In Michigan a DBA is called an assumed name. Sole proprietors and partnerships file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the county clerk in every county where they do business, while LLCs and corporations file with the state Corporations Division (LARA). Either way, the certificate lasts about five years and then needs renewing.
The two-track system is what trips people up. Where you file depends on who owns the business, not on what it does. This guide walks through both routes, the fees in the official schedules as of October 2026, and the renewal timing, which works differently on each track.
Which office takes your assumed name
| Who owns the business | Where to file | Fee | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietor | County clerk, in each county you do business | Set by the county (Cass County charges $10) | 5 years from the filing date at the county |
| General partnership | County clerk (Certificate of Co-Partnership) | Set by the county (Cass County charges $10) | 5 years from the filing date at the county |
| Corporation | LARA Corporations Division, form 541 | $10 | Until 31 December of the fifth full calendar year after filing |
| LLC | LARA Corporations Division, form 541 | $25 | Until 31 December of the fifth full calendar year after filing |
Cass County's clerk page spells out the split: corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and nonprofits owned by corporations don't file their names at county level.
The county route for sole traders
Michigan's assumed name law (MCL 445.1) says a person can't carry on business under a name other than their real name unless they file a certificate with the clerk of each county where they own, conduct or intend to conduct the business. The statute itself sets a base filing fee of $6.00, but counties publish their own schedules, so check yours. Cass County's, for example, lists:
- Certificate of Assumed Name: $10, expires 5 years from the date of filing, with 2 certified copies.
- Certificate of Co-Partnership: $10, also 5 years, with 3 certified copies.
- Consent to Process for out-of-state residents: $2, filed with the assumed name certificate.
- Dissolution of an assumed name or co-partnership: $10.
The certificate has to be notarised. Cass County checks the name is available in that county only and tells filers it's their job to check the state level too. Trading in three counties means three filings.
The state route for LLCs and corporations
An LLC or corporation files a certificate of assumed name with LARA instead. The Corporations Division fee schedule lists form 541, Certificate of Assumed Name, at $10 for a corporation and $25 for an LLC, with the same fees for a renewal (form 542) and a termination (form 543), as of October 2026.
The term is the detail worth knowing. Under MCL 450.4206 for LLCs, the certificate runs until 31 December of the fifth full calendar year after the year you filed. So a certificate filed in October 2026 lasts until the end of 2031, not October 2031. You extend it for further five-year periods by filing a renewal certificate, and the corporation version (MCL 450.1217) says a renewal can't be filed earlier than 90 days before expiry. So there's a short window, not an open one.
Filing step by step
- Work out which track you're on: county for sole traders and partnerships, LARA for LLCs and corporations.
- Search the name at the relevant level, and at state level too if you're filing with a county.
- Complete the certificate with your true name, the assumed name and your business address.
- Get it notarised if you're filing with a county clerk.
- File it with every county where you trade, or once with LARA, and pay the fee.
- Diarise the expiry. County certificates run from the filing date; LARA certificates run to a calendar year end.
What an assumed name won't do
A DBA doesn't create a separate legal business or protect your personal assets, and it doesn't give you exclusive rights to the name across the state. If the business sells taxable goods you'll also need a sales tax licence, which my Michigan sales tax guide covers. For how DBAs work in other states, see my overview of DBA registration.
Changing or ending an assumed name
A certificate isn't something you file and forget. Cass County lists three events that oblige the owner to notify the clerk and file the right form:
- The business is dissolved. A county dissolution costs $10.
- People are added to or removed from the business name certificate.
- The principal address of the business changes.
On the state side, LARA's schedule has a separate form for ending a name: form 543, Termination of Assumed Name, at $10 for a corporation and $25 for an LLC. Two or more businesses can also share one assumed name in a joint venture, but MCL 450.1217 says each participating corporation must file its own certificate. The same section lets a merging company pass an assumed name to the surviving business, provided the transfer is noted in the certificate of merger.
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Once the business has staff, Michigan labor laws covers the Michigan employment rules.
My verdict
If you're a sole trader, budget for a filing in every county you trade in and a renewal in five years. If you're an LLC, the $25 state filing covers you everywhere in Michigan and lasts a little longer than five years. Either way it's one of the cheapest bits of admin in starting a business, so file before your first invoice goes out.
Arizona makes the filing optional and uses a different office, as an Arizona trade name explains.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file a DBA in Michigan?
Sole proprietors and partnerships file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the county clerk in each county where they do business. LLCs and corporations file with the LARA Corporations Division.
How much does a DBA cost in Michigan?
LARA charges $10 for a corporation and $25 for an LLC, as of October 2026. County fees vary; Cass County charges $10 for a Certificate of Assumed Name.
How long does a Michigan DBA last?
A county certificate lasts 5 years from the filing date. A LARA certificate lasts until 31 December of the fifth full calendar year after the year it was filed.
Can two businesses share an assumed name in Michigan?
Yes, in a partnership or joint venture. MCL 450.1217 lets two or more corporations assume the same name, but each participating corporation has to file its own certificate.
Does a Michigan DBA need to be notarised?
County certificates do. Cass County says notarisation is necessary, and its office can notarise if every owner attends.
