LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Amazon FBA in Michigan: full reference guide

Use this page when you want the complete dense version: all sections, all appendices, and the full official source directory in one scrollable reference surface.

Last verified: April 27, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for Michigan, IRS, FinCEN, Detroit, Amazon FBA. Use it as a first-pass guide, then verify the official links that match your setup.

How to use this page

Dense appendix modeFull source directory attachedLast verified April 27, 2026

This version favors completeness over pacing. Use it when you need the appendix, the dense source trail, or the full long-form reference in one place.

Best reading order

  1. Use the fast-answer and official-links sections first if you only need the main route and source trail.
  2. Open the entity, setup, tax, and local sections only where your exact launch path actually branches.
  3. Use the full source directory last as the appendix, not the starting point, unless you already know the exact agency task.
Fast answer appendix Official links first Full source directory
Back to the guided journey

Reference mode

Everything in one dense page

The guided journey is the easier starting point. This page keeps the full accordion guide and source appendix when you want the complete research-backed reference view.

Best when you need

  • The full section map in one scroll without the lighter journey framing.
  • The appendix and official-source directory preserved next to the answer sections.
  • A clearer audit trail before you print, compare, or cross-check another route.

Still better handled in the journey

  • First-pass reading when you want the shortest, safest beginner route.
  • Deciding what to do first before you need the full appendix.
  • Switching states or platforms quickly without reading the full dense version.
Reference map
Start here Fast answer If you want to open Amazon FBA in Michigan, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

If you want to open Amazon FBA in Michigan, you usually need to do five things in order:

  1. Choose your setup: sole proprietorship vs single-member LLC.
  2. Get your federal and Michigan registrations in place before launch.
  3. Verify county and city permit, zoning, storage, and home-business rules, especially if you are in Detroit.
  4. Open and verify your Amazon seller account, choose the right selling plan, and activate the FBA branch.
  5. Launch only after your product, tax, sourcing, listing, fulfillment, and insurance setup are ready.

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Amazon FBA business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • Assuming Amazon sales-tax collection answers every Michigan resale and registration question
  • Using a brand or storefront name without choosing the right Michigan county or state name filing
  • Treating a home location as automatically allowed for storage or shipment prep

Michigan-specific friction

Sole-proprietor name filings are county-based, so the filing path and fee are local rather than one-size-fits-all.

  • Sole-proprietor name filings are county-based, so the filing path and fee are local rather than one-size-fits-all.
  • Michigan's marketplace-facilitator rule is friendly to a pure Amazon-only seller, but the resale-certificate branch can still push you toward registration if you need a Michigan retail sales-tax license number for suppliers.
  • Michigan LLCs are not especially expensive to form, but the February 15 annual-statement date is easy to miss if you launch quickly and stop thinking about compliance.
  • Michigan employment rules now include the Earned Sick Time Act branch, which is separate from unemployment and workers' compensation.

Amazon-specific friction

Amazon category access, approvals, and FBA eligibility are separate issues.

  • Amazon category access, approvals, and FBA eligibility are separate issues.
  • Amazon wants strong identity, sourcing, and authenticity documentation.
  • Amazon pricing and onboarding facts can change, so re-check them on the day you act.

Insurance reality

A physical-product seller should expect to think about commercial general liability and product liability coverage before Amazon forces the issue.

  • A physical-product seller should expect to think about commercial general liability and product liability coverage before Amazon forces the issue.
  • Public Amazon-owned seller-forum guidance says insurance is required within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in one month on Amazon.com, or earlier if Amazon requests it.
  • The controlling Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement wording is still partly gated, so treat the public forum evidence as a warning signal and re-check the live Seller Central agreement before relying on it.
Back to top Next: Quick-start checklist
Checklist Quick-start checklist Use the research-backed checklist groups before you spend, before your first sale, and before launch goes live. Everyone 3 groups

Do these before you spend money

  • Pick your entity.
  • Pick your business name.
  • Decide your product lane.
  • Avoid regulated or high-risk categories for your first launch.
  • Confirm the product is not blocked by Michigan law, safety rules, or Amazon policy.
  • Make sure you can document sourcing and supplier legitimacy.

