LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Shopify 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 28, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for Michigan, IRS, FinCEN, Detroit, Shopify. 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 28, 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 Shopify in Michigan, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

If you want to open Shopify 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 direct taxable sales, and keep the public-name branch straight if the storefront name differs from the legal name.
  3. Verify local permit, zoning, occupancy, storage, and city-tax rules if the business operates from a Detroit or other local address.
  4. Create the Shopify store, complete business details, billing, payments, taxes, shipping, policy pages, checkout, and domain setup.
  5. Launch only after the product, tax, fulfillment, and compliance setup is ready for a direct storefront rather than a marketplace shortcut.

Practical first-launch recommendation

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

If you intend to build a real Shopify business in Michigan, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path because it is easier to scale around direct sales, banking, supplier records, and later operational complexity.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • treating marketplace-facilitator relief as if it answers Michigan direct-store tax registration,
  • skipping the county assumed-name branch when the storefront name differs from the founder's or LLC's legal name,
  • launching before the MTO, sales-tax-license, and Form 3372 resale path are actually sorted,

Michigan-specific friction

Michigan keeps entity filing, tax registration, and assumed-name execution in separate lanes, so a clean Shopify draft must avoid merging them into one generic startup step.

  • Michigan keeps entity filing, tax registration, and assumed-name execution in separate lanes, so a clean Shopify draft must avoid merging them into one generic startup step.
  • Michigan marketplace-facilitator relief is still relevant as a comparator branch, but it should not erase the direct-store sales-tax-license requirement for Shopify.
  • Form 3372 resale treatment remains a real caveat because the public Michigan form expects a Michigan sales-tax-license number.

Shopify-specific friction

Shopify runs the software and payments branch; it does not replace state registration, local permits, or your tax-filing responsibility.

  • Shopify runs the software and payments branch; it does not replace state registration, local permits, or your tax-filing responsibility.
  • Pricing, promotions, payments eligibility, checkout limits, and tax-service wording are time-sensitive and should be re-checked on the action date.
  • Shipping, fulfillment, domain, and tax settings all need deliberate configuration; they are not safely left on defaults for a real launch.
  • Plan tiers, third-party apps, and fallback payment providers can change the real operating cost faster than founders expect.

Insurance reality

A physical-products store should think about commercial general liability and product-liability coverage even before any platform-wide threshold is identified.

  • A physical-products store should think about commercial general liability and product-liability coverage even before any platform-wide threshold is identified.
  • No public Shopify-wide insurance minimum or sales threshold was identified in the reviewed public sources for this packet.
  • Separate carriers, landlords, suppliers, payment providers, or 3PLs can still impose their own insurance minimums.
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 and decide whether the public storefront name matches the legal or filed business name.
  • Pick a low-risk product lane and avoid regulated or high-risk categories for the first launch.
  • Confirm the product is lawful to sell and is not blocked by Shopify policy or payments eligibility rules.
  • Make sure you can document sourcing, supplier legitimacy, brand rights, and fulfillment reliability.
  • Decide whether the first launch will stay ship-out-only or will involve pickup, stored inventory, or other address-sensitive operations.

Do these before your first sale

  • Form the business or complete the public-name branch if needed for Michigan.
  • Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
  • Open a dedicated business bank account.
  • Complete the Michigan direct-sales tax or seller-permit branch before direct taxable sales.
  • Check Detroit or other local permit, home-business, and storage rules if the business uses a local operating address.
  • Create your Shopify account and complete verification.
  • Keep the entity, tax, banking, and Shopify verification records aligned before payouts go live.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Choose the plan you actually want to pay for after the trial or promo branch ends.
  • Finish Shopify Payments or your backup payment-provider setup.
  • Configure taxes, shipping rates, fulfillment locations, policy pages, customer accounts, checkout, and domain settings.
  • Build the first storefront pages and run at least one test order before accepting real customers.
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

  • A sole proprietor using a public name instead of the owner's legal name still needs the county assumed-name path in Michigan.
  • Business income generally runs through the owner's personal return unless facts change the tax treatment.
  • You usually do not get a liability shield.

