Filing a Michigan DBA (doing business as), also known as an assumed name, is a simple process and it’s completed at the county level or with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) depending on your business structure.
Learn How to Get a DBA in Michigan yourself. Choose your business structure to get started:
Fast-Track Your DBA Registration
You can hire a professional service such as LegalZoom to file your DBA for you. Their packages start at $99 (plus state fees).
Sole proprietors and partnerships are required to file with the appropriate County Clerk’s office(s).
A sole proprietorship is a business owned by a single individual that isn’t formally organized. If you run a business and file taxes under your own name, you are a sole proprietor.
A Michigan DBA doesn’t offer any protection for your personal assets in the event that your business is sued. For more information on setting up a limited liability company, visit our How to Form an LLC page and select your state.
SKIP AHEAD
If you need to create a DBA for an LLC or Corporation, you can click here to skip ahead.
If you haven’t already, head over to the Michigan LARA website to make sure your name isn’t taken by— or too similar to— another registered Michigan business.
Make sure your name complies with Michigan naming rules:
Next, a quick search on the U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System will tell you whether someone else has already trademarked your name.
Now would be the perfect time to make sure there’s a web domain available for your DBA as well.
Domain Name Search
If your business is a sole proprietorship or partnership, then you are required to file a certificate of conducting business under an assumed name with the appropriate county clerk’s office(s).
Knowing which county to file in is simple: you must file in any county where your business conducts or transacts business.
We will give you step-by-step directions to get an Oakland County DBA. You can find information about registering an assumed name in Oakland County here. If you need to file in a different county, you’ll need to contact the county clerk for instructions.
You can find your county’s’ contact information here.
How to File an Oakland County DBA
At this point, you should have already nailed down your DBA name and completed the name searches in Step 1 above.
Oakland County suggests searching state and county records before you start the DBA filing process. You can search the Oakland County records here and the Michigan state records here.
Forms
Submit Your Certificate
By Mail or In Person
Oakland County Clerk’s Office
Attn: Vital Records
1200 N. Telegraph Dept. 413
Pontiac, MI 48341-0413
Payment
DBA Questions
Call (248) 858-0568 for general questions about business certificates, assumed names, and DBAs.
Renew Your DBA
Your business name must be renewed every five years using the same form.
Withdraw Your DBA
To discontinue your DBA in Oakland County, you must fill out this form and pay a $10 filing fee.
LLCs, Corporations, and LLPs must file their DBA with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). The following business types are considered incorporated:
If you are registering a DBA for a sole proprietorship or partnership, go back to the DBA guide for unincorporated businesses.
If you haven’t already, head over to the Michigan LARA website to make sure your name isn’t taken by— or too similar to— another registered Michigan business.
Make sure your name complies with Michigan naming rules:
Next, a quick search on the U.S. Trademark Electronic Search System will tell you whether someone else has already trademarked your name.
Now would be the perfect time to make sure there’s a web domain available for your DBA as well.
If you need extra guidance with naming your business, we can help.
Domain Name Search
If your business is an LLC, Corporation, or LLP, you are required to file your DBA with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA).
First, print a copy of the certificate of assumed name form. When you are filling out your application for your DBA, Michigan State requires certain information about your business, such as:
You can also file online.
A DBA does not offer any protection for your personal assets in the event that your business is sued. For more information on setting up a limited liability company, visit our How to Form an LLC page and select your state.
Walk-In
2501 Woodlake Circle
Okemos, MI
Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing Bureau
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 30054
Lansing, MI 48909
Payment and Fees
Fees
Payment
DBA Questions
Call the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs: (517) 241-6470
Renew Your DBA with the State
Your certificate of assumed name expires on Dec. 31 of the fifth full calendar year following registration. The filing fee is $10-$25.
Withdraw Your DBA
You can find the Certificate of Termination of Assumed Name form here.
Simplify Your Michigan DBA Filing
Let LegalZoom’s expert team handle your DBA registration for just $99 plus state fee, so you can focus on growing your business.
You can file your assumed name form online here.
