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Founder Primer

LLC paperwork, boiled down for founders.

Primer 1 · Michigan

LLC Formation in Michigan (2026): 7 Moves and the 3 Best LLC Services

Our 2026 marks for starting an LLC in Michigan: Mainstay Filing ($199), Michigan Registered Agent.co ($199) and MI Registered Agent.org ($199), highest first. Numbers to know: 7 moves, a $50 filing fee, a $25 annual statement.
From the Founder Primer desk

Start here

Filing fee
$50
legislature.mi.gov, read September 2026
Annual statement
$25 a year
Date to circle: February 15
What the state collects in 3 years
$100
Service fees excluded
Move count
7
Each one explained

Primer goals

  • The Michigan formation form, its price and where it goes
  • What the resident agent rule asks
  • How to stay in good standing
  • Which services we pick and why

Michigan: services we rank

Five published criteria set the order; read them on how we score.

First choice $199 a year plus the state fee ($249 at checkout)

1. Mainstay Filing: best for founders who want a quiet first year

In Michigan, Mainstay Filing is number one: $199 a year buys the filing, the resident agent and the annual statement in one go, and renewal is the same $199.

Michigan Registered Agent.co is $200 cheaper over three years; this one still places higher because it does more of the work.

Included: the annual statement, with the state's $25 charged exactly as Michigan sets it.

Inside the price
  • Formation filing
  • Resident agent all year
  • Annual statement filed on time
  • EIN application included
  • State fee at cost
In its favor
  • $199/yr for the whole bundle
  • No extra fee for the EIN application
  • $199 each year
Against it
  • After year one it costs $100 more a year
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Michigan specialist $199 plus fees, then $99 yearly

2. Michigan Registered Agent.co: best for a small first invoice

Michigan Registered Agent.co lands second: $199 on top of the state fee, agent free in year one, then $99 a year.

The annual statement is outside the price.

Inside the price
  • The Michigan formation, prepared and sent
  • Agent service for year one
In its favor
  • $199 to form
  • $99 yearly from year two
  • Agent covered for year one
Against it
  • Filing the annual statement is outside what it does
  • It charges $99 for the EIN
Visit Michigan Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
Michigan specialist $199 plus fees, then $99 yearly

3. MI Registered Agent.org: best for a second Michigan option

MI Registered Agent.org lands third: $199 on top of the state fee, agent free in year one, then $99 a year.

The annual statement is outside the price.

Michigan Registered Agent.co and this service charge alike.

Inside the price
  • The Michigan formation, prepared and sent
  • Agent service for year one
In its favor
  • Agent covered for year one
  • $99 yearly from year two
  • $199 to form
Against it
  • Filing the annual statement is outside what it does
  • It charges $99 for the EIN
Visit MI Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Comparing the services

# Service First year From year two Three-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199 $199/yr $597 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 Michigan Registered Agent.co $199 $99/yr $397 Visit Michigan Registered Agent.co 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.

Posted prices, read November 13, 2026. Each row still needs Michigan's $50 fee.

The primer, move by move

  1. Move 1

    Check the name is free

    Search the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) first. If the name is already on the Michigan register, you will need another.

    Keep a runner-up name in reserve.

  2. Move 2

    Choose a 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.

    The services we rank supply a resident agent.

    Where this comes from: legislature.mi.gov, read October 2026

  3. Move 3

    DIY or hire help

    File it yourself for $50, or add $199 and let a service do it. The picks are above.

  4. Move 4

    Finish and lodge the Articles of Organization

    The Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700) is the document that forms the company. Deliver it to the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA); the fee is $50 (MCL 450.4202). The state lists a wait of Up to 10 business days for non-expedited.

    Where this comes from: legislature.mi.gov, read September 2026

  5. Move 5

    Sort out the EIN

    Approval first. Then the IRS. Mainstay Filing does this for you, no extra fee.

  6. Move 6

    Write an operating agreement

    The operating agreement is the owners' rulebook. The company keeps it; the state does not ask for it.

  7. Move 7

    Calendar the repeating deadlines

    Michigan requires the annual statement every year, due February 15, costing $25. Late means $10 extra.

    Where this comes from: michigan.gov, read August 2026

Michigan costs by move

Line Payee Amount
Setting up the LLC Paid to the state $50
Annual statement Paid to the state $25 every year
Late filing penalty Paid to the state $10
Filing service (optional) The provider $199 in year one
State fees, years one to three Paid to the state $100

These are the official Michigan fees, cited below. The three-year line adds the filing fee, the year-two and year-three reports and any minimum tax.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

To-dos the price takes off you is 38% of the mark, and it is where moved ahead in Michigan.

Michigan wants the annual statement every year, so a price that files it beat a lower one that leaves it to you.

What founders ask

What will a Michigan LLC cost to start?

The state fee is $50. Service fees on this list run $199.

Which form creates the LLC?

The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) takes the Articles of Organization (Form CSCL/CD-700), the paper that forms the company.

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?

The state posts Up to 10 business days for non-expedited.

What does Michigan require each year?

Every year the LLC files the annual statement: $25, due February 15.

Can I form the LLC without a service?

The state accepts filings directly from owners, so you need no service. Expect $50 and a resident agent.

Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?

Pick Mainstay Filing: one bill of $199 a year clears three to-dos (filing, resident agent, annual statement). Behind it: Michigan Registered Agent.co and MI Registered Agent.org.

See also

Sources, so you can check us

  1. Proof for Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations: the claims lean on michigan.gov, which we last read in August 2026. Open it and compare.
  2. Proof for Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations: the claims lean on michigan.gov, which we last read in August 2026. Open it and compare.
  3. Proof for Michigan report due date: the claims lean on michigan.gov, which we last read in August 2026. Open it and compare.
  4. Proof for MCL 450.4202: the claims lean on legislature.mi.gov, which we last read in August 2026. Open it and compare.
  5. Proof for Michigan formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the claims lean on michigan.gov, which we last read in September 2026. Open it and compare.
  6. Proof for Michigan formation fee: Filing fee, official source: the claims lean on legislature.mi.gov, which we last read in September 2026. Open it and compare.
  7. Proof for Michigan registered agent statute: the claims lean on legislature.mi.gov, which we last read in October 2026. Open it and compare.
  8. Proof for Processing time, official source: the claims lean on michigan.gov, which we last read in September 2026. Open it and compare.
  9. Mainstay Filing: Michigan service page, read on November 13, 2026
  10. Michigan Registered Agent.co: pricing page, read on November 13, 2026
  11. MI Registered Agent.org: pricing page, read on November 13, 2026