This guide from Harbordale Lending Group in Bay City, Michigan explains the certificate of good standing issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), how it is ordered and why lenders ask for it. LARA sets the rules and fees; confirm them with LARA.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing Search Before a Bay County, MI Dental Office Applies
Before ordering, look the entity up. LARA's Corporations Division keeps the state's business entity records, and a search shows the entity's exact legal name, its identification number, its status and its filing history. A dental office organized as a PLLC or an LLC should confirm that the name on the state record matches the name on its bank accounts, tax returns and loan application.
Mismatches, such as a missing "PLLC" or an old name, slow down a lender's review. The Corporations Division page is the starting point.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC: Annual Statements and Restoration
Michigan LLCs file an annual statement with the state, and corporations file annual reports. An entity that falls behind on those filings can lose its active status, and then a certificate of good standing cannot be issued until the entity is brought current. LARA publishes a page on restoring an LLC that has fallen out of good standing.
Filing deadlines and late fees are set by LARA; confirm them on its pages rather than relying on a summary.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing Online Through the MiBusiness Registry Portal
LARA moved entity filings and certificate orders to its MiBusiness Registry Portal in 2025. According to LARA, an owner signs in with a MiLogin for Business account, finds the entity, and uses the request option to order a certificate of good standing; the certificate is sent to the email address tied to that account. LARA's frequently asked questions also describe ordering by phone.
Fees and processing times are posted by LARA and can change.
Michigan Certificate of Good Standing From LARA for a Bay City, MI Fuel Retailer
A fuel retailer organized as an LLC or corporation orders the same certificate as any other entity. Lenders financing a station purchase may ask for certificates for both the buying entity and, sometimes, the selling entity, to confirm each can sign the documents. A newly formed buying entity needs to be active with the state before closing.
Form the buying entity early enough that its record is complete before the closing date.
Sole Proprietors and Assumed Names in Bay County, MI: No Certificate to Order
A sole proprietorship is not a state-registered entity, so there is no certificate of good standing to order. An owner operating under a business name different from his or her own may have an assumed-name record instead; ask the Bay County Clerk's office which record applies and how to obtain a copy.
Lenders reviewing a sole proprietor rely on the owner's identification, tax returns and bank statements instead.
Where the Certificate Sits in a Bay City, MI Funding File
A lender may ask for the certificate at application, before closing, or both. Some lenders run their own search instead. Certificates show status on the date issued, so a lender may want one dated within a recent window; ask how recent it needs to be.
Alongside the certificate, lenders often ask for the articles of organization or incorporation, the operating agreement or bylaws, and a resolution or consent authorizing the loan.
Fixing a Lapsed Michigan Entity Before a Funding Partner Asks
If the search shows an entity is not active, fix it before applying. The usual steps are to file any missing annual statements or reports, pay what is owed, and complete any restoration filing LARA requires. Then order a fresh certificate once the record shows active.
If the problem is a name change that was never filed, file the amendment with LARA so the record matches the name used everywhere else.
A Good-Standing Checklist for Bay County, MI Practices and Stores
- Search the entity record and note the exact legal name and number.
- Confirm annual statements or reports are current.
- Match the name on bank accounts, tax returns and the application.
- Set up a MiLogin for Business account if ordering online.
- Order the certificate close to the date a lender needs it.
With the entity record in order, the funding request itself can move. The funding comparison, the other guides and the Bay City, MI page cover what comes next. The Michigan SBDC's Lake Huron Region also helps owners with business questions; ask about any fees.
By Harbordale Lending Group · Updated
