You're sitting at your kitchen table in Grand Rapids or maybe a coffee shop in Royal Oak, and you’ve finally got it. The perfect name for your new business. It’s catchy, it’s clever, and you’re pretty sure it’s going to look great on a sign. But before you go ordering business cards or registering a domain, there is a giant, bureaucratic hurdle you have to clear.
You need to deal with the state of Michigan business entity search.
Honestly, most people think this is just a quick Google-style search where you type in a name and see if a website pops up. It isn't. Not even close. If you get this part wrong, the state will reject your filing faster than a bad transmission in a Detroit winter. Even worse, you could end up in a legal tussle with another company that has a name just similar enough to yours to cause "confusion in the marketplace."
Why the Michigan LARA Site is Your New Best Friend
First things first: forget the Secretary of State. In a lot of other states, the SOS handles business filings. Not here. In Michigan, everything goes through LARA—the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Specifically, you’ll be spending time on the Corporations Online Filing System (COFS).
It looks a bit like a website from 2005, but it’s the only source of truth.
When you perform a state of Michigan business entity search, you aren't just looking for an exact match. You’re looking for "distinguishable" names. Michigan law is pretty picky about this. If you want to name your shop "Great Lakes Coffee" and there’s already a "Great Lakes Coffee LLC," you’re probably out of luck.
But it gets weirder.
Punctuation doesn’t count. Plurals usually don’t count. Adding "The" at the beginning doesn't count. To the LARA computers, "The Blue Mitten" and "Blue Mitten" are basically the same thing.
The "Soundex" Secret
Most people just use the "Search by Entity Name" and leave it at "Begins with." That’s a mistake. You’ve got to use the Soundex search option.
Soundex is an old-school indexing system that finds names that sound like yours even if they are spelled differently. If you want "Kool Katz" and someone already has "Cool Cats," Soundex will catch it. If the state thinks they sound too similar, they might block your registration to prevent consumer confusion.
It’s better to find that out now than after you’ve spent $500 on a logo.
How to Actually Use the Search Tool Without Losing Your Mind
When you land on the LARA search page, you’ll see a few options.
- Search by Entity Name: This is the big one.
- Search by Individual Name: Useful if you’re trying to see what other businesses a specific person (like a potential partner) is involved in.
- Search by Identification Number: Every Michigan business gets a 9-digit ID. If you have this, it’s the fastest way to find a specific record.
Here is a pro tip: when searching for name availability, don't type "LLC" or "Inc" in the search box. The system treats those as designators, not part of the core name. If you search for "Mammoth Pizza LLC," you might get zero results. But if you search for just "Mammoth Pizza," you might find five different variations that would have blocked you.
Reading the Results Like a Pro
Once the list pops up, don’t just look at the names. Look at the Status column.
If you see a name you love but the status says "Dissolved" or "Terminated," you might actually be able to grab it. In Michigan, once a business is officially dissolved, that name eventually goes back into the "available" pool. However, don't just assume it's up for grabs the day they close their doors. There's often a waiting period, and it’s always safer to call the Corporations Division at (517) 241-6470 to double-check.
The Hidden Trap: DBAs vs. Entities
Here is something that trips up almost everyone.
A state of Michigan business entity search on the LARA website only shows you corporations, LLCs, and limited partnerships. It does not always show you sole proprietorships or "Doing Business As" (DBA) names registered at the county level.
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Michigan is a bit fractured this way.
If you’re in Oakland County, you have to check the Oakland County Clerk’s records too. If you only check the state database, you might find the name is "clear," only to find out there’s a guy three towns over who has been running a sole proprietorship under that exact name for twenty years.
He might have "common law" rights to that name, and he could sue you for trademark infringement even if the state let you register the LLC.
Beyond the Search: What Happens Next?
So, let's say your search came up empty. No "exact matches," no "Soundex" hits, and the name is beautiful. You aren't done yet.
You should probably check the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database. Just because no one in Michigan is using the name doesn't mean a company in Ohio hasn't trademarked it nationally.
Reserve Your Name
If you aren't ready to file your Articles of Organization today, you can reserve the name. It costs about $25 for an LLC (or $10 for a corporation) and holds the name for six months. It’s basically a "placeholder" so no one else snatches it while you're still working on your business plan.
Check the Domain and Socials
This isn't a legal requirement, but it’s a business necessity.
Search for the .com. Search for the handle on Instagram, TikTok, and X. It’s incredibly frustrating to have a legally registered Michigan LLC called "Lansing Tech Solutions" only to find out that @LansingTech is owned by a defunct crypto bot or a teenager in another country who wants $5,000 for the handle.
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Actionable Steps to Secure Your Name
Stop guessing and start clicking. The process is straightforward if you follow this sequence:
- Go to the LARA COFS website. Start with a "Keyword" search of just the most unique part of your name.
- Run a Soundex search. This is your safety net for phonetic similarities.
- Check the status. If a similar name exists but is "Dissolved," check the date of dissolution.
- Visit your County Clerk's website. Search their local DBA/Assumed Name records for any sole proprietors using the name.
- Search the USPTO TESS database. Look for federal trademarks that might override your state registration.
- File your paperwork immediately. In Michigan, the "First in Time, First in Right" rule generally applies. If the name is free, claim it.
Checking the state of Michigan business entity search is the very first real "work" you do as a business owner. It’s the moment your idea moves from a dream to a legal reality. Take the extra twenty minutes to do the deep search now; your future self—the one not dealing with a "Cease and Desist" letter—will thank you.
Once you have confirmed the name is available, navigate to the "Online Filing" section of the LARA portal to submit your Articles of Organization or Incorporation. This is where you'll pay your filing fees ($50 for most LLCs) and officially put your business on the Michigan map.