How to search Michigan business entities online
Official Resource
Michigan Official SOS WebsiteMichigan business entity records are searchable at mibusinessregistry.lara.state.mi.us/search/business, operated by the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Bureau within the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Michigan's Secretary of State does not handle business entity registration — that function sits with LARA. The older COFS portal (cofs.lara.michigan.gov) is no longer operational.
Updated August 2026
Not the Secretary of State — and a recent system migration
Unlike most states, Michigan business entity registration isn't handled by the Secretary of State. It's the Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Bureau within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Michigan also completed a full migration from the legacy COFS system to the new MiBusiness Registry Portal on June 23, 2025 — the old COFS portal is no longer operational, and COFS login credentials did not carry over, so returning users need to create a new account.
What the search covers
The MiBusiness Registry covers all entity types registered with the CSCL Corporations Division: domestic and foreign profit corporations, professional corporations, nonprofit corporations, ecclesiastical corporations, LLCs, professional limited liability companies, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and registered trademarks and service marks. Trademark search is at a separate tab within the same portal.
MiBusiness Registry — what changed in June 2025
Michigan migrated entirely from the COFS system to the MiBusiness Registry Portal on June 23, 2025. Several operational changes came with the migration:
- Paper annual reports and annual statements are no longer accepted — all must be filed online through the portal
- Credentials from the old COFS system did not carry over; a new account must be created at the MiBusiness Registry
- In-person document submissions now require scheduling a payment appointment in advance
- The search page displays a running notice of the exact dates through which business filings, and through which renewals and restorations, have been processed — check that notice on the page itself for the current processing lag rather than assuming same-day indexing
How to search
The portal requires a minimum of 2 alphanumeric characters to begin a search, plus an Advanced option for additional filters. Name searches retrieve matching entities; selecting a result opens the full record showing the entity's status, registered office address, resident agent name, officer and director information, and filing history. Certificates and certified copies can be ordered from the record after logging in.
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Michigan LARA Corporations Division. Verify current procedures at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.