Do these before your first sale

  • Form the business or file your Michigan county assumed-name document if needed.
  • Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
  • Open a dedicated business bank account.
  • Handle the Michigan sales-tax or marketplace-only registration branch that applies.
  • Check Detroit or other local zoning and permit rules.
  • Create your Amazon seller account and complete verification.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Complete the FBA setup branch.
  • Confirm product, category, and FBA eligibility.
  • Build the first listing correctly.
  • Prep, label, and send a small first shipment.
  • Start small so you can test demand and catch compliance mistakes early.
Back to top Next: Official links you will use first
Choose your setup Entity choice Compare the sole-proprietor and single-member LLC paths before banking, tax setup, and platform onboarding. Everyone 2 options

Sole proprietor

Best for: Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.

What it means

  • Michigan public guidance routes sole-proprietor assumed-name filings to the county clerk, not to LARA.
  • If you operate only under your own legal name, this combo did not identify a separate Michigan state entity-formation filing.
  • If you use another public-facing name, Michigan's public guidance points you to a county assumed-name filing, usually described as a Certificate of Persons Conducting Business Under Assumed Name.
  • Business income generally runs through your personal tax return unless you later change tax treatment.
  • You usually do not get a liability shield.

Why someone chooses it

  • Faster launch
  • Lower up-front filing costs
  • Fewer entity maintenance steps

Main downside: Personal liability

single-member LLC

Best for: Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.

What it means

  • You file Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) with LARA and list a resident agent and registered office.
  • Michigan requires an annual LLC annual statement. As of April 27, 2026, the public LARA record shows a February 15 due date and a $25 fee.
  • If the public brand differs from the legal LLC name, Michigan uses Certificate of Assumed Name (CSCL/CD-541).
  • Federal tax treatment is generally pass-through by default for a single-member LLC unless you elect otherwise.

Why someone chooses it

  • Liability protection
  • Cleaner setup for banking, vendors, bookkeeping, and scaling
  • Better fit for insurance, wholesale suppliers, trademarks, and later hiring

Main downside: Higher setup friction and recurring maintenance than a sole proprietorship

Back to top Next: What to do in order
Main path What to do in order The full end-to-end setup path, kept in the same order as the researched guide. Everyone 14 steps

  1. Step 1: Choose a low-risk launch model

    Main guide step 1

    For a first launch, stay inside the safest lane:

    Why it matters: Practical rule: If the product touches health, safety, children, dangerous goods, chemicals, alcohol, medical claims, or restricted intellectual property, slow down and do category-specific compliance research before buying or launching.

    • general merchandise
    • no high-risk categories from food, supplements, cosmetics, medical claims, batteries-heavy hazmat, alcohol, children's products
    • no products that require specialized compliance unless the guide is explicitly built for them

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach

    Main guide step 2

    You need to decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name,
    • using a Michigan county assumed name,
    • reselling existing brands,
    • creating your own brand,
    • or using a private-label path.
    • Amazon publicly says your store name appears on your offers and public seller profile, but the account's legal and tax details still need to match real-world documents.
    • Michigan splits assumed-name filing paths by entity type. Sole proprietors usually use the county clerk path, while LLCs use the state assumed-name path through LARA.
    • If you want long-term brand control, start the trademark path early.

  3. Step 3: Form the business

    Main guide step 3

    If you choose sole proprietor: If you operate under your own legal name, this combo did not identify a separate Michigan state entity-formation filing.

    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you operate under your own legal name, this combo did not identify a separate Michigan state entity-formation filing.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you use another public-facing name, file the county assumed-name document in each county where the business is carried on.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: Either way, still handle Michigan tax registration, local permits, and Amazon setup separately.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Check Michigan name availability before filing.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700) and list the resident agent and registered office. The current public filing fee is $50.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Put the operating agreement and EIN in place right after formation.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: If your public brand differs from the legal LLC name, file Certificate of Assumed Name (CSCL/CD-541) as a separate step.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS online EIN application after the business is formed if you picked an LLC.

    Why it matters: For many sole proprietors, an EIN is optional if there are no employees, but it is still useful for banking, suppliers, state registration, and Amazon setup.

  5. Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping

    Main guide step 5

    Do this right away:

    • Open a business checking account.
    • Use one account and one card for business only.
    • Save every receipt, invoice, shipping bill, Amazon fee statement, and tax record.
    • Build a tax folder and a compliance folder from day one.

