Michigan DBA Filing: Cost & Steps (2026)

Q: Where do I file a DBA in Michigan?

It depends on your structure. Registered entities (LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships) file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the LARA Corporations Division. Sole proprietors and general partnerships file an assumed name certificate with the clerk of the county where they do business.

Q: What is a Michigan DBA called?

Michigan calls a DBA an assumed name. For entities the document is the Certificate of Assumed Name (Form CSCL/CD-541); for sole proprietors and partnerships it is an assumed name certificate filed at the county clerk.

Q: How long does a Michigan assumed name last?

An entity Certificate of Assumed Name filed with LARA is effective through December 31 of the fifth full calendar year after the year it was filed. You renew it before it expires for another $25 to keep the name active.

Q: Does a Michigan DBA give trademark protection?

No. An assumed name lets you operate under a name and puts the public on notice, but it does not grant exclusive rights. Only a state or federal trademark registration provides enforceable brand protection.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

In Michigan a DBA is called an assumed name, and where you file depends on your structure. An LLC or corporation files a Certificate of Assumed Name (Form CSCL/CD-541) with the LARA Corporations Division for a $25 fee, valid through the fifth full calendar year after filing. Sole proprietors and general partnerships instead file an assumed name certificate with the county clerk.

Quick Answer

What it is called: Assumed name (Michigan's term for a DBA / trade name)
Entity document: Certificate of Assumed Name, Form CSCL/CD-541
Entity fee & agency: $25 to LARA, Corporations Division
Term: Effective through Dec 31 of the fifth full year after filing; renewable ($25)
Sole proprietors & partnerships: File with the county clerk (fee set by county)
Governing law: LLC Act (MCL 450.4206); county filings under MCL 445.1

What a Michigan DBA (Assumed Name) Is

A DBA - "doing business as" - is a trade name a business uses instead of its legal name. Michigan does not use the phrase "DBA" in its statutes; the legal term is assumed name. Filing an assumed name creates a public record connecting the trade name to the real person or entity behind it, so customers, creditors, and courts can identify who is actually responsible.

An assumed name is not a business structure. It does not create a separate legal entity and does not by itself provide liability protection. If you want a liability shield, you form an LLC or corporation and then, if you want to operate under a different brand, file an assumed name on top of that entity. Filing one is often the first paperwork a new business submits, so it is easy to assume it does more than it does; in reality it changes only the name you may lawfully use in public, not the legal identity or liability of the person or entity behind it. For the national overview of trade names, see what is a DBA.

Two Paths: LARA for Entities, County Clerk for Sole Props

The single most important thing to get right in Michigan is where you file, because it depends on your business structure:

Registered entities - LLCs, corporations, and limited partnerships - file a Certificate of Assumed Name with the LARA Corporations Division at the state level. The assumed name attaches to the entity's record.
Sole proprietors and general partnerships - which are not registered with the Corporations Division - file an assumed name certificate with the clerk of the county in which they conduct business, under Michigan's assumed-name statute for individuals (MCL 445.1).

This split trips people up constantly. A sole proprietor cannot file a DBA with LARA, and an LLC does not file its assumed name at the county clerk. Identify your structure first, then use the correct venue. If you have not yet formed an entity, review how to form an LLC in Michigan before deciding.

Certificate of Assumed Name for LLCs and Corporations

If you operate as an LLC or corporation, you file Form CSCL/CD-541, Certificate of Assumed Name, with the LARA Corporations Division. For an LLC, the assumed name is authorized by section 206 of the Michigan Limited Liability Company Act (MCL 450.4206); for a corporation, it is authorized by the Business Corporation Act (MCL 450.1217). The certificate states the entity's true name and the assumed name it wants to use.

The filing fee is $25 for an LLC's Certificate of Assumed Name. Before you file, confirm the assumed name is available and distinguishable using the Michigan business entity search, just as you would when filing Articles of Organization. Your entity must be in good standing and keep its resident agent current for the assumed name to remain valid.

Michigan Assumed Name Fees (2026)

Who / what	Where	Form	Fee (2026)
LLC Certificate of Assumed Name	LARA	CSCL/CD-541	$25
Corporation Certificate of Assumed Name	LARA	CSCL/CD-541	$25
Renewal of entity assumed name	LARA	CSCL/CD-541 (renewal)	$25
Sole proprietor / partnership assumed name	County clerk	County certificate	Set by county (confirm locally)
Federal EIN	IRS	Form SS-4	$0 (free)

The $25 entity fee is set by the state; the county fee for sole proprietors and partnerships varies by county, so confirm the current amount with your county clerk before filing. For an entity's full cost picture over time, see Michigan LLC cost.

