Michigan is a huge state, and thousands of businesses are working here. As a local, you may need to understand the detailed registered information of a business before dealing with it. For this purpose, you can use Michigan Business Entity Search.
This tool is connected with a huge database and can help you access legal information of any registered business. In this article, I am going to discuss what Michigan business entity search is and how you can use it to make a business search. Let’s begin.
What is Michigan Business Entity Search?
Michigan Business Entity Search is an online tool designed to help the state locals, or any other person in the United States, look up the registered legal information of a business.
Whenever someone starts a business in this state, they are required to register it with the relevant authorities. Their data is collected by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for public record-keeping.
If anyone wants to look for a business and understand what type of services or products it deals in, they can use the Michigan Business Entity Search tool.
By providing the right type of commands and selecting the right type of options, they can find their targeted business within a matter of seconds and analyze it properly.
Key Features of Michigan Business Entity Search
LARA has included several features in the Michigan Business Entity Search to make its use smooth and straightforward. I’ve discussed the details of these features below:
1. Large Database
One of the most impactful features of this business search tool is its large database. It includes information about almost all the major and small businesses currently working in the state of Michigan. These businesses can include:
- Corporations
- LLCs
- Partnerships
- Nonprofits
Another important thing that I noticed regarding this feature is that it is regularly updated. It is connected to the LARA database, which means if any new business is opened, you’ll be able to find its information here.
2. Ease of Use
The Michigan Business Entity Search tool is extremely easy to use. There are no complexities involved in its usage method. You only have to enter some relevant information about the business, such as entity name, ID number, etc., and the tool will help you find the company instantly.
It has a clean and neat user interface, and all the options are available right in front of you. This clean interface makes the use of the tool even easier.
3. Access Filed Documents
If you’re looking for a legal document related to a business, you can find it with this business entity search tool. Companies in Michigan are required to submit different types of legal documents, such as annual reports and certificates.
These documents are then saved in the database and are publicly available. You can find a business and then access these publicly available documents.
4. Registered Agent Information
Another useful information that you can find by using this tool is about registered agents. Each company has an agent that receives legal information and documents on its behalf.
As a local businessman, you can access the information of these agents and use it to connect with them. It’s a pretty useful feature in case you’re looking for a qualified person to become your legal correspondent.
5. Basic Business History
Furthermore, this tool also gives a simple history of a company. You can see the company’s change in structure, bylaws, and filing status, among other things. Knowing this kind of history helps to see when and how the company developed over time.
How to Use Michigan Business Entity Search?
When it comes to using Michigan Business Entity Search, you’d be surprised to know how easy it is. I’ve discussed the detailed usage method below:
1. Access The Tool
First of all, you need to access this tool. It is available on the Internet, and you can use your phone or computer in order to access it. Here’s how:
- Open an Internet browser.
- Search for “Michigan Business Entity Search”.
- Click on the indicated link in the image below.
- Now, click on the highlighted link.
2. Add Business Information
Now that you’re on the tool, it’s time to add the information about the business that you want to search. The tool allows you to find a company by using any of the following information:
- Entity Name
- Individual Name
- ID Number
- Filing Number
For entity and individual name options, you can also select the search type. For example, you can choose whether the tool searches for companies with an exact match or by keyword.
Where To Find The Information?
If you’re new to the business world, you can be wondering where you can find the entity name, ID number, or filing number of a company. The following information can help you with it:
- Entity Name: It is the official company name, and you can find it on their website or on the business card.
- Individual Name: It is the name of a person related to the company. This person could be the owner, director, or any other person holding an important post.
- ID Number: This is a legal number provided by the Michigan Corporations Division. You can find it on any official document provided by LARA.
- Filing Number: This is a filing number available on some official document, such as a business amendment.
3. Complete The Search:
Now, you can finally complete the search.
- After providing the relevant information, simply click on the “Search” button.
- The tool will provide you with the relevant businesses.
- Pick your required one from here and view its information.
Common Mistakes While Searching for a Business
Many people might make some mistakes while searching for a business on this tool, which can cause errors or open any irrelevant companies. You should avoid these mistakes to have a smooth search experience. I’ve listed some of them below:
- Using incorrect spellings of the entity or an individual.
- Not selecting the right search type.
- Looking for a business that is outdated.
- Using symbols or punctuation marks in the search section.
Final Verdict
Michigan Business Entity Search is a very useful tool for anyone looking to find legal information about a business in Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs has made this tool pretty efficient, and you can find different types of information about a company here.
The best thing about this tool is its easy usage method. You can find the required information about a company here by adding relevant information such as the entity name.
This tool has some limitations and may not be an all-in-one destination to analyze a business entirely.
People Also Ask
There are different ways to look up an LLC in Michigan online. One way to do this is by using the Michigan Business Entity Search tool.
There are different types of business entities working in this state. Some of the main ones are LLCs, corporations, partnerships, etc.
One of the best ways to find out if a business name is available in Michigan is by using the business entity search tool provided by LARA.
Yes, you can easily file a Michigan LLC online through LARA.
