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If you want to start a new business in Michigan, you need the right name. Our helpful Michigan LLC and corporation search tool lets you look up business names in MI to see if they’re available. We’ll check your proposed business name against the registry of businesses held by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs.

When You Have a Unique Name for Your Michigan Corporation or LLC, We’ll Help You Legally Form Your Business Through Our Quick, Easy and Inexpensive MI Entity Formation Process

To search for Michigan business entities, just enter your details in the box below, and we’ll take care of everything else.

Use Our Free Business Name Search Tool to Find Out If Your Company Name Is Available

We’ll take care of the entity search.

We’ll tell you if your business name is available with the Michigan Division of Corporations. Just fill in your proposed business name, and we’ll search the company registrar for you.

Michigan Rules on Naming Your Corporation or LLC

All businesses formed in Michigan must be named following certain rules.

Your business name must be unique and not similar to or confusable with another business name in Michigan.

If your Michigan business is an LLC, it must contain “Limited Liability Company” or an abbreviation. If it’s a corporation, it must contain a word like “Incorporated,” “Corporation” or something similar.

Normally, you cannot imply connection with a Michigan state entity or that you will be carrying out activities your MI business is not legally able to provide.

Other Michigan Business Name Rules

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory affairs has a large list of words that are prohibited or restricted from being used in a business name. You can review the list of prohibited and restricted words here.

Form Your Michigan LLC or Corporation Quickly and Easily

We have a full guide to starting a new business in Michigan. Learn about how to start a MI LLC or a MI corporation.

MI LLC
MI Corporation
New Jersey LLC

Common Questions About Michigan Business Searches

How Do I Search for My Michigan LLC or Corporation Business Name?

Just use the Michigan Business Name Search Tool above and enter your proposed MI LLC or corporation name. We’ll search the business name database of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and tell you if there are any matches.

What Are the Rules on Naming My Michigan Business Entity?

Michigan business entities do have to follow some general and specific naming rules. We’ve covered the main ones above.

Can I Do Business Under a Different Name Than My Legal Name in Michigan?

You can normally choose to conduct business under a different name in Michigan. This can be known as an “assumed name”, “fictitious name”, “doing business as name” or “trade name.” We can file your MI Fictitious Business Name with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs on your behalf.

I Need to Change the Name of My Michigan Business Entity — Can You Help?

You can change your Michigan legal business entity name by filing an amendment to your Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization. We can file an amendment on your behalf, including changing the name of your Michigan corporation or LLC.

Can You Help Me Choose the Right Michigan Business Name?

The perfect Michigan business name can be elusive. We have a complete guide to choosing the right MI business name — you'll want to choose a name that will:

  • Matter to business customers
  • Help people remember your company
  • Be unique among Michigan business entities
What’s the Best Way to Stop My Michigan Business Name from Being Used by Someone Else?

The easiest way to protect your Michigan business name is to incorporate your business in Michigan, generally as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a corporation. We can help you do that — just choose “Incorporate Now” above to get started.

If you want extra protection, you could consider registering your Michigan business name as a trademark. Note that filing a fictitious or “doing business as" (DBA) name in Michigan will not be sufficient to protect it.

What Michigan Agency Is Responsible for Managing and Registering Business Names in MI?

Businesses are incorporated in Michigan via the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. They manage the Michigan company register, and it is their business name database that we will search on your behalf.