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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Chapter 1 · Michigan

Michigan LLC Formation Chapter (2026): 7 Sections and the 3 Best LLC Services

The recommended reading for forming an LLC in Michigan in 2026 is Michigan Registered Agent.co ($199), Mainstay Filing ($199) and MI Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. Definition to start: the filing fee is the $50 paid to Michigan. The 7 sections cover it and the annual statement that comes after.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

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Charge at the filing office $50 Reference: legislature.mi.gov, consulted September 2026
Annual statement $25 a year Deadline given by the state: February 15
State fees across three years $100 Service fees excluded
Number of sections 7 First to last

After this chapter you will understand

  • The Michigan formation document, its fee and its recipient
  • How to satisfy the resident agent rule
  • What follows formation
  • The recommendations and their reasons

Recommended reading for Michigan

The order rests on five weighted criteria described under how we grade, with three-year cost and paperwork completed on top.

1. Michigan Registered Agent.co: best for a basic formation

Top recommendation
$199 and fees, then $99 each year

First place goes to Michigan Registered Agent.co; $199 to start with the first agent year paid, followed by $99 annually.

On three-year cost it undercuts Mainstay Filing, and cost is a large part of the ranking.

Preparing the annual statement every year is still left to you.

Price covers

  • The Michigan formation, prepared and submitted
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 and the state fee
  • $99 a year after that
  • Agent covered in year one

Limitations

  • No service for the annual statement is offered
  • It charges $99 for the EIN section
Visit Michigan Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. Mainstay Filing: best for one bill for filing and upkeep

Any state
$199 a year, renewing at $199

Mainstay Filing takes second position; $199 per year takes care of three chapters at once: formation, resident agent and the annual statement.

Michigan Registered Agent.co is $200 lower across three years, which keeps this service out of first place.

The annual statement is part of the service, and Michigan's $25 fee is billed at cost.

Price covers

  • Formation paperwork completed
  • Resident agent for the full year
  • Annual statement prepared and filed
  • The EIN application is part of the price
  • State fee passed through at cost

Advantages

  • No increase at renewal ($199)
  • The EIN application is filed for you
  • A single yearly fee of $199, with the annual statement included

Limitations

  • $100 a year more than Michigan Registered Agent.co at renewal
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. MI Registered Agent.org: best for a local filer

In-state service
$199 and fees, then $99 each year

The third recommendation, MI Registered Agent.org: $199 to start with the first agent year paid, followed by $99 annually.

Preparing the annual statement every year is still left to you.

On price, it matches Michigan Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • The Michigan formation, prepared and submitted
  • One year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 and the state fee
  • $99 a year after that
  • Agent covered in year one

Limitations

  • No service for the annual statement is offered
  • It charges $99 for the EIN section
Visit MI Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The services compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Michigan Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit Michigan Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Mainstay Filing $199$199/yr$597 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 MI Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit MI Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Company prices as listed on November 13, 2026. The $50 state fee is omitted from these figures.

The sections

  1. Section 1

    Settle on the legal name

    Name availability is decided by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), so the search belongs at the front of the process.

    Keep a second choice on hand.

  2. Section 2

    Name your resident agent

    Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Michigan resident, or a corporation or LLC formed in Michigan or authorized there, whose business office (or, for a person, residence) is the registered office.

    The address has to be a registered office in Michigan, which does not have to be the place of business. P.O. boxes are not accepted.

    Any service in the recommended reading provides a resident agent.

    Reference: Reference: legislature.mi.gov, consulted October 2026

  3. Section 3

    Choose how the paperwork is prepared

    Filing yourself costs $50. Hiring one of the recommended services adds $199 for preparing the paperwork.

  4. Section 4

    The state wants the Articles of Organization

    Formation takes effect when the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) accepts the Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700) and $50 under MCL 450.4202. Per the state, processing takes Up to 10 business days for non-expedited.

    Reference: Reference: legislature.mi.gov, consulted September 2026

  5. Section 5

    Request an Employer Identification Number from the IRS

    Once Michigan approves the filing, the LLC applies to the IRS for an Employer Identification Number, which banks and payroll services require. The Mainstay Filing annual price already includes this section.

  6. Section 6

    Prepare an operating agreement

    Definition: the operating agreement sets out shares, voting and what happens when a member leaves. It is private.

  7. Section 7

    Prepare for the second year

    Calendar entry for the owner: the annual statement, at $25, every year, due February 15. Lateness is penalized at $10.

    Reference: Reference: michigan.gov, consulted August 2026

The price list

SectionPayeeTotal
Fee to form The state$50
Annual statement The state$25 every year
If the report is late The state$10
Service, if hired Service$199 at the start
State fees for the first three years The state$100

Rows for the state rely on Michigan's published fee schedules (listed in the bibliography below), and each service row uses that company's own price. For three years the state row adds the filing, the report in year two, the report in year three and any minimum tax.

How the ranking came out

Tuition over three years accounts for 34% of the ranking, and led on it in Michigan.

Michigan Registered Agent.co leads the cost criterion at $397 across three years, with Mainstay Filing $200 behind.

Short answers

Which fees does Michigan charge when an LLC is formed?

Michigan charges $50. Service charges among the ranked companies fall between $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

Deliver the Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700) to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).

Is a resident agent required?

Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.

How long does Michigan take to process the filing?

In general Up to 10 business days for non-expedited.

What does Michigan require each year?

Enter the annual statement in the calendar: $25, every year, February 15.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

The state accepts filings directly from owners, so no service is needed: $50 plus a resident agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Michigan Registered Agent.co ranks first and Mainstay Filing and MI Registered Agent.org follow; Michigan Registered Agent.co leads on tuition over three years.

Further reading

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations rests on michigan.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  2. Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations rests on michigan.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  3. Michigan report due date rests on michigan.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  4. MCL 450.4202 rests on legislature.mi.gov, a text consulted August 2026.
  5. Michigan formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on michigan.gov, a text consulted September 2026.
  6. Michigan formation fee: Filing fee, official source rests on legislature.mi.gov, a text consulted September 2026.
  7. Michigan registered agent statute rests on legislature.mi.gov, a text consulted October 2026.
  8. Processing time, official source rests on michigan.gov, a text consulted September 2026.
  9. Michigan Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  10. Mainstay Filing, Michigan service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  11. MI Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026