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PrintInitial Fees and Licenses in Michigan
If you're going to operate your business in Michigan, when you start up you're going to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC)).
Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in Michigan) in Michigan, you will be subject to various fees when you start up. The following are the filing requirements and payments by domestic corporations to the Michigan Department of Commerce:
| Document | Fee |
| Articles of incorporation | Minimum $60 for up to 60,000 authorized shares; $30 for each additional 20,000 shares, to a maximum of $5,000 for the first 10,000,000 shares and $200,000 for shares in excess of 10,000,000 |
| Amendment to articles of incorporation | $10 |
| Restated articles of incorporation | $10 |
| Certificate of merger or share exchange | $50 |
If you're doing business as a foreign corporation (a corporation organized outside the state of Michigan) in Michigan, you too will be subject to initial fees when you start up. The following are the filing requirements and payments by foreign corporations to the Michigan Department of Commerce:
| Document | Fee |
| Application for a certificate of authority | $10 |
| Amended application for a certificate of authority | $10 |
| Certificate of merger or share exchange | $50 |
| Application for withdrawal and issuance of certificate | $10 |
Foreign corporations pay an initial admission franchise fee equal to $50 for the first 60,000 authorized shares considered attributable to Michigan and pay additional fees for higher levels and additions to capital. This initial admission fee is payable to the Michigan Department of Commerce.
Limited liability companies (LLCs). If your company is either a domestic or foreign limited liability company (LLC), file the following documents as applicable with the Michigan Department of Commerce:
| Document | Fee |
| Application for reservation of name | $25 |
| Articles of organization | $50 |
| Restated articles of organization | $50 |
| Application for certificate of authority (foreign) |
$50 |
| Amendments to application for certificate of authority (foreign) |
$25 |
| Certificate of assumed name | $25 |
| Termination of the certificate of assumed name | $25 |
| Annual statement of resident agent and registered office |
$5 |
| Certificate of merger | $100 |
| Certificate of abandonment or dissolution | $10 |
Licenses and fees. Michigan requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Below is a partial list of the some of the types of businesses required to obtain a license. Be sure to check with the state to make sure you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.
- chiropractic
- closing-out sales
- electrical contractors
- emigrant agents
- franchisors
- gasoline retailers
- insurance agents and solicitors
- landscape architects
- public accountants
- real estate brokers or salespersons
- transient merchants
