A Michigan contractor wants to operate under a trade name. Where must the assumed name be registered?
Correct Answer
B) County Clerk's Office
Assumed names (trade names) must be registered with the County Clerk's Office in the county where the business operates.
Why This Is the Correct Answer
Option B (County Clerk's Office) is correct. Under Michigan law, sole proprietors and partnerships operating under an assumed name (trade name or DBA — 'doing business as') must register that name with the County Clerk's Office in the county where the business is located.
Why the Other Options Are Wrong
Option A: Michigan Secretary of State
Option A (Michigan Secretary of State) handles corporate filings, LLC formations, and other entity registrations — not assumed names for sole proprietors or partnerships. Confusing these two offices is a common error.
Option C: Michigan Department of Treasury
Option C (Michigan Department of Treasury) manages tax matters, including business tax registration and sales tax licenses. It does not handle assumed name registrations.
Option D: LARA
Option D (LARA) — the Licensing and Regulatory Affairs department — issues contractor licenses and oversees occupational regulation. While a contractor must be licensed through LARA, assumed name registration is a separate local requirement handled by the County Clerk.
Memory Technique
Think locally: your trade name is a local identity, so it's registered locally — at the County Clerk's Office. State-level agencies (SOS, Treasury, LARA) handle broader statewide matters.
More Michigan Questions
A Michigan contractor forms an S-Corporation. What is the maximum number of shareholders allowed?
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What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage amount required for Michigan residential builders?
Under Michigan Act 299, what is the consequence for a contractor who performs work outside the scope of their license classification?
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Under Michigan Act 299, what happens if a contractor continues to work without a valid license after it expires?
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A Michigan contractor is forming an LLC. What is the minimum general liability insurance coverage required for residential builders under Michigan law?
Under Michigan Act 299, a contractor's license must be renewed every:
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