In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan
A Michigan Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division, for corporations and LLCs. Order it online through the MiBusiness Registry Portal with a MiLogin for Business account, and LARA emails it to your account address. The fee is $10 online, by phone or by mail. In person, the fee is $12.50 with the 25% expedite included, and the certificate is completed by the end of the next business day.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), Corporations Division
- Fee: $10 for corporations and LLCs online, by phone or by mail; $12.50 in person
- How to order: MiBusiness Registry Portal (MiLogin for Business account), phone, mail or in person
- Turnaround: Online orders are emailed to your account address; in person, completed by the end of the next business day
- Free status check: Search the MiBusiness Registry Portal at no cost
- What keeps you in good standing: LLC Annual Statement by February 15 ($25); corporation Annual Report by May 15 ($25); a registered agent on record
Michigan takes certificate orders through the MiBusiness Registry Portal, so the online process starts with a MiLogin for Business account. The document is LARA’s Certificate of Good Standing, and the fee is $10. This guide covers the portal steps, the in-person option, and the Annual Statement that keeps a Michigan LLC in good standing. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Michigan Certificate of Good Standing is LARA’s official statement that a corporation or LLC is on file with the Corporations Division and in good standing on its records. For an LLC, that means its Annual Statements are filed. For a corporation, its Annual Reports are filed and it has not been automatically dissolved or revoked.
Who asks for a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing:
- Banks opening an account for a Michigan LLC or corporation
- Other states’ filing offices, when a Michigan entity registers there as a foreign entity
- Lenders and SBA loan underwriters
- Payment processors and online marketplaces verifying a business
- Buyers and their lawyers during an acquisition
- State licensing boards and local permit offices
LARA lists the certificate on form CSCL/CD 274 as “Good Standing (Corporation and LLC).” One certificate type covers both entity types.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan
LARA’s Corporations Division FAQ directs online orders to the MiBusiness Registry Portal.
- Sign in to the MiBusiness Registry Portal with a MiLogin for Business account. Create one first if you do not have it.
- Search for your corporation or LLC by name.
- Open the entity record and select the option to order a certificate.
- Choose Certificate of Good Standing.
- Pay the $10 fee.
- Check the email address on your MiLogin account. LARA sends the certificate there.
By phone or mail: LARA accepts certificate orders by phone and by mail at the same $10 fee. Form CSCL/CD 274 lists the certificate fees for every method.
In person: in-person orders cost $12.50, which includes a 25% expedite, and LARA completes them by the end of the next business day. LARA’s order system information page lists the methods and fees.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
The fee is the same for corporations and LLCs. LARA charges a 25% expedited fee on certificates when you expedite them, which is why the in-person price is $12.50.
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| MiBusiness Registry Portal (online) | $10 | Emailed to your account address; no standard time published |
| Phone | $10 | Not published by the state |
| $10 | Not published by the state | |
| In person (includes 25% expedite) | $12.50 | By the end of the next business day |
LARA’s full filing fee schedule lists the other Corporations Division charges.
How to Check Michigan Good Standing Status for Free
Searching the MiBusiness Registry Portal is free. Look up the entity by name to see its status and confirm it is in good standing before you pay for a certificate. An LLC with missed Annual Statements shows as not in good standing.
Read our Michigan business entity search guide for help reading the search results.
How a Michigan LLC Stays in Good Standing
Michigan LLCs file an Annual Statement by February 15 each year, starting the year after formation. If the LLC was formed after September 30, no statement is due the following February 15. The fee is $25. A missed Annual Statement puts the LLC “not in good standing” on LARA’s records.
Michigan profit corporations file an Annual Report by May 15, starting the year after incorporation. The fee is $25 and rises each month from May 16 to a $75 maximum. A corporation that does not file is automatically dissolved (domestic) or revoked (foreign).
- LLCs: file the Annual Statement and pay $25 by February 15.
- Corporations: file the Annual Report and pay $25 by May 15 to avoid the monthly increase.
- Keep a registered agent and registered office in Michigan on record, and update LARA when either changes.
- Keep the MiLogin account email current so emailed certificates reach you.
See how Michigan’s dates compare with other states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Michigan Business Is Not in Good Standing
LARA restores LLCs and corporations through different filings:
- Search the MiBusiness Registry Portal to confirm the status and the years missing.
- LLC: file a Certificate of Restoration of Good Standing (form CSCL/CD-770). The fee is $50 plus $25 for each missing Annual Statement.
- Corporation: renew by filing every missed Annual Report. Profit corporations pay $75 per prior year plus penalties. LARA’s renew my corporation page lists the steps.
- Confirm the registered agent on record is current.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing once the portal shows the entity in good standing.
For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Michigan Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
Michigan’s corporate filings sit with LARA, not a Secretary of State, so the LARA Certificate of Good Standing is the document other states and banks request. It covers the entity’s filing record only.
The Michigan Department of Treasury issues a separate Tax Clearance Certificate on request. You request it on Form 5156, Request for Tax Clearance Certificate. Order it when a buyer, lender or contract asks for proof that Michigan taxes are settled, such as in a sale of the business. Details are on Treasury’s tax clearance page.
Using a Michigan Certificate in Another State
When a Michigan LLC or corporation registers in another state, the other state’s filing office asks for a current Certificate of Good Standing from Michigan. Order it through the MiBusiness Registry Portal so it arrives by email, and attach it to the application. For how the two documents relate, read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much is a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan?
LARA charges $10 for a corporation or LLC Certificate of Good Standing ordered online, by phone or by mail. In-person orders cost $12.50 because they include a 25% expedite.
How do I order a Michigan Certificate of Good Standing online?
Sign in to the MiBusiness Registry Portal with a MiLogin for Business account, find your entity and order the certificate. LARA emails it to the address on your account.
How fast can I get a Certificate of Good Standing in Michigan?
In-person orders are completed by the end of the next business day. Online orders are emailed to your account address. LARA does not publish a standard processing time for online, phone or mail orders.
When is the Michigan LLC Annual Statement due?
It is due February 15 each year, starting the year after formation. LLCs formed after September 30 skip the first February 15. The fee is $25.
How do I restore a Michigan LLC to good standing?
File a Certificate of Restoration of Good Standing, form CSCL/CD-770, with LARA. The fee is $50 plus $25 for each missing Annual Statement. Then order a new Certificate of Good Standing.
Fees verified against official Michigan sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Michigan LARA Corporations Division site before you order.
