Start an LLC in Wisconsin
Start a Wisconsin LLC by filing Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) for $170. Use our free tool to do it yourself, or hire us and have your LLC filed with Privacy by Default® for $39. This includes a free domain name, web hosting, email address, phone line, brand protection, and a year of registered agent service.
Wisconsin Articles of Organization
Use our free tool to fill out your Wisconsin Articles of Organization right here. We’ll walk you through it.
How to Form an LLC in Wisconsin
A Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a permanent public record. Starting one requires sharing personal information with the government, banks, landlords, vendors, and of course, customers.
We help our clients protect their privacy by providing a free business identity to anyone who needs it—that’s a domain name, website, phone line, email address, and brand protection on day one. This helps protect your privacy and keep you in control of your intellectual property.
1. Name Your LLC
Step one in forming an LLC is choosing its legal name. But choosing an LLC name isn’t just a legal requirement. It’s also a marketing decision. You want to choose a name that sets you apart and effectively represents your business.
You also can’t pick a name that’s already been registered in Wisconsin, so you’ll need to research your name by performing a Corporate Records Search.
Wisconsin LLC Name Requirements
When choosing a name for your LLC, you’ll need to make sure the one you choose also follows the state’s requirements.
Wisconsin’s rules for LLC names are outlined in WI ST § 183.0112. The name of your LLC must:
- Include an identifier like limited liability company, L.L.C, or LLC.
- Not include words that suggest that your business is a different entity type, like partnership or corporation.
- Be unique among other registered Wisconsin businesses.
2. Register Your Domain Name
Next up, it’s a really good idea to secure a domain name for your website. Why are these important? Just like you need a street address to help people find you on a map, you need a domain name to help people find you on the web.
For domain names, it’s better to register earlier rather than later. There are two basic reasons why:
Having a unique domain name for your business not only helps build your brand, but adds a layer of professionalism that let’s your customers know you take your work seriously.
A domain name that connects to your brand name makes it simpler for customers to remember you, which makes them more likely to seek you out.
At Northwest, we offer domain names in-house. Get a domain name, business website, professional email, and phone service when you hire us to form your business. With 25 years of experience supporting business owners, we’ve built our services to grow with your business.
3. Appoint a Wisconsin Registered Agent
A registered agent in Wisconsin is the person or business that accepts legal and state mail on behalf of your LLC. Wisconsin requires all LLCs to appoint a registered agent. Your registered agent can be you, someone associated with the business, or a third party like a professional registered agent service.
Your registered agent’s name and address must be listed on your Articles of Organization, so you’ll need to appoint one before officially forming your LLC.
The registered agent you use is a key part of your business identity. What’s a business identity? It’s the way you present yourself to the world, including potential customers and clients. You start building a business identity as soon as you form a business, and at Northwest, our registered agent service can help strengthen that identity.
Find out why over 1,000 clients gave our registered agent service a 5-star review.
4. File Wisconsin Articles of Organization
To officially form your LLC, you’ll need to complete the Wisconsin Articles of Organization. The filing fee is $130 for online filings (add $1 for state processing fee) or $170 for mailed filings (add $25 if you want to expedite processing).
Already have an LLC and want to do business in Wisconsin? We can help you register as a foreign LLC or domesticate in Wisconsin.
Articles of Organization Requirements
In order to complete your LLC’s Articles of Organization, you will need to include the following:
Required:
- Company name: include an indicator like LLC or limited liability company.
- Registered agent: the person or company designated to accept legal documents on behalf of your business.
- Registered agent address: This must be a street address. This address will go on public record.
- Management structure: Specify whether members or managers will run your LLC. In a member-managed LLCs, the members (owners) are in charge of the day-to-day operations. In manager-managed LLCs, members hire managers to take on regular business tasks like hiring and firing employees, dealing with vendors, etc.
- Organizer: This is the person filing the document. You must include the organizer’s name, signature, address, and daytime phone number. If you hire us, we sign here. This goes on public record.
Optional:
- Effective date: You can delay your LLC’s start date up to 90 days in the future, or skip this part to start your LLC right away.
Your completed Articles of Organization can be filed online or by mailing your form to one of these two addresses:
Standard Mail:
WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Affairs
P.O. Box 93348
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348
Express or Priority Mail:
WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Affairs
4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower
Madison, WI 53705
5. Create an Operating Agreement
Wisconsin does not require LLCs to have an operating agreement, but you’d be wise to write one. That’s because your LLC’s operating agreement acts as a guide for every scenario your business is likely to face. While you can customize your agreement to fit your LLC’s needs, it should focus on big-picture issues like:
- initial investments
- distribution of profits and loses
- removing or adding members
- selling or dissolving the LLC
Drawing up an operating agreement can be daunting. Get started with our attorney-approved Wisconsin operating agreement template.
6. Get an EIN
An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a unique nine-digit number assigned to businesses by the IRS. You’ll need an EIN if you have a multi-member LLC or to pay any employees your LLC might hire. You can get your EIN for free from the IRS. Or keep things simple and hire us, and we’ll get your EIN for you.
7. File your Annual Report
Each year your LLC will be required to file a Wisconsin Annual Report with the DFI. The annual report acts as a yearly check-in with the state where your business confirms or alerts the state to any changes with your LLC (like a change in address). The reports costs $25 and can be filed online with Wisconsin’s One Stop Business Portal (add $1 for online processing) or by mail with a paper form.
Annual reports are filed every year, starting the year after the LLC was formed. The report due date is based on the time of year the LLC was formed:
LLC Formation Date |
Annual Report Due Date |
|---|---|
| January 1–March 31 | March 31 |
| April 1–June 30 | June 30 |
| July 1–September 30 | September 30 |
| October 1– December 31 | December 31 |
Wisconsin LLC FAQ
To start an LLC in Wisconsin, you need to pay $130 to file Articles of Organization online or $170 to file by mail. For online filings, there is a $1 processing fee. Expedited processing is available for mailed filings and costs $25.
Check out our complete guide to Wisconsin LLC costs.
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