  6. Step 6: Register for Michigan tax, seller permit, or resale setup

    Main guide step 6

    Resale branch:

    Why it matters: Important caveat:

    • Michigan says individuals or businesses that sell tangible personal property to the final consumer need a sales-tax license.
    • Register through Michigan Treasury Online (MTO) or mail Form 518, Registration for Michigan Taxes.
    • The public Michigan tax record says the license itself has no fee, the state sales-tax rate is 6%, and Michigan has no city, local, or county sales tax.
    • Michigan's public marketplace-facilitator FAQ says a marketplace seller has no sales-tax filing obligation as long as all of its sales are made through marketplaces managed by marketplace facilitators with nexus in Michigan.
    • If you also make direct sales outside Amazon, Michigan says you report only the non-marketplace sales on your own return and exclude the Amazon-facilitated sales that Amazon reports.
    • If you buy inventory tax-free for resale, Michigan uses Form 3372, Michigan Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption.
    • Form 3372 asks for a Michigan sales-tax license number on the For Resale at Retail line.
    • Source-backed inference as of April 27, 2026: Michigan's public record supports a no-filing posture for a true Amazon-only marketplace seller, but that same seller may still prefer to register if suppliers expect a Michigan retail sales-tax license number on Form 3372 or if direct sales may be added later.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, county rules, and home-business limits

    Main guide step 7

    Michigan does not use one statewide local-business-license form for every county or city.

    Why it matters: Do this before operating: Detroit branch:

    • check the Michigan business start pages,
    • contact the county clerk if you need a county assumed-name filing,
    • contact the city, township, or village where you will operate,
    • ask zoning or building staff about home occupation, storage, and delivery limits.
    • Detroit says some, not all, business types need a city business license.
    • Detroit also tells businesses to establish the business first and check zoning before applying.
    • If you will operate from Detroit property, the zoning and occupancy branch can control whether the use can open at all.

  8. Step 8: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance

    Main guide step 8

    If you do not hire anyone yet, skip this for now.

    Why it matters: If you hire:

    • Register Michigan withholding through MTO or Form 518.
    • Open the unemployment branch through Michigan UIA employer setup and MiUI.
    • Public UIA guidance says new liable employers generally start at 2.7% unemployment tax for the first two years, with a construction-industry exception.
    • Michigan workers' compensation coverage becomes mandatory once you cross the state's coverage thresholds.
    • Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act went into effect on February 21, 2025.
    • As of April 27, 2026, the public ESTA FAQ says accrual begins February 21, 2025 for most employers and October 1, 2025 for small businesses.
    • This combo did not identify a separate general Michigan private-employer disability-insurance registration.

  9. Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store

    Main guide step 9

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • tax information
    • business registration or license if required
    • proof of address or identity if Amazon asks for it
    • Start with Amazon's public seller registration guide.
    • Enter business information, seller information, billing information, and store or product information.
    • Keep the business name, registration number, and address aligned with your government records if you formed an entity.
    • Choose the selling plan, complete the tax interview, and finish identity verification.
    • After the account is live, activate the FBA branch inside Seller Central.

  10. Step 10: Choose the right platform plan

    Main guide step 10

    As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.

    • As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
    • Referral fees are separate and category-specific.
    • Professional usually starts making more sense once you expect to sell around 40 items per month or need ads, bulk tools, advanced reports, or category access tied to the Professional plan.

  11. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 11

    If you are private-labeling or building a real brand, Amazon Brand Registry is worth planning for early.

    • If you are private-labeling or building a real brand, Amazon Brand Registry is worth planning for early.
    • Amazon's public pages say Brand Registry is free, but trademark costs are external.
    • Brand Registry requires brand-marked product or packaging and a pending or registered trademark in an eligible office.
    • For a simple branded-resale launch, Brand Registry is optional.

  12. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Main guide step 12

    Use the Amazon-specific version of this section:

    Why it matters: Practical Michigan note: If your local zoning or occupancy rules are unfriendly to home inventory storage or shipment prep, use a compliant commercial site or get written local direction before treating the home as the operating site.

    • activate FBA after the seller account is live,
    • confirm product and FBA eligibility,
    • create or convert listings to FBA,
    • prep, label, and pack inventory correctly,
    • send a small first shipment through Send to Amazon,
    • then track receiving and restock only after the first batch goes smoothly.

  13. Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling

    Main guide step 13

    Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

    • Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.
    • Amazon also says some products cannot be listed because of legal, regulatory, or Amazon-policy restrictions.
    • FBA product restrictions are a separate review layer from ordinary listing eligibility and are partly gated in Seller Central.