Why someone chooses it

Main downside: Personal liability and messier scaling later.

single-member LLC

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

What it means

  • A Michigan single-member LLC starts with Articles of Organization, then keeps the annual statement current and handles tax registration separately through Treasury.
  • It is the cleaner setup for banking, suppliers, bookkeeping, later hiring, and a real branded storefront.
  • It adds filing, maintenance, and compliance work that a sole proprietor can avoid at the start.

Why someone chooses it

Main downside:

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 offer touches health, safety, children, dangerous goods, chemicals, alcohol, medical claims, or restricted intellectual property, slow down and do category-specific compliance research before launch.

    • 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 project deliberately wants that harder path

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach

    Main guide step 2

    Decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name,
    • using a county or state public-name filing branch,
    • building a brand name that differs from the legal entity name,
    • reselling existing brands, or
    • building your own brand around a direct-to-consumer storefront.
    • A Shopify storefront name does not replace the legal name, bank record, or tax registrations behind the business.
    • Keep the state public-name branch and the storefront brand choice aligned instead of assuming Shopify solves the naming problem.

  3. Step 3: Form the business or complete the public-name branch

    Main guide step 3

    A sole proprietor using a public name instead of the owner's legal name still needs the county assumed-name path in Michigan.

    • A sole proprietor using a public name instead of the owner's legal name still needs the county assumed-name path in Michigan.
    • A Michigan single-member LLC starts with Articles of Organization, then keeps the annual statement current and handles tax registration separately through Treasury.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For many LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is optional but still useful for banking, suppliers, and Shopify setup.

  5. Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping

    Main guide step 5

    Open a business checking account.

    • Open a business checking account.
    • Separate business and personal spending from day one.
    • Save every receipt, invoice, shipping bill, platform fee statement, refund, and tax record.

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

    Main guide step 6

    For a direct Shopify storefront, treat the Michigan sales-tax-license branch as live before direct retail sales instead of inheriting marketplace-only no-filing language.

    • For a direct Shopify storefront, treat the Michigan sales-tax-license branch as live before direct retail sales instead of inheriting marketplace-only no-filing language.
    • Keep the Form 3372 resale-certificate caveat explicit because the public form asks for a Michigan sales-tax-license number on the resale line.
    • Keep marketplace-facilitator guidance as a side branch only if the business later adds true marketplace-facilitated channels.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, zoning, occupancy, and storage rules

    Main guide step 7

    If the business operates in Detroit, keep BSEED licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city income-tax / withholding checks visible.

    • If the business operates in Detroit, keep BSEED licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city income-tax / withholding checks visible.
    • Detroit can add local licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city-income-tax checks that should not be flattened into statewide Michigan guidance.

  8. Step 8: Create your Shopify store

    Main guide step 8

    Have these ready:

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number and email address
    • bank account information
    • tax information
    • business registration details if you formed an entity
    • proof of address or identity if Shopify asks for it

  9. Step 9: Choose the right platform plan

    Main guide step 9

    Starter is built for simplified selling links and is not the best default for a full direct-storefront build.

    • Starter is built for simplified selling links and is not the best default for a full direct-storefront build.
    • Re-check pricing on the action date because plans, promotions, and billing presentation can change.
    • Use the lowest paid plan that still supports the reporting, staffing, shipping, and checkout controls you actually need.

  10. Step 10: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 10

    The public Shopify sources reviewed for this packet did not identify a required Shopify-only brand-registry program for a standard beginner launch.

    • The public Shopify sources reviewed for this packet did not identify a required Shopify-only brand-registry program for a standard beginner launch.
    • The practical early brand step is to keep trademark, supplier, and domain work aligned with the legal business records.
    • If you are testing a small low-risk offer first, keep this branch light instead of overbuilding it before demand is proven.

  11. Step 11: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Main guide step 11

    Add package types, locations, and shipping profiles.

