When it comes to opening up a business in Michigan, as in any other state, there are some legal procedures you must go through. The entrepreneur or business owner must be one of the first things to do; it is to make sure that the name of the business that he or she wants to register is not already in existence. Luckily the search tool- Michigan Business Entity provides an easy, convenient method to search for the availability of business names, determine the existence of active businesses, and also get valuable legal information concerning the bodies of business entities in Michigan.
This guideline will take you through the steps to carrying out the Michigan Business Entity Search in order to make your business registration legal and hitch-free.
What Is MICHIGAN Business Entity Search?
Michigan Business Entity Search is the search of the existence of a business on the Internet, which is directly issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). It is mostly utilized to determine the availability of a business name, and the existence of a company and to obtain information regarding the business including its status, its owner, and so on.
- The search may be performed on any type of business unit such as:
- LLCs Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- C-corporations, S-corporations.
- Partnerships
- Sole proprietorships
- Non-profit organizations
This search is a necessity because it is done in order to ensure it is not in conflict with the name of another business that may be registered already under the Michigan name and second it is necessary to assure that the name you want is legally open and will not cause confusion.
Why Is a Michigan Business Entity Search Important?
Michigan Business Entity Search has some advantages for and individuals. There are the following reasons why you are supposed to conduct this search:
- Availability Check of names: Before running a business in Michigan, the name you are interested in must not be occupied by any other company. Such a search will guide you in the process of establishing whether your business name is regarded as unique and available to use.
- Check up on the Business: It is always good to confirm the status of a business before engaging in any business deal or partnership. You may confirm that the business is still active, dissolved, or in good standing.
- Research competitors: In the case of entrepreneurs desiring to venture into a particular industry, conducting a business entity search will permit you to research competition and determine how they are organized.
- Legal Compliance: Your business name must be vacant and be in full compliance with the rules and regulations of Michigan. This quest prevents future headaches on your part since you are abiding by the law.
- Get Detailed Business Data: You can get detailed data about the business, like the name of the agent of the business companies, the status of the filing, and the kind of business entity that can prove very important in making vital decisions about the business.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing a Michigan Business Entity Search
Before you start to conduct the Michigan Business Entity Search, it is important to know how to use it and how the steps of such search may be implemented.
Access the Michigan LARA website
The search for a business entity starts at the site of the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) of Michigan. A business entity search tool is located directly with the visitation of the LARA Corporations, Securities and Commercial Licensing Bureau. This is the state’s official site where the search tool on business entities is located.
Go to Business Entity Search Tool
When you get on the LARA site, locate Business Entity Search. For more information, use the provided link and go to the search tool.
Type the Business Name
On the search tool page, you will be required to key in the name of the business you intend to search. You may provide the whole name of the business or only one part of it. To illustrate this, when you need to get the number of a company that is offering services such as ABC Landscaping, you can enter keywords like ABC Landscaping or simply ABC as the search word to get more results.
Search Parameters Choice
With the help of the Michigan Business Entity Search , you can filter your search in different ways. The following are some options which you may use:
External Match: It will only show results that are the external match of the name that you have entered.
Partial Match: It will provide any of the entities that have the name or phrase you just typed in but does not have to be the entire business name.
Business Type: You can undergo a filter on the type of business entity i.e. LLC, Corporation, Non-Profit, etc.
Status: You are able to filter this on the status of the business from active, dissolved, to pending.
Review the Search Results
Once the search button is pressed, the search tool will come up with a list of results concerning the name that you have searched. In every result, the following information concerning the business entity will be mentioned:
- Business Name: This is the name that the business was registered.
- Type of entity: The type of entity of the business is LLC, corporation, or other.
- Status: Status the business is in i.e. active, dissolved, etc.
- Filing date: The date when this business entity had been submitted or registered in Michigan.
- Business ID: A special number representing what it is.
- Registered Agent Information: The contact information of the registered agent in the company.
Name availability check
When you go to search so as to confirm the availability of a business name, you would like to make sure that the name you intend to register has no identical matches. In case you find a match you may be required to alter your name or select another one. You can also wish to ensure that there are no similar names of already established businesses.
Reviewing Business Details
When searching, in case a business entity closely matches or is similar to the name of the business you want to operate, then by clicking on the entity name, you can be directed to more information about the same. This will assist you in collecting the details on the filing status of the business and other requirements.
What to Do If Your Business Name Is Already Taken?
In case the name of your preferred business is already registered in Michigan then do not fret! These are some of the possibilities you can put into consideration:
- Change the Name: You may alter your business name a bit by adding some words changing spellings or using an acronym. Let us say that your business is landscaping, then instead of calling it by the name: ABC Landscaping, you may consider calling it something like: ABC Landscaping Co. or ABC Lawn Services.
- Register a DBA: suppose you want to operate a company with something like an existing business has, then you can approach the filing of a Doing Business As (DBA) name, which enables your operation to use a different name than the one you registered as a business.
- Look in the Other States: In case your business name is a vital part of your business brand, search the other states. In case you intend to go elsewhere outside Michigan you might want to trademark the name in other states.
Conclusion
Michigan Business Entity Search is a very important aspect that a person should undertake when establishing a business in Michigan. It can guide you in checking whether your business name is available and whether you are abiding by the law and you can also research the available business within your line of business. With a hassle-free step-by-step procedure, as explained in this guide, you are assured that your business registration process is a smooth ride and you may not get into trouble later on.
Reminder: Not all business entity searches are reserved for new business owners, this can be of use to research similar businesses, to know better who are their partners in business or the scenario of the legal situation in the territory. By taking the initiative of conducting a good search, you make your business much more solid and legally flawless.
FAQS
How long does it take to complete a Michigan Business Entity Search?
Search itself is fast, and in a majority of cases, results come within a few seconds. Depending on the intricacy of the search the process of reviewing the results may vary and take several minutes at most.
Can I perform a Michigan Business Entity Search without a business name?
Yes, you are able to do a Michigan Business Entity Search using the name or any other feature such as entity type or status. Nevertheless, it will aid in reducing the search with the help of a business name or word.
What happens if I find that my business name is already taken?
In case you have already the name of your business that you want and it has already been taken, you may change it, utilize the DBA (Doing Business As) name, or you may use an entirely different name.
