County Clerk

Online Services

Business Registration Information

DBA "Doing Business As" or Co-Partnership Name Registration

Registration is required by state law and is done through the County Clerk's Office in each county in which you plan to do business. The first step is to confirm that the business name you have selected is acceptable. The Clerk is authorized to reject any assumed name, which is likely to mislead the public, or is similar to other business names as to lead to confusion or deception. The registering of the name places that name on public record indicating that the registrant(s) is/are conducting business under an assumed name. A DBA protects a business from possible name duplications by other businesses.

Search for businesses registered in Kent County.

A business registration is good for 5 years:

$10.00 fee (cash or check payable to “Kent County Clerk”)
Renewable 30-90 days prior to expiration
To change name or type of business, you must file a new certificate.
Notify the Clerk's Office to:

Check with the State to ensure that the business name is not being used by a corporation, limited liability company ("LLC"), limited liability partnership ("LLP"), or non-profit organization, which file at the State*. State of Michigan Business Entity Search

Forms

Business Registration Form
Business Registration Addendum (use if more than 4 partners or partner(s) out of state)
Non-Resident Form (if applicant out-of-state resident)

Business Registration Certificate	Fees
Assumed Name	$10.00 ¹
Partnership	$10.00 ¹
Name Change	$10.00 ²
Notice of Dissolution	$5.00
Change of Address	$5.00
Certified Copies (each)	$2.00

Business Registration Certificate

Fees

Assumed Name

$10.00 ¹

Partnership

$10.00 ¹

Name Change

$10.00 ²

Notice of Dissolution

$5.00

Change of Address

$5.00

Certified Copies (each)

$2.00

Footnotes:
1. Includes 2 certified copies for sole proprietorship and 3 certified copies for co-partnerships issued at time of filing.
2. Must file new certificate.

The County Clerk cannot give legal advice. You may wish to contact your legal advisor for more information on registering a business.

* For information regarding corporations, LLC’s, LLP’s and non-profits, contact:
Corporations & Securities Bureau
6546 Mercantile Way
P.O. Box 30054
Lansing, MI 48909
Phone: (517) 241-6470
Fax: (517) 334-8329

For County information, call (616) 632-7640

Kent County Clerk
County Administration Building, 1st floor
300 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-2288