How to Form an LLC in Wisconsin
We prepare and file your Wisconsin Articles of Organization for $199, on top of the state's $130 filing fee. Ongoing compliance runs through a Wisconsin registered agent, billed separately at $99/year.
Forming an LLC in Wisconsin runs through the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the agency that handles business filings in this state rather than a Secretary of State. The formation document is the Articles of Organization, the official filing fee is $130 online or $170 by mail, and the statute behind it all is Wis. Stat. § 183.0201. This page covers the steps, the fees, and the part we take off your plate.
Get Your Wisconsin LLC for $199
Our flat $199 covers preparing your Articles of Organization, filing them with the DFI, and confirming approval back to you. State processing typically takes a few business days.
What an LLC Does for You in Wisconsin
An LLC separates your personal assets from business liabilities while keeping default taxation simple. That combination makes it the standard choice for Wisconsin solo operators, family businesses, and small partnerships.
Wisconsin LLC Filing Fee: $130 Online, $170 by Mail
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Wisconsin DFI, online) | $130 one-time |
| State filing fee if filed by mail instead | $170 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Wisconsin LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report, filed online | $25/year |
The official Wisconsin filing fee is $130 for online filings under Wis. Stat. § 183.0122(2)(a)1, and $170 on paper, since the statute lets the department charge more for paper submissions. The DFI also offers optional expedited service for an additional $100. Budget $199 + $130 = $329 to get formed through us, then $99 per year for the registered agent afterward.
One recurring item to plan for: the annual report, $25 filed online ($40 by mail), due by the end of the calendar quarter containing your LLC's anniversary and filed with the DFI.
Articles of Organization: Form 502 (Corp502)
Wisconsin's formation document is titled Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company, issued by the DFI as Form 502 (Corp502). The statute is plain about who may file: "One or more persons may act as organizers to form a limited liability company by signing and delivering to the department for filing articles of organization" (Wis. Stat. § 183.0201).
The articles ask for the LLC's legal name, the registered agent and registered office address, the management structure (member-managed or manager-managed), and the organizers. Online filing carries the $130 fee and processes faster; the paper Form 502 carries the $170 fee. Note the rule printed on the form itself, which flatly bars an entity from naming itself as its own registered agent.
How to Form an LLC in Wisconsin: Official Filing Steps
- Choose an available name. The name needs an LLC designator (LLC or L.L.C. are the common picks) and must be distinguishable from entities already in the DFI's records. Search the state's corporate records database before you commit.
- Appoint a Wisconsin registered agent. Every Wisconsin LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent whose business office is identical to a registered office at a physical Wisconsin street address. The agent's name and address become public record. Our service covers this for $99 per year, with our address on the filing instead of yours.
- File Form 502 with the DFI. Submit the Articles of Organization online with the $130 fee, or mail the paper form with $170. Optional expedited handling is $100 more. Approval typically comes back within a few business days.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Wisconsin does not require you to file one, but banks request it and members rely on it. It sets ownership percentages, profit splits, voting rules, and exit terms. Without one, the default provisions of Wisconsin's LLC statute control.
- Get an EIN from the IRS. The federal tax ID takes about ten minutes on the IRS website and is free. You will need it for banking, payroll, and federal filings. Skip any paid EIN service.
- Keep the LLC in good standing. Maintain the registered agent continuously, file the annual report each year during your anniversary quarter, keep business and personal finances separate, and stay current on taxes. Fall far enough behind on the annual report and the DFI can administratively dissolve the LLC under Wis. Stat. § 183.0708.
Want this handled? Pay our $199 flat fee and we file the Wisconsin LLC for you.
Why the Registered Agent Rule Matters
The registered agent obligation applies to every Wisconsin LLC with no exceptions and no end date. The agent must keep a physical Wisconsin street address, be available through normal business hours to accept legal documents, and move them to you fast enough to protect response deadlines.
Owners who take the role themselves place a home or office address into the DFI's searchable public records. Our $99 per year service puts our address on the formation document instead.
Common Wisconsin LLC Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
The official state filing fee is $130 online or $170 by mail, paid to the DFI. Our formation service adds a flat $199 on top if you want the filing handled for you. After formation, plan on the $25 online annual report each year.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
Most online filings are approved within a few business days. The DFI's optional expedited service, an extra $100, speeds up processing when timing is tight.
Does Wisconsin require an annual report?
Yes. Wisconsin LLCs file an annual report with the DFI, $25 online or $40 by mail, due by the end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary.
Do I need a registered agent for my Wisconsin LLC?
Yes. A registered agent with a physical Wisconsin street address is required continuously, from formation until dissolution. And the entity cannot name itself as its own agent in Wisconsin, so the role always belongs to someone else.
Can I form an LLC in Wisconsin if I live in another state?
Yes. Wisconsin has no residency requirement for LLC owners. The registered agent is the one piece that must be in-state, and our $99 per year service satisfies it.
File Your Wisconsin LLC Today
You can also file directly with the DFI yourself; the official fee is $130 online. Either way, a Wisconsin registered agent is required. Ours is $99 per year and includes a Wisconsin address for the public record, same-day scanning and email of documents, and deadline-tracking alerts.
Need the standalone agent only? Our agent plan on its own runs $99 a year.
Curious about other parts of Wisconsin LLC formation or about the agent service? Browse our FAQ or use the contact form.
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