Your Michigan Corporation name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide; or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.

In any case, the Michigan Corporation name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Michigan Corporation or other business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of Michigan.  Your Michigan Corporation name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your Articles of Incorporation; and your Michigan Corporation name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.

Michigan state law restricts the use of certain words and phrases in Corporation names.  The name of a Michigan Corporation also must include the word "Corporation" or "Incorporated" or an abbreviation of one of these words.  If you choose us to help you for a new Michigan Corporation we will make sure that the name you have chose complies with all Michigan requirements.

It's important to choose a good name for your Michigan Corporation because if you want to change it after you incorporate you will have to file amended Articles of Incorporation with the Michigan Secretary of State (and pay a fee).

Every Michigan Corporation must have an address that is physically located in the state of Michigan.  This address is "registered" with the Michigan Secretary of State.  The Registered Address is where official and legal correspondence can be delivered.

The individual or company that is registered with the state of Michigan to receive all correspondence on behalf of the Michigan Corporation is called a "Registered Agent".  You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many Michigan Corporations hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical address within the state of Michigan or to provide a distinct level of privacy.

All Michigan Corporations are required to have a Board of Directors.  Directors are the people who will set policies for your Michigan Corporation and manage the business and its resources.  In the majority of small corporations directors are the owners. The Articles of Incorporation or Corporate Bylaws may define specific qualifications for Directors. 

The Board of Directors is responsible for creating rules, approving budgets and distributing profits to shareholders. One of the most important duties of the Board of Directors is electing Officers for your Michigan Corporation.  The same person may be a Director and an Officer at the same time.  Directors need not be residents of the state of Michigan or shareholders of the Michigan Corporation unless the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws require it.

Normally Directors for your Michigan Corporation are elected for a term of one year.  Elections are held at the annual meeting of Shareholders.  The Directors serve until the next annual Shareholders meeting.

The Board of Directors elects Officers for your Michigan Corporation in accordance with the Corporate Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.  Officers serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors of the Michigan Corporation.  Officers handle the day to day operation of the Michigan Corporation.

Unless specifically prohibited by the Corporate Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation, in a Michigan Corporation the same person may hold more than one Corporate Office at the same time.  However, there are certain legal affairs in which the same person cannot act in more than one capacity.

Each Michigan Corporation must have at least a President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Any Officer of the Michigan Corporation may simultaneously hold more than one office but may not sign a document required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or the Corporate Bylaws in more than one capacity. 

One Officer - usually the Secretary - is given responsibility for preparing Minutes of Directors and Shareholders meetings and for authenticating records for the Michigan Corporation. 

The Michigan Corporate Income Tax Rate is 4.95%.   You may form an S Corporation in Michigan.  S Corporations may "pass through" all corporate profits to the shareholders (owners) who then pay tax at their applicable personal rate.  S Corporations do not pay any Michigan Corporate Income Tax.

In order to form a Corporation in Michigan you must file Articles of Incorporation with the Michigan Secretary of State.  The Articles of Incorporation must include certain specific information about your Michigan business. If the Articles do not conform exactly to state of Michigan requirements they will be rejected.  You may subsequently amend the Articles of Incorporation for your Michigan Corporation but you will have to pay a fee to the state of Michigan in order to make the changes official.

A Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is used by the IRS to identify a business entity.  An FEIN is like a Social Security Number for your Michigan Corporation.  All Michigan Corporations are required to have an FEIN.

Corporate stock is evidence of ownership of a Michigan Corporation.  When you form your Michigan Corporation, you will need to determine what type of stock and the number of shares of each type that you want to authorize.  You do not have to sell the number of shares that are authorized.  Many small Michigan Corporations hold 100% of the shares.

Stockholders in a Michigan Corporation are entitled to voting rights or dividends of the Corporate profits or both.  Whoever owns over 50% of the stock of the Michigan Corporation is able to make all Corporate business decisions.  Michigan Corporations usually hold at least 51% of the corporate stock in order to retain control of the Michigan Corporation.

The Board of Directors holds an initial meeting to elect Officers, authorize issuance of stock and adopt the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws are the internal rules of your Michigan Corporation.  They are adopted by the Board of Directors and vary widely from Corporation to Corporation.  Commonly bylaws include the number of seats on the board of directors; how Directors are elected; how meetings of Directors and Shareholders are to be conducted; what Officers the Michigan Corporation will have and a description of each of their duties. 

As your company grows over time, you may amend your bylaws as necessary.  Bylaws generally cannot be amended by the Board of Directors unilaterally.  A vote by the majority of Stockholders of the Michigan Corporation is usually required to amend the Corporate Bylaws.  Bylaws may include any rules for managing the business and conducting corporate affairs.  Almost anything may be written into the Bylaws, however, the Bylaws must not be in violation of any federal or Michigan law or the Michigan Corporation's Articles of Incorporation.  A copy of the Corporate Bylaws should be maintained at the Corporation's principal Michigan office.

Note that forming a Michigan Corporation doesn't take the place of obtaining a business license, tax registration certificate, or other required business permits.  A Michigan Corporation merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.  You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.

Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your Michigan Corporation you may need to get one or more city business licenses or permits.  The business licenses or permits that are required for your Michigan Corporation vary depending on your business activities and the specific locations within the state of Michigan in which you want to conduct business.

If your Michigan Corporation will be selling products in Michigan you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate Michigan state agency.  If your Michigan Corporation will be selling products in Michigan you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of Michigan sales taxes if there are any.

Every Michigan Corporation must hold corporate and shareholder meetings, at least annually, and must keep minutes of each meeting on file.  A copy of the minutes is evidence that the meetings took place and includes all resolutions that were adopted.  The minutes of each meetings must be open for inspection by any Shareholder or Director.  This meeting requirement is often overlooked and comes into play when the Michigan Corporation is challenged for any reason.  Keeping proper meeting minutes and documenting resolutions made and approved by the Directors is a formality that could save your Michigan Corporation a lot of potential trouble.

An initial Michigan Corporation Annual Report must be submitted to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs by May 15 after the year in which the MI Corporation's Articles of Incorporation were approved.

All Michigan Corporations must file an Annual Report with the MI Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs EACH year

The Michigan Corporation Annual Report is due by May 15 each year.

Section 922(1) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act provides that if a domestic MI Corporation fails to file its annual report and filing fee for two years, the MI Corporation will be automatically dissolved by the Secretary of State 60 days after the expiration of the 2-year period.

Section 922(2) of the Michigan Business Corporation Act provides that if a MI Foreign Corporation fails to file its annual report and filing fee for one year, its Certificate of Authority is subject to revocation by the Michigan Secretary of State 60 days after the expiration of the 1-year period.