    • Add package types, locations, and shipping profiles.
    • Configure shipping rates, zones, and fulfillment locations.
    • Add store policies and customer-facing contact details.
    • Connect the domain branch you intend to use.
    • Confirm analytics and basic reporting are ready before you spend on traffic.
    • Place a test order and preview the storefront before going live.

  12. Step 12: Finish the tax, payments, and checkout branch

    Main guide step 12

    Complete Shopify Payments or the backup payment-provider path you actually plan to use.

    • Complete Shopify Payments or the backup payment-provider path you actually plan to use.
    • Keep business type, bank details, verification documents, and two-step-authentication requirements aligned across the store and the real-world records.
    • Configure tax settings deliberately instead of relying on defaults.
    • Keep standard checkout branding separate from the deeper Plus-only customization branch.

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

    Main guide step 13

    Check state law, carrier rules, Shopify Payments eligibility, and the acceptable-use branch before you scale.

    • Check state law, carrier rules, Shopify Payments eligibility, and the acceptable-use branch before you scale.
    • Dangerous goods, ingestibles, high-risk claims, and heavily regulated product lanes are not beginner-safe just because the storefront itself is easy to launch.
    • Keep the direct-storefront tax and permit answer separate from any marketplace-facilitator branch on other channels.

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

    Main guide step 14

    Run a test order before going live.

    • Run a test order before going live.
    • Reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and tax reserves regularly.
    • Keep supplier, fulfillment, and customer-service records organized.
    • Re-check time-sensitive Shopify commercial facts before any major pricing or policy decision.

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 if you are using the LLC path.
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account and bookkeeping lane.
  6. Decide whether you are using the Michigan marketplace-only comparator branch or registering for direct sales tax from day one.
  7. If needed, file the assumed-name branch with the county clerk.
  8. Check county and city permit, zoning, occupancy, and storage rules.
  9. If the business is in Detroit, clear the BSEED, zoning, and city-income-tax branch.
  10. Build the Shopify store and finish payments, taxes, shipping, checkout, and domain setup.
  11. Run a test order and fix any tax, shipping, or verification gaps before launch.
  12. Track the recurring February 15 annual statement, tax, employer, and local compliance dates on a real calendar.
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

Most LLCs need one; many sole proprietors still benefit from one for banking, supplier paperwork, and Shopify verification.

  • Most LLCs need one; many sole proprietors still benefit from one for banking, supplier paperwork, and Shopify verification.
  • Treat the EIN as an early operations step instead of a late cleanup item.

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

For a direct Shopify storefront, treat the Michigan sales-tax-license branch as live before direct retail sales instead of inheriting marketplace-only no-filing language.

  • For a direct Shopify storefront, treat the Michigan sales-tax-license branch as live before direct retail sales instead of inheriting marketplace-only no-filing language.
  • Use the Michigan Treasury registration path and keep the Michigan tax ID and filing cadence visible if direct sales exist.

3. Marketplace or platform tax rule

Marketplace-facilitator collection is a separate branch from a direct Shopify storefront.

  • Marketplace-facilitator collection is a separate branch from a direct Shopify storefront.
  • If all of your sales are through facilitators with Michigan nexus, Michigan says you have no sales-tax filing obligation for those sales, but that answer changes once direct sales exist.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

Michigan uses Form 3372, Michigan Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption.

  • Michigan uses Form 3372, Michigan Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exemption.
  • Keep the Form 3372 resale-certificate caveat explicit because the public form asks for a Michigan sales-tax-license number on the retail-resale line.

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 packet did not identify a separate general Michigan LLC franchise-tax filing for a standard single-member LLC in the official sources reviewed for this starter lane.
  • If you elect S-corporation or C-corporation treatment, mark the Michigan state-income-tax branch as needing tax-specific re-check.

6. Entity filing-fee or recurring state maintenance 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.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

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 Shopify account records so the registrations stay consistent.