How to File an Entity Assumed Name, Step by Step

Confirm your structure and good standing. Make sure your LLC or corporation is active in the business entity search. If your annual statement is overdue, bring it current first - see Michigan annual statement.
Choose and check the assumed name. The assumed name must be distinguishable from other names on record and cannot use a corporate designator your entity is not entitled to. Search it first.
Complete Form CSCL/CD-541. Enter the entity's true name, the assumed name, and the required entity details.
File and pay $25. File online through the MiBusiness Registry portal, or mail the form with a check payable to the State of Michigan to the LARA Corporations Division in Lansing.
Track the expiration. Calendar the assumed name's expiration (December 31 of the fifth full year after filing) so you can renew before it lapses.

Sole Proprietors and Partnerships: County Assumed Name

If you run an unincorporated business - a sole proprietorship or a general partnership - you register an assumed name with the county clerk in the county where you do business, not with LARA. Michigan's assumed-name law for individuals and co-partnerships (MCL 445.1) requires anyone conducting business under a name that does not disclose the owner's true surname to file a certificate with the county clerk. The certificate lists the assumed name and the real name and address of each owner.

Because the filing is handled at the county level, the fee, the exact form, and whether notarization is required vary by county, so check your county clerk's office directly. A sole proprietor should also get a federal EIN if it will hire employees or wants to avoid using a Social Security number on business paperwork; the IRS explains how trade names and EINs work for sole proprietors. Partnerships should keep a written partnership agreement in addition to the assumed name certificate.

Renewing Your Assumed Name (Five-Year Term)

Unlike a permanent formation filing, a Michigan entity assumed name has a limited life. A Certificate of Assumed Name filed with LARA is effective through December 31 of the fifth full calendar year after the year it was filed. Before that date, you renew it - filing the renewal keeps the name active for another five-year cycle and carries the same $25 fee. If you let it lapse, the entity loses the right to use that name and another business could claim it.

County assumed names for sole proprietors and partnerships have their own duration and renewal rules set by statute and local practice; confirm the term with your county clerk. In all cases, if you stop using an assumed name or close the business, update or withdraw the filing rather than letting the record go stale - coordinate this with your other wind-up steps if you dissolve the LLC.

What a Michigan DBA Does Not Do

An assumed name is a notice filing, and it is easy to overestimate. A Michigan DBA does not:

Create liability protection. Only forming an entity does that - compare S-corp vs LLC.
Grant exclusive rights to the name. Enforceable brand rights come only from a trademark registration.
Serve as a tax ID or license. You still apply separately for an EIN, register with the Michigan Department of Treasury if you owe sales or other taxes, and obtain any needed licenses.
Replace an operating agreement. An LLC should still keep its operating agreement current.

For how another state handles the same task, compare North Carolina DBA filing, where assumed names are recorded with the county Register of Deeds and one filing is effective statewide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DBA cost in Michigan?

For an LLC or corporation, the Certificate of Assumed Name (Form CSCL/CD-541) filed with LARA costs $25. For a sole proprietor or partnership, the county clerk sets the fee.

Where do I file a DBA in Michigan?

Registered entities file with the LARA Corporations Division; sole proprietors and general partnerships file with the clerk of the county where they do business.

What is a Michigan DBA called?

An assumed name. For entities the document is the Certificate of Assumed Name (Form CSCL/CD-541); for sole proprietors and partnerships it is an assumed name certificate filed at the county clerk.

How long does a Michigan assumed name last?

An entity Certificate of Assumed Name is effective through December 31 of the fifth full calendar year after filing. Renew it before it expires for another $25.

Does an LLC need a DBA in Michigan?

Only if the LLC does business under a name different from its registered name. If it uses its exact registered name, no assumed name is required.

Does a Michigan DBA give trademark protection?

No. It lets you operate under a name and identifies the owner, but only a state or federal trademark grants enforceable rights.

What is a DBA? (cluster hub)
How to form an LLC in Michigan
Michigan Articles of Organization
Michigan business entity search
Michigan annual statement
How much does a Michigan LLC cost?
North Carolina DBA filing (sibling state)

Sources

Michigan LARA - Corporations Division Forms (Form CSCL/CD-541 Certificate of Assumed Name; $25 fee).
Michigan LARA - Form CSCL/CD-541, Certificate of Assumed Name (LLC) (PDF).
Michigan LARA - Corporations Division (agency).
Michigan LARA - MiBusiness Registry Portal (online filing).
Michigan LARA - Business Entity Search (name availability).
Michigan Legislature - MCL 450.4206, Assumed name (LLC).
Michigan Legislature - MCL 450.1217, Assumed name (corporation).
Michigan Legislature - MCL 445.1, Certificate of persons conducting business under assumed name (county clerk).
Michigan Legislature - Michigan Limited Liability Company Act (Act 23 of 1993).
Michigan Department of Treasury - Business Taxes (registration).
Michigan Department of Treasury - Sales and Use Tax.
IRS - Sole Proprietorships (trade names and EINs).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).

LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and procedures change and county filings vary; verify current requirements with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and your county clerk before acting.