Form Your Michigan C Corporation
Build the investor-ready structure VCs require in the Great Lakes State, with a low $60 filing fee, no franchise tax, and a global automotive, EV, and mobility hub
Filed in Michigan
The Great Lakes State · MI
- State filing fee$60
- Processing time~3-5 business days standard online; expedite available
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$25 annual report; no franchise tax — due May 15th annually
- State tax rate6% corporate income tax
- Expedited option24 hours (+$50)
Form your Michigan C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Michigan C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $60 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Michigan LARA (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs).
Registered agent
Required in Michigan — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Corporate bylaws
Professionally drafted corporate bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an C-Corp in Michigan
Michigan pairs low incorporation costs with a deep automotive, EV, and mobility ecosystem anchored in Detroit and Ann Arbor, giving a C Corporation the manufacturing, engineering, and venture talent to scale. The investor-ready structure of a Michigan C Corp fits the priced rounds and equity grants that institutional capital expects, while the state's 6% corporate income tax and lack of a franchise tax keep ongoing costs predictable.
Low $60 state filing fee to incorporate
The entity structure venture capital and institutional investors require
Issue stock and equity to founders, employees, and investors
Perpetual existence independent of any single owner
QSBS / Section 1202 tax benefits may apply to qualifying stock
Global automotive, EV, and mobility hub centered in Detroit and Ann Arbor
Low $25 annual report and no franchise tax for ongoing compliance
Skilled manufacturing and engineering talent at below-coastal costs
Key features of a Michigan C-Corp
- $60 filing fee and a low $25 annual report
- No franchise tax in Michigan
- Investor-ready structure with stock, a board, and bylaws
- Perpetual existence and transferable ownership
- Global automotive, EV, and mobility ecosystem
Major industries in Michigan
Form your Michigan C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes ~3-5 business days standard online; expedite available.
- 01
Choose Your Corporation Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' 'Limited,' or an abbreviation like 'Corp.' or 'Inc.' Check availability through the Michigan LARA business search before filing.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Michigan requires a resident agent with a physical street address in the state to accept service of process and official correspondence on behalf of the corporation.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to Michigan LARA, stating the number of authorized shares. The state filing fee starts at $60 and online filing is available through the LARA COFS system, with processing in about 3-5 business days (expedite available).
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and Appoint Directors
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws, appoint your board of directors, and authorize the issuance of stock. A C Corporation needs at least one director.
- 05
Issue Stock and File 83(b) if Applicable
Issue shares to founders and set up your cap table. Founders receiving restricted stock subject to vesting should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the grant.
- 06
Obtain an EIN and File the Annual Report
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS for banking, payroll, and tax filing, then keep the corporation in good standing by filing the Michigan annual report by May 15th ($25).
Michigan C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Michigan C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Michigan C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with Michigan LARA ($60)
- State the number of authorized shares in the formation document
- Appoint a resident agent with a physical Michigan address
- Appoint a board of directors (minimum one director)
- Adopt corporate bylaws and hold an organizational meeting
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS for tax, banking, and payroll
- File the annual report by May 15th each year ($25)
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Michigan LARA (Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs)
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (6 months)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $60 Michigan state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Michigan)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Corporate bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
Michigan C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in Michigan. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to incorporate a C Corporation in Michigan?
The Michigan state filing fee to file Articles of Incorporation starts at $60. Ongoing, the corporation files an annual report for $25 each year, and Michigan imposes no franchise tax.
How long does it take to form a Michigan corporation?
Standard online filing with Michigan LARA takes roughly 3-5 business days. Expedited processing is available for an additional fee if you need your corporation formed faster.
When is the Michigan corporate annual report due?
Michigan profit corporations must file an annual report by May 15th each year. The fee is $25, and failing to file can put the corporation out of good standing or lead to dissolution.
How is a C Corporation taxed?
A C Corporation pays the 21% flat federal corporate income tax on its profits, plus Michigan's 6% state corporate income tax. Dividends are then taxed again at the shareholder level, the 'double taxation' that defines the C Corp structure.
Why do investors prefer a C Corporation?
Venture capitalists and institutional investors generally require a C Corporation because it can issue multiple classes of stock, maintain a clean cap table, and support priced rounds, SAFEs, and equity grants for employees, none of which a pass-through entity handles as cleanly.
What is QSBS and the 83(b) election?
Qualified Small Business Stock under Section 1202 may let early shareholders exclude a portion of their gain when they sell qualifying C Corporation stock; the benefits may apply depending on your situation. Separately, founders who receive restricted stock should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the grant to lock in early tax treatment.
Does my Michigan corporation have to file a BOI report?
Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, US domestic entities and US persons are exempt from beneficial ownership (BOI) reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in a US state still file.
Can I incorporate in Michigan online?
Yes. You can file your Articles of Incorporation online through the Michigan LARA COFS (Corporations Online Filing System), which is the fastest way to form your corporation.
Michigan government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official Michigan state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Fee VARIES by entity type: corporation and nonprofit corporation $10.
Flat $10 (expedited $12.50) per the state Certification and Copies fee schedule.
Learn moreCertified copy: minimum $16 for the first six pages, then $1 for each additional page.
$1.00 per document (per authentication).
Profit corporation total initial admission fee = $60.00, composed of $10.00 nonrefundable fee + $50.00 initial franchise fee.
Learn moreMichigan issues a Sales Tax License (seller's permit) free of charge through the Department of Treasury.
Learn more$5.00 nonrefundable fee payable to 'State of Michigan.' Michigan calls the registered agent a 'resident agent.' The same Form CSCL/CD-520 is used by profit corporation…
Learn moreFor automatic dissolutions occurring after Feb 24, 1978, each prior-year profit-corporation annual report costs $75.00 (base $25 report fee plus accumulated late penal…
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Michigan C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Michigan C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $60 Michigan state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in ~3-5 business days standard online; expedite available.
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