  • 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 Shopify account records so the registrations stay consistent.
Back to top Next: Shopify account and operations
Platform setup Shopify account and operations Use this section for the Shopify-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Choose the right platform plan

    Platform step 1

    Starter is built for simplified selling links and is not the best default for a full direct-storefront build.

    • Starter is built for simplified selling links and is not the best default for a full direct-storefront build.
    • Re-check pricing on the action date because plans, promotions, and billing presentation can change.
    • Use the lowest paid plan that still supports the reporting, staffing, shipping, and checkout controls you actually need.

  2. Step 10: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 2

    The public Shopify sources reviewed for this packet did not identify a required Shopify-only brand-registry program for a standard beginner launch.

    • The public Shopify sources reviewed for this packet did not identify a required Shopify-only brand-registry program for a standard beginner launch.
    • The practical early brand step is to keep trademark, supplier, and domain work aligned with the legal business records.
    • If you are testing a small low-risk offer first, keep this branch light instead of overbuilding it before demand is proven.

  3. Step 11: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Platform step 3

    Add package types, locations, and shipping profiles.

    • Add package types, locations, and shipping profiles.
    • Configure shipping rates, zones, and fulfillment locations.
    • Add store policies and customer-facing contact details.
    • Connect the domain branch you intend to use.
    • Confirm analytics and basic reporting are ready before you spend on traffic.
    • Place a test order and preview the storefront before going live.

  4. Step 12: Finish the tax, payments, and checkout branch

    Platform step 4

    Complete Shopify Payments or the backup payment-provider path you actually plan to use.

    • Complete Shopify Payments or the backup payment-provider path you actually plan to use.
    • Keep business type, bank details, verification documents, and two-step-authentication requirements aligned across the store and the real-world records.
    • Configure tax settings deliberately instead of relying on defaults.
    • Keep standard checkout branding separate from the deeper Plus-only customization branch.

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

    Platform step 5

    Check state law, carrier rules, Shopify Payments eligibility, and the acceptable-use branch before you scale.

    • Check state law, carrier rules, Shopify Payments eligibility, and the acceptable-use branch before you scale.
    • Dangerous goods, ingestibles, high-risk claims, and heavily regulated product lanes are not beginner-safe just because the storefront itself is easy to launch.
    • Keep the direct-storefront tax and permit answer separate from any marketplace-facilitator branch on other channels.
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,
  • ask whether home occupation rules apply,
  • ask whether storage or shipment prep changes the zoning answer,
  • ask whether signage or customer pickup triggers another permit question,
  • ask whether parking, carrier activity, or nonresident helpers change the local answer,
  • ask whether occupancy, fire, or building approvals are required,
  • keep written answers with the address and date when possible.
  • 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
  • city-income-tax registration if the business is based in Detroit

Detroit Appendix

If the business operates in Detroit, keep BSEED licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city income-tax / withholding checks visible.

  • If the business operates in Detroit, keep BSEED licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city income-tax / withholding checks visible.
  • Detroit can add local licensing, zoning, occupancy, and city-income-tax checks that should not be flattened into statewide Michigan guidance.
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 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 regularly employing 3 or more employees at one time, including part-time employees.

  • 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 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.

3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage

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

  • This packet 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, with accrual beginning on the dates called out in the public FAQ for most employers and small businesses.

4. New-hire or owner-exclusion branch

Michigan public workers' compensation guidance says compliance may be achieved by purchasing insurance, self-insuring, or properly executing an exclusion form in the fact patterns where one is allowed.

  • Michigan public workers' compensation guidance says compliance may be achieved by purchasing insurance, self-insuring, or properly executing an exclusion form in the fact patterns where one is allowed.
  • This packet did not verify the exact exclusion form identifier for every owner-officer scenario, so treat that owner-exemption paperwork branch as fact-specific.
  • If the business operates in Detroit, also keep the city-income-tax and withholding branch separate from statewide registration.

Insurance reality

A physical-products store should think about commercial general liability and product-liability coverage even before any platform-wide threshold is identified.

