forms automatically, and manages compliance deadlines across all your business entities.
Check out a Discern demo today to learn more about our comprehensive solutions.
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