  14. Step 14: Launch with a compliance-first operating routine

    Main guide step 14

    Once live, keep these habits:

    • reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements
    • monitor account health and suppressed listings
    • maintain invoices and supplier records
    • keep tax reserves separate
    • avoid mixing personal and business spending
    • monitor margins, returns, and compliance issues

Best practical order for the LLC launch path

  1. Choose the product lane first.
  2. Choose the legal name and public brand plan.
  3. File Articles of Organization (CSCL/CD-700).
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account.
  6. Decide whether you are using the Michigan marketplace-only tax posture or registering for sales tax from day one.
  7. If needed, file CSCL/CD-541 for the assumed name.
  8. Check county and city permit, zoning, and occupancy rules.
  9. Build the Amazon seller account and activate FBA.
  10. Finish inventory prep, first listing, and shipment setup.
  11. If hiring, add withholding, UIA, workers' compensation, and ESTA setup.
  12. Track the recurring February 15 annual statement and February 28 annual sales-tax return deadlines that apply.
Back to top Next: Michigan tax stack
State filing and tax Michigan tax stack Keep the Michigan registration, tax, and maintenance rules together while you launch. Everyone 7 checks

1. EIN

A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.

  • A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
  • A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.

2. Michigan sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration

Michigan says retailers selling tangible personal property to the final consumer need a sales-tax license.

  • Michigan says retailers selling tangible personal property to the final consumer need a sales-tax license.
  • Michigan's public record says the sales-tax rate is 6% and Michigan does not allow city, local, or county sales tax.
  • Registration path: MTO eRegistration or mailed Form 518.
  • Public timing: MTO eRegistration is authenticated within 10-15 minutes of submission; mailed Form 518 processing is listed at 4-6 weeks.
  • Public license fee: none
  • Public return timing: monthly, quarterly, or annual depending on assignment, plus the annual return by February 28.

3. Marketplace or platform tax rule

Amazon, as marketplace facilitator, is the party that reports and remits Michigan tax on Amazon-facilitated sales when it has Michigan nexus.

  • Amazon, as marketplace facilitator, is the party that reports and remits Michigan tax on Amazon-facilitated sales when it has Michigan nexus.
  • Michigan's public FAQ says the marketplace-facilitator collection duty began January 1, 2020.
  • If all of your sales are through facilitators with Michigan nexus, Michigan says you have no sales-tax filing obligation for those sales.
  • If you also make direct sales, Michigan says you exclude the Amazon-facilitated sales from your own return and report only the outside-marketplace activity.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

Practical takeaway:

  • Michigan uses Form 3372, Michigan Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption.
  • The form includes a For Resale at Retail line that asks for a Michigan sales-tax license number.
  • It also includes a For Resale at Wholesale line that does not ask for that number.
  • Source-backed inference as of April 27, 2026: a Michigan-based Amazon-only seller can have a no-filing marketplace posture, but the supplier resale-document path can still become awkward if the seller wants to claim retail resale exemption without a Michigan sales-tax license number.
  • If supplier resale paperwork matters on day one, confirm the intended path with Michigan Treasury before relying on assumptions.

5. Entity tax treatment

Federal default treatment for a single-member LLC is generally disregarded-entity treatment unless the owner elects otherwise.

  • Federal default treatment for a single-member LLC is generally disregarded-entity treatment unless the owner elects otherwise.
  • This combo did **not** identify a separate general Michigan LLC franchise-tax filing for a standard single-member LLC in the public official sources reviewed on April 27, 2026.
  • If you elect S corporation or C corporation treatment, or your fact pattern is more complex, mark the Michigan state-income-tax branch needs tax-specific verification.

6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule

Recurring Michigan LLC state maintenance identified in the public source set is the annual statement, not a separate public franchise-tax filing.

  • Recurring Michigan LLC state maintenance identified in the public source set is the annual statement, not a separate public franchise-tax filing.
  • Annual statement fee: $25
  • Due date: February 15
  • Use the LARA business filing system to re-check the live filing year.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

Source-backed inference: if you move from sole proprietor to LLC, or change FEIN-backed tax identity later, update the facts across MTO, UIA, banking, supplier files, and Amazon account records so the registrations stay consistent.