  • A physical-products store should think about commercial general liability and product-liability coverage even before any platform-wide threshold is identified.
  • No public Shopify-wide insurance minimum or sales threshold was identified in the reviewed public sources for this packet.
  • Separate carriers, landlords, suppliers, payment providers, or 3PLs can still impose their own insurance minimums.
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 3 groups

Before first sale

  • Finish the entity or public-name branch.
  • Finish the Michigan tax-registration branch.
  • Finish the Detroit local branch if the business uses that operating address.
  • Finish Shopify setup, policies, and a test order.
  • Keep entity, tax, banking, and Shopify verification records aligned in one compliance folder.

Monthly or per filing cycle

  • Reconcile Shopify payouts, fees, refunds, and tax reserves.
  • File any required tax returns even for quiet periods if the state requires them.
  • Keep local and state correspondence in the compliance folder.
  • Watch payout holds, failed verifications, chargebacks, or payment disputes.
  • Re-check whether the product mix, fulfillment pattern, or shipping footprint changed a tax or policy answer.

Annual or periodic items

  • Keep the Michigan entity-maintenance branch current if you formed an LLC.
  • Re-check platform pricing, payments, checkout, domain, and tax-service changes before making major operational commitments.
  • Re-check Detroit local permit, occupancy, or tax rules if the operating facts change.
  • Re-check any public-name, employer, or domain-renewal branch if the address or staffing model changed.
  • Re-check plan and app costs against the store's actual order volume.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 6 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • treating marketplace-facilitator relief as if it answers Michigan direct-store tax registration,
  • skipping the county assumed-name branch when the storefront name differs from the founder's or LLC's legal name,
  • launching before the MTO, sales-tax-license, and Form 3372 resale path are actually sorted,
  • assuming Detroit BSEED, zoning, occupancy, or city-income-tax questions vanish because the store is online,
  • assuming Shopify Payments approval or tax defaults are automatic,
  • pricing without plan, payment-processing, shipping, refund, and tax-collection costs.

Practical first-launch recommendation

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

If you intend to build a real Shopify business in Michigan, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path because it is easier to scale around direct sales, banking, supplier records, and later operational complexity.

Back to top Next: Full official source directory
Full appendix Full official source directory Every official source row from the research pack, kept in its full table structure. Everyone 34 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

State of Michigan

State start-here page

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

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

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

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 as the main Michigan startup guide.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Treasury new-business tax hub

Form / portal MTO registration hub
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 for entity choices 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 a different operating name uses a separate filing.

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

Ongoing entity maintenance

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

Official LARA page gives the annual-statement due rules.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Local Name Filings

Michigan official guidance

County assumed-name branch

Form / portal County assumed-name 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.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs

County-clerk routing

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 brochure points founders to county resources for sole-proprietor assumed names.

Open official link

Source group

Federal and State Tax Setup

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

Treasury FAQ says MTO eRegistration authenticates quickly; mailed registration takes longer.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Sales-tax-license rules

Form / portal Sales-tax license
Fee No fee
Timing Before direct retail sales
Who needs it Retailers making direct sales to the final consumer

Michigan sales-tax licenses have no fee and the direct-retail branch remains live for Shopify.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Marketplace or platform tax rule

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing Conditional side branch only
Who needs it Sellers comparing marketplace and direct-store models

Marketplace-facilitator collection began January 1, 2020, but that does not remove the direct-storefront branch.

Open official link

Michigan Department of Treasury

Resale 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 resale line.

Open official link

IRS

EIN overview and online application

Form / portal EIN online application
Fee Free
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it LLCs, employers, and founders who want an EIN

IRS says founders can obtain an EIN directly from the IRS for free.

Open official link

IRS

EIN paper form

Form / portal Form SS-4
Fee Free
Timing If not applying online
Who needs it Founders using mail or fax

IRS reference page for the current SS-4 form and instructions.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

IRS / Michigan Department of Treasury

Entity tax treatment

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

Reviewed public Michigan sources did not identify a separate public Michigan LLC franchise-tax filing apart from the annual statement and ordinary tax returns.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI reporting status

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

As of April 28, 2026, domestic U.S.-created entities are exempt from BOI reporting under 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 hub is the current start point for employer unemployment accounts and filings.

