Everything you need to register a foreign LLC in Michigan.
State filing fee$50one-time
Registered agent$125/yearbased on Northwest RA
Total, all in$500
Michigan data last reviewed Aug 15, 2026 · michigan.govTotals include the $50 filing fee once, Northwest RA at $125/year, and Michigan recurring state costs over the selected period.
Foreign Qualification
Filing fee
$50
Form
Application for Certificate of Authority (Form CSCL/CD-760)
Michigan data last reviewed Aug 15, 2026 · michigan.gov
Formation in Michigan
Formation fee
$50
Annual cost
$25/year
State income tax
Flat 4.25% income tax
Privacy
Moderate
What triggers foreign qualification in Michigan?
Physical office or place of business
Employees working in the state
Important to know
The annual report is due February 15 on a fixed calendar rather than the registration anniversary.
Penalties accrue per calendar month and Michigan looks back up to five years.
Activities that do NOT require registration in Michigan
The following activities are explicitly carved out by statute. On their own, they do not require a foreign LLC to register in Michigan.
Maintaining, defending, or settling any proceeding
Holding meetings of members, or carrying on other activities concerning internal affairs
Maintaining bank accounts
Maintaining securities transfer, exchange, or registration offices, or trustees or depositaries for those securities
Selling through independent contractors
Soliciting or obtaining orders, if the orders require acceptance outside Michigan to become contracts
Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, and security interests in real or personal property
Securing or collecting debts, or enforcing mortgages and security interests securing those debts
Owning real or personal property, and nothing more
Conducting an isolated transaction completed within 30 days that is not one of repeated transactions of a like nature
Transacting business in interstate commerce
Under MCL 450.5008. Michigan tracks the MBCA list exactly, 11 items, with a 30-day isolated-transaction cap. Note MCL 450.5009 separately permits FHA and VA loan activity without authority to transact business.