How to Do a Michigan Business Entity Search (2025 Guide)

Thinking about starting a business in Michigan? One of the smartest first steps is making sure your business name is available before you file any paperwork. A quick Michigan business entity search can save you time, money, and the headache of rejected filings later. 

Whether you’re opening a coffee shop in Ann Arbor or launching a consulting firm in Dexter, this guide will walk you through how to check your business name and what to do if your top choice isn’t available.

Michigan Entity Search Basics

For business owners short on time, here’s what you need to know:

• Why it matters: It’s not required by law to run a search, but a quick check can prevent rejected filings, wasted time, and extra costs.
• Where to search: Use the free Business Entity Search in the MiBusiness Registry Portal.
• When to search: Before filing any paperwork or spending money on branding.
• What else to check: Look for federal trademarks, run a domain name search, and check social media availability to fully protect your brand.
• Who can help: Consider using a trusted formation service if you’d rather not handle the paperwork yourself.

How to Search for Your Business Name in Michigan

Michigan’s online filing system makes this easy. Here’s how to do it step by step:

1. Go to the MiBusiness Registry Portal

Visit the MiBusiness Registry Portal. You can click Search in the left-hand menu or scroll down and select Business Entity Search under the “Business” section.

2. Choose Your Search Type

In the Advanced Search box:

• Under Search By, select Name or filing number.
  
• Under Search Filter, choose:
  
  • Contains — finds names with your term anywhere.
    
  • Starts With — finds names that start with your term.
    
  • Name Availability — checks for conflicts.

3. Enter Your Desired Name

Type at least two characters of your desired name. You can also filter by Entity Type, Status, or Registration Date Range if you’d like, but those are optional.

4. Click “Search”

Click Search at the bottom of the panel. Review the results carefully to see if any active businesses are using the same or a similar name. Michigan requires your name to be “distinguishable upon the record.” Punctuation or simply adding “LLC” won’t make it unique enough.

Steps After Performing a Michigan Business Entity Search

What to Do If Your Name Is Available

If you’re in the clear, take these extra steps before you move forward:

• Run a trademark search: Use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database to confirm your name isn’t already federally protected.
• Do a domain name search: Make sure you can claim a short, memorable domain that matches your business name. Try trusted registrars like GoDaddy.
• Check social media availability: Look on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X to secure matching usernames for consistent branding.
• Think long term: Will your name still fit if you expand or add services later? A name that grows with you saves time and money down the road.

If you’re not ready to form your business yet, you can reserve your name for six months by filing an Application for Reservation of Name with Michigan LARA and paying the $25 fee.

What to Do If Your Name Is Not Available

If your desired name isn’t available, don’t worry — you still have options.

Adjust Your Name to Be Distinguishable

Michigan requires your business name to stand out from others already on record. 

Let’s say you wanted to name your consulting business “Premier Consulting LLC” but it’s already taken. Here are some ways to make it unique:

• Add a unique descriptor: Try adding words that describe your specialty, like “Premier Strategic Consulting LLC” or “Premier Professional Consulting LLC.”
• Add your name or initials: Personalize it with “Smith Premier Consulting LLC” or “JP Premier Consulting LLC.”
• Add a location: Include your city or region, such as “Premier Ann Arbor Consulting LLC” or “Southeast Michigan Consulting LLC.”
• Use a completely different structure: Consider alternatives like “Premier & Associates LLC” or “The Premier Group LLC.”

Brainstorm a New Business Name

If none of the variations work, it might be time to come up with a fresh name that still fits your niche. While you can do this yourself, we recommend using our free AI business name generator, which gives you industry-specific options as well as their corresponding domain availability. 

Important Reminder: Make sure your new name follows Michigan’s naming rules. It must be truly distinguishable (not just punctuation changes), include the right ending like “LLC,” and avoid restricted words. See Michigan’s full naming guidelines if you need specifics.

Bottom Line

Taking five minutes to search for your business name can save hours of frustration later. Now that you know how to check availability and what to do if your first choice is taken, you’re prepared to secure a name that works everywhere: in Michigan’s records, online, and across social media. That’s a solid foundation for any new business.