Open official link

Michigan LEO / WDCA

Workers' compensation and earned sick time

Form / portal Coverage and leave guidance
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring
Who needs it Covered employers

Reviewed public pages give the workers' comp thresholds and note that the earned sick-time act took effect February 21, 2025.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Shopify Help

Platform registration guide

Form / portal Setup checklist
Fee Trial or promo may apply, then plan charges begin
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All Shopify operators

Public help checklist for account, business details, taxes, shipping, and store setup.

Open official link

Shopify

Platform pricing

Form / portal Plan comparison
Fee Re-check the live page for current Basic, Grow, Advanced, and Plus pricing
Timing At signup and later
Who needs it All Shopify operators

Use the live pricing page on the action date because plan prices and promotions can change.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Payments and verification

Form / portal Shopify Payments and verification
Fee Included in plan; payment-processing fees vary
Timing Before accepting card payments
Who needs it Operators who want Shopify Payments

Keep country, product, document, bank, and verification eligibility visible instead of assuming every store qualifies automatically.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Checkout and domain limits

Form / portal Checkout settings and domains
Fee Included in plan; domain fee varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All storefront operators

Standard checkout branding is broader than the deeper Plus-only customization branch; every store gets a myshopify.com domain and Shopify adds SSL automatically when the domain is connected through Shopify.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Shopify Payments U.S. requirements

Form / portal U.S. requirements
Fee Included in plan; payment-processing fees vary
Timing Before accepting card payments
Who needs it U.S. storefront operators using Shopify Payments

Use the U.S. requirements page for business type, bank-account, verification, and two-step-authentication checks.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Checkout customization limits

Form / portal Checkout settings
Fee Included in plan; deeper customization varies by plan
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All storefront operators

Standard checkout branding is broader than the deeper Plus-only customization branch.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Domain setup

Form / portal Domain purchase or connection
Fee Domain fee varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Stores using a custom domain

Every store gets a myshopify.com domain and Shopify adds SSL automatically when the domain is connected through Shopify.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Shopify Help Center

Store setup checklist

Form / portal Checklist
Fee Included in plan
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All storefront operators

Use this as the launch-prep checklist for business details, taxes, shipping, and store setup.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Tax settings

Form / portal Tax settings and service pages
Fee Manual tax has no separate fee; paid tax services may apply
Timing Before launch and during tax changes
Who needs it Stores collecting tax

Shopify says tax remains the merchant's responsibility and the store can use manual settings or Shopify Tax where available.

Open official link

Shopify Help Center

Shipping and fulfillment setup

Form / portal Shipping profiles, locations, and fulfillment settings
Fee Included in plan; carrier or app costs vary
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Stores shipping products

Merchants still need to configure rates, locations, zones, and fulfillment rather than relying on defaults.

Open official link

Shopify Help / Shopify legal

Compliance and acceptable-use screening

Form / portal Guidance and policy pages
Fee None for the pages
Timing During sourcing and setup
Who needs it Operators with regulated or restricted offers

Use these public pages to screen product, business-type, and policy risk before launch.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Shopify public help and policy pages

Platform insurance threshold or requirement

Form / portal Public guidance pages
Fee Premium varies if you buy insurance
Timing Re-check before scaling physical-product risk
Who needs it Shopify operators selling physical goods

No public Shopify-wide insurance minimum or sales threshold was identified in the reviewed public sources for this first-draft packet.

Open official link

Source group

Detroit Branch

City of Detroit BSEED

City business licensing

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

Detroit says some, not all, business types need a city business license and that zoning should be checked first.

Open official link

City of Detroit

City zoning / occupancy branch

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

City zoning page says inspections can lead to a certificate of occupancy before the use is opened.

Open official link
Back to top