  • Source-backed inference: if you move from sole proprietor to LLC, or change FEIN-backed tax identity later, update the facts across MTO, UIA, banking, supplier files, and Amazon account records so the registrations stay consistent.
Back to top Next: Amazon FBA account and operations
Platform setup Amazon FBA account and operations Use this section for the Amazon FBA-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Create your Amazon FBA account or store

    Platform step 1

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • tax information
    • business registration or license if required
    • proof of address or identity if Amazon asks for it
    • Start with Amazon's public seller registration guide.
    • Enter business information, seller information, billing information, and store or product information.
    • Keep the business name, registration number, and address aligned with your government records if you formed an entity.
    • Choose the selling plan, complete the tax interview, and finish identity verification.
    • After the account is live, activate the FBA branch inside Seller Central.

  2. Step 10: Choose the right platform plan

    Platform step 2

    As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.

    • As of April 27, 2026, Amazon's public pricing page shows Individual at $0.99 per item sold and Professional at $39.99 per month.
    • Referral fees are separate and category-specific.
    • Professional usually starts making more sense once you expect to sell around 40 items per month or need ads, bulk tools, advanced reports, or category access tied to the Professional plan.

  3. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 3

    If you are private-labeling or building a real brand, Amazon Brand Registry is worth planning for early.

    • If you are private-labeling or building a real brand, Amazon Brand Registry is worth planning for early.
    • Amazon's public pages say Brand Registry is free, but trademark costs are external.
    • Brand Registry requires brand-marked product or packaging and a pending or registered trademark in an eligible office.
    • For a simple branded-resale launch, Brand Registry is optional.

  4. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Platform step 4

    Use the Amazon-specific version of this section:

    Why it matters: Practical Michigan note: If your local zoning or occupancy rules are unfriendly to home inventory storage or shipment prep, use a compliant commercial site or get written local direction before treating the home as the operating site.

    • activate FBA after the seller account is live,
    • confirm product and FBA eligibility,
    • create or convert listings to FBA,
    • prep, label, and pack inventory correctly,
    • send a small first shipment through Send to Amazon,
    • then track receiving and restock only after the first batch goes smoothly.

  5. Step 13: Confirm product, service, or category eligibility before scaling

    Platform step 5

    Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.

    • Amazon's public FAQ says some categories are open, some require a Professional plan, some require Amazon approval, and some cannot be sold by third-party sellers.
    • Amazon also says some products cannot be listed because of legal, regulatory, or Amazon-policy restrictions.
    • FBA product restrictions are a separate review layer from ordinary listing eligibility and are partly gated in Seller Central.
Back to top Next: Local permits and Detroit branch
Local branch Local permits and Detroit branch These local and city checks can still change the answer even after the state and platform path is clear. Location-specific 2 branches

Local permits and location checks

Michigan pushes many naming, permit, zoning, and occupancy questions down to counties and municipalities.

  • Michigan pushes many naming, permit, zoning, and occupancy questions down to counties and municipalities.
  • For any place where the business will operate:
  • check the Michigan business start pages,
  • contact the county clerk if you need an assumed-name filing,
  • contact the city, village, or township office,
  • ask zoning or building staff whether storing inventory, receiving shipments, or running business operations at the address is allowed.
  • Typical local risk areas:
  • county assumed-name filing
  • home occupation restrictions
  • zoning for storage and shipment prep
  • signage
  • parking and carrier activity
  • business occupancy or building approvals

Detroit Appendix

If the business operates in Detroit, add one more review layer.

  • If the business operates in Detroit, add one more review layer.
  • Detroit says some, not all, business types need a city business license.
  • Detroit's BSEED licensing page says you should establish the business first and check zoning before applying.
  • Detroit's zoning page says that after required inspections pass, a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, and if the land use also needs a business license, the license can then be issued. The city says only then may the new use be opened and operated.
  • Detroit's local tax branch is separate enough that you should review the city's income-tax and withholding pages directly before relying on a generic Michigan-only setup checklist.
Back to top Next: Employees and insurance
Optional branch Employees and insurance Use this branch if you plan to hire or need the insurance follow-up that comes with scaling. Only if hiring or scaling 5 branches

1. Employer registration

Register Michigan withholding through MTO or Form 518.

  • Register Michigan withholding through MTO or Form 518.
  • Open the unemployment account through Michigan UIA employer registration and MiUI.
  • New liable employers should re-check the assigned tax-rate notice, but Michigan's public UIA guidance says many new employers begin at 2.7% for the first two years.

