Step 1: Choose a name Wisconsin will accept
The name has to end with “Limited Liability Company”, “Limited Company”, “LLC” or another form the state accepts. It also has to differ from the names already on the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions' records, and some words need another agency's approval. Check an LLC name in Wisconsin against those rules and the registered names we hold, then confirm it on the official search.
Not ready to file? A reservation holds the name: $15, for 120 days. See how to reserve an LLC name.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
The Articles of Organization names a registered agent: a person or company with a street address in Wisconsin who receives lawsuits and official notices for the LLC during business hours. You can usually serve yourself if you live in the state, or pay a commercial agent a yearly fee.
Our sister site lists the registered agents Wisconsin companies use most, with how many companies each one serves.
Step 3: File the Articles of Organization
File it with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The fee is $130 online ($170 by mail). File online, or on paper. The LLC exists once the state accepts the filing.
How long it takes. Faster service: $100 by the end of the next business day; in person in Madison, $250 within four hours or $500 within one hour. (The office's page.)
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Wisconsin doesn't require one (Wis. Stat. § 183.0105(1)-(2)), but without it the state's default rules decide how the LLC is run and how profits and votes are shared. It stays in the company's records; it isn't filed.
Make a free Wisconsin LLC operating agreement and download it as a Word file.
Step 5: Get an EIN
An EIN (employer identification number) is the LLC's federal tax ID: banks ask for it to open a business account, and the LLC needs one to hire. The IRS issues it free; apply online at irs.gov once Wisconsin has accepted the Articles of Organization.
Step 6: File the Wisconsin LLC annual report
Fee: $25 online; $40 on paper (a $15 paper surcharge took effect March 1, 2024). Due: Each year starting the year after formation, by the end of the calendar quarter in which the formation anniversary falls (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31). Failure to file leads to delinquent status and can lead to administrative dissolution. (Source: Fees, dfi.wi.gov.)
| After formation | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Recurring report | $25 online each year ($40 on paper), due by the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was formed |
| State tax or fee on LLCs | None |
| Proof of good standing | Certificate of Status, $10 |
Missing the recurring filing is the most common way an LLC loses its good standing, and in time its existence. On our sister site, look up an LLC's status or see how to get a Wisconsin certificate of good standing.
What it costs to start an LLC in Wisconsin
| State fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Formation filing (online) | $130 |
| First year, state fees | $130 |
| Each year after | $25 |
Over five years, Wisconsin's state fees come to $230. These are state fees only: a commercial registered agent, a publication notice and income taxes are extra. Compare every state's fees, with the options to reserve the name or file faster.
Sources
Fees, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-09
File online, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Form 502, articles of organization (PDF), dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Form 502SE, student entrepreneur articles (PDF), dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Form 1, application for name reservation (PDF), dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Corp5i (PDF), dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Certificates and cert copy fees, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
General information, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Fees, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Trademarks FAQ, dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Help, apps.dfi.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Wis. Stat. chapter 183 (PDF), docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked 2026-10-07
Cr 25 096 rule text, docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked 2026-10-07
revenue.wi.gov, checked 2026-10-09
docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked 2026-10-09
Apply for an EIN online, irs.gov
How to start an LLC in Wisconsin
- Choose a name Wisconsin will accept and check it against the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions' records.
- Appoint a registered agent with a street address in Wisconsin.
- File the Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (from $130).
- Write an operating agreement.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS.
- Keep up with the recurring filings and fees.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Wisconsin?
From $130 to file the Articles of Organization. The state's fees come to $130 in the first year and $25 a year after that; a registered agent service or a newspaper notice costs extra.
How long does it take to start an LLC in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions doesn't post a standard time. Faster service: $100 by the end of the next business day; in person in Madison, $250 within four hours or $500 within one hour.
Do I need an operating agreement in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin doesn't require one (Wis. Stat. § 183.0105(1)-(2)), but it's the document that says who owns the LLC and how it's run; banks and partners often ask for it.
Can I start an LLC in Wisconsin online?
Yes. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions takes the Articles of Organization online, for from $130.
When is the Wisconsin LLC annual report due?
Each year starting the year after formation, by the end of the calendar quarter in which the formation anniversary falls (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31). Failure to file leads to delinquent status and can lead to administrative dissolution.
Does Wisconsin require an annual report for LLCs?
Yes. Wisconsin's recurring filing: $25 online each year ($40 on paper), due by the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was formed.