2. Workers' compensation

Michigan public guidance says coverage is required for:

  • Michigan public guidance says coverage is required for:
  • private employers regularly employing 1 or more employees 35 hours or more per week for 13 weeks or longer during the preceding 52 weeks,
  • or private employers regularly employing 3 or more employees at one time, including part-time employees.
  • Michigan also says a partner counts as an employee of the partnership, a corporate officer counts as an employee of the corporation, and a member who is a manager counts as an employee of an LLC.
  • A sole proprietor working alone is not an employee of that sole proprietorship.
  • Michigan workers' compensation coverage becomes mandatory once you cross the state's coverage thresholds.

3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage

This combo did not identify a general state-run Michigan private-employer disability-insurance registration.

  • This combo did not identify a general state-run Michigan private-employer disability-insurance registration.
  • But Michigan's Earned Sick Time Act is a live statewide employer branch.
  • The public ESTA page says the act took effect February 21, 2025.
  • The public ESTA FAQ says accrual begins February 21, 2025 for most employers and October 1, 2025 for a small business.
  • The same FAQ says employers can satisfy the law with an existing PTO policy if it provides at least the same benefits and conditions.
  • This combo did not identify a separate general Michigan private-employer disability-insurance registration.

4. Exclusion form if applicable

Michigan public workers' compensation guidance says compliance may be achieved by purchasing insurance, self-insuring, or properly executing an exclusion form.

  • Michigan public workers' compensation guidance says compliance may be achieved by purchasing insurance, self-insuring, or properly executing an exclusion form.
  • This combo did **not** verify the exact exclusion form identifier for every owner-officer scenario, so treat that owner-exemption paperwork branch as fact-specific.

Insurance reality

A physical-product seller should expect to think about commercial general liability and product liability coverage before Amazon forces the issue.

  • A physical-product seller should expect to think about commercial general liability and product liability coverage before Amazon forces the issue.
  • Public Amazon-owned seller-forum guidance says insurance is required within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in one month on Amazon.com, or earlier if Amazon requests it.
  • The controlling Amazon Services Business Solutions Agreement wording is still partly gated, so treat the public forum evidence as a warning signal and re-check the live Seller Central agreement before relying on it.
Back to top Next: Ongoing compliance calendar
Stay compliant Ongoing compliance calendar Keep the recurring compliance checks and live-operating routine visible after launch. Everyone 5 groups

Before first sale

  • Finish entity or name setup.
  • Get EIN if applicable.
  • Open bank account.
  • Handle the Michigan sales-tax or marketplace-only branch that applies.
  • Check Detroit or other local rules.
  • Complete Amazon verification.

Before first live launch

  • Finish the FBA branch.
  • Confirm category and product eligibility.
  • Build accurate listings.
  • Confirm inventory prep, labeling, and shipment flow.

Monthly

  • Reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements.
  • Review tax reserves.
  • Check Amazon account health and suppressed listings.
  • Review whether direct sales, local activity, or supplier demands have changed your Michigan tax posture.

Quarterly

  • If Michigan assigns you a quarterly sales or use tax cadence, file on that cadence.
  • If you are a liable Michigan employer, keep the quarterly unemployment and wage-reporting branch current.
  • Reserve for federal, Michigan, and local income-tax obligations if you are profitable.

Annual or periodic

  • File the Michigan LLC annual statement by February 15 if you formed an LLC.
  • File the Michigan annual sales, use, and withholding return by February 28 if you are in that system.
  • Re-check your ESTA policy, poster, and accrual setup if you have employees.
  • Re-check Amazon pricing, insurance, and any gated policy wording before scaling decisions.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 8 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • Assuming Amazon sales-tax collection answers every Michigan resale and registration question
  • Using a brand or storefront name without choosing the right Michigan county or state name filing
  • Treating a home location as automatically allowed for storage or shipment prep
  • Mixing personal and business money
  • Launching into restricted categories too early
  • Keeping weak supplier and compliance documentation
  • Missing the Michigan LLC annual statement deadline
  • Treating Amazon as the compliance department

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Amazon FBA business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

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Full appendix Full official source directory Every official source row from the research pack, kept in its full table structure. Everyone 36 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

State of Michigan

Michigan business start page

Form / portal Start-here resource hub
Fee None for the page
Timing First planning step
Who needs it Everyone

Statewide business portal that points founders to startup resources, permits, tax, and workforce links.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

LARA startup roadmap

Form / portal Startup roadmap
Fee None for the page
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it Founders choosing entity and filing order

Official LARA roadmap used here as the main Michigan startup guide.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Treasury new-business tax hub

Form / portal MTO eRegistration and tax setup
Fee None for the page
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it Businesses registering for Michigan taxes

Treasury page for online new-business registration and tax-obligation guidance.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Choice and Formation

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Compare business types

Form / portal Guidance PDF
Fee None for the guide
Timing First decision
Who needs it Everyone

Official LARA guide used here for Michigan business-type and startup orientation.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

LLC naming rules

Form / portal Naming guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Before filing
Who needs it LLC founders

Public page says the name must be distinguishable and that a different operating name uses CSCL/CD-541.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Default entity formation filing

Form / portal Articles of Organization
Fee $50
Timing At formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public form shows the current filing fee and the resident-agent / registered-office structure.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Immediate post-filing requirement

Form / portal Internal operating agreement and EIN branch
Fee None identified
Timing Immediately after formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

No separate Michigan LLC initial report or publication requirement was identified in the official sources reviewed on April 27, 2026.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Ongoing entity maintenance

Form / portal LLC Annual Statement
Fee $25
Timing February 15 each year after organization, except first year if formed after September 30
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public LARA page gives due-date rules and confirms the annual-statement requirement.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Local Name Filings

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development / Michigan state official PDF

Sole proprietor baseline

Form / portal County assumed-name filing guidance
Fee Varies by county
Timing Before using a name other than the owner's real name
Who needs it Sole proprietors and co-partnerships using an assumed name

Official Michigan guidance says sole proprietors and co-partners file assumed names with the county clerk, while corporations and LLCs file with the state.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

County or local clerk lookup

Form / portal County-clerk and name-search guidance
Fee Varies by county
Timing Before county filing
Who needs it Sole proprietors using a county assumed name

Official LARA brochure says assumed names of sole proprietorships are filed with the county clerk and points founders to county resources.

Open official link

Source group

Federal and State Tax Setup

IRS

EIN overview and online application

Form / portal Online EIN application
Fee Free
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it LLCs, employers, and sole proprietors wanting an EIN

IRS says form the state entity first if you are creating one.

Open official link

IRS

EIN paper form

Form / portal Form SS-4
Fee Free
Timing If not applying online
Who needs it Founders not using the online EIN flow

Public IRS page for paper, fax, or other non-online applications.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Michigan tax registration

Form / portal MTO eRegistration or Form 518
Fee None for registration itself
Timing Before taxable retail sales, withholding, or other Michigan tax activity
Who needs it Businesses registering for Michigan taxes

Public Treasury FAQ says MTO eRegistration authenticates in 10-15 minutes; mailed Form 518 is listed at 4-6 weeks.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Sales-tax license rules

Form / portal Sales-tax license
Fee None
Timing Before direct retail sales
Who needs it Retailers making direct sales to the final consumer

Public FAQ says Michigan sales-tax licenses have no fee, licenses are valid January through December, and wholesalers do not receive retail sales-tax licenses.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Marketplace or platform tax rule

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing Before and after launch
Who needs it Marketplace sellers and direct sellers

Public FAQ says Michigan marketplace-facilitator collection began January 1, 2020, and marketplace-only sellers generally have no filing obligation for those facilitated sales.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Resale or exemption certificate

Form / portal Form 3372
Fee None for the form
Timing After registration if applicable
Who needs it Inventory purchasers seeking resale treatment

Public form asks for a Michigan sales-tax license number on the For Resale at Retail line.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Recordkeeping guidance

Form / portal Exemption and records guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing
Who needs it Registered taxpayers and vendors

Public FAQ says sellers should rely on a valid exemption claim such as Form 3372, not just a tax-exempt number.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

IRS

Entity tax treatment

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and annually
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public IRS page covers default federal classification and election paths.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury / Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

Michigan-specific recurring entity tax filing or fee

Form / portal LLC Annual Statement remains the recurring public Michigan state maintenance item identified
Fee $25 annual statement fee
Timing Re-check before each filing year
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

No separate public Michigan LLC franchise-tax filing was identified in the official source set reviewed on April 27, 2026.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI status

Form / portal BOI reporting-status guidance
Fee None
Timing Check before relying
Who needs it Everyone forming an entity

Public FinCEN guide says U.S.-created domestic entities are exempt from BOI reporting after the March 26, 2025 interim final rule.

Open official link

Source group

Employees, Payroll, and Insurance

Michigan Department of Treasury

Employer withholding registration

Form / portal MTO eRegistration or Form 518
Fee None for registration itself
Timing When first becoming an employer
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Michigan uses the same Treasury registration flow for sales, use, and withholding tax setup.

Open official link

Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency

Unemployment account

Form / portal MiUI employer account
Fee None identified for setup
Timing When first becoming an employer
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Public UIA employer hub is the current start point for employer unemployment accounts and filings.

Open official link

Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

Workers' compensation coverage

Form / portal Coverage through insurance, self-insurance, or exclusion branch
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring when coverage thresholds are met
Who needs it Covered employers

Public page gives the 1 full-time worker for 13 weeks or 3 workers at one time coverage thresholds and explains who counts as an employee.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Earned sick time / leave branch

Form / portal ESTA page, poster, and FAQ
Fee None for the page
Timing Before or at hiring and during policy setup
Who needs it Employers with Michigan employees

Public LEO page says the act took effect February 21, 2025 and links the required poster and FAQ.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity

Earned sick time detail

Form / portal FAQ guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing During policy design
Who needs it Employers with Michigan employees

Public FAQ gives current accrual, use, carryover, notice, and small-business timing rules.

Open official link

Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Agency

Exclusion form if applicable

Form / portal Exclusion-form branch
Fee Varies
Timing Only when eligible and needed
Who needs it Eligible owner or officer situations

Public page confirms exclusion forms exist, but this combo did not verify every exact owner-exemption form identifier.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Amazon

Platform registration guide

Form / portal Signup flow
Fee Individual or Professional plan fees apply
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All Amazon sellers

Public Amazon guide lays out the five registration steps and the identity-verification flow.

Open official link

Amazon

Platform pricing

Form / portal Selling plans and fee overview
Fee As of April 27, 2026: Individual $0.99 per item, Professional $39.99 per month
Timing At signup and later
Who needs it All Amazon sellers

Public page also notes separate referral fees and optional added-cost programs such as FBA.

Open official link

Amazon

Brand or IP program

Form / portal Brand Registry
Fee None for the Amazon program
Timing Optional
Who needs it Brand owners

Public page says the program is free but requires a pending or registered trademark and brand-marked product or packaging.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Amazon

Fulfillment overview

Form / portal FBA overview
Fee Varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Sellers using FBA

Public page says Amazon picks, packs, ships, handles customer service, and processes returns.

Open official link

Amazon

Category and compliance guide

Form / portal FAQ / guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During sourcing and setup
Who needs it Sellers with restricted or regulated offers

Public FAQ says some categories require a Professional plan, some require approval, and some products cannot be sold because of legal, regulatory, or Amazon-policy restrictions.

Open official link

Amazon

Inbound shipment workflow

Form / portal Send to Amazon onboarding guide
Fee Varies
Timing During launch setup
Who needs it Sellers using FBA

Official Amazon-owned public onboarding article reflecting the current FBA launch workflow.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Amazon public seller-forum post citing the agreement

Platform insurance threshold or requirement

Form / portal Underlying agreement is partly gated in Seller Central
Fee Premium varies
Timing Re-check before or as sales scale
Who needs it Operators with physical-product risk

Public Amazon-owned forum guidance says insurance is required within 30 days after exceeding USD 10,000 in gross proceeds in one month on Amazon.com, or if requested. Treat the live Seller Central agreement as controlling.

Open official link

Source group

Detroit Branch

City of Detroit

City tax or permit warning

Form / portal Business-license and permit guide
Fee Varies by license
Timing If business is in Detroit
Who needs it Detroit-based businesses

City page says some, not all, business types need a Detroit business license and says to establish the business and check zoning first.

Open official link

City of Detroit

City zoning and occupancy branch

Form / portal Zoning permit, site-plan review, and occupancy path
Fee Varies
Timing Before opening a Detroit operating site
Who needs it Detroit-based businesses

City zoning page says after required inspections a Certificate of Occupancy is issued, and if a business license is also required, only then may the new use be opened and operated.

Open official link

City of Detroit

City tax and withholding branch

Form / portal City income-tax and withholding pages
Fee Varies by filing
Timing If business is in Detroit or has Detroit withholding obligations
Who needs it Detroit-based businesses

Use the city's current income-tax hub and re-check whether local business-income-tax or withholding filings apply to your fact pattern.

Open official link
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