Wisconsin LLC Registration
Starting a Wisconsin LLC provides several benefits, notably limited liability protection. But before you can take advantage of those benefits, you have to figure out how to file the right paperwork. How do you do that? Well, the most efficient way is to hire us. For $279, you’ll get a Wisconsin LLC formation package that comes with registered agent service, annual report reminders, and business support from local experts who live in Wisconsin.
How Our Wisconsin LLC Service Works
Once you order our Wisconsin LLC formation service, we file your Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions’ Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. We’ll even list our business address on your formation paperwork instead of your personal information. After we file the formation paperwork, a few more things will happen.
- Wisconsin gives your LLC the all-clear to do business.
- We upload your approved LLC documents to an easily accessible secure online account.
- We provide top-of-the-line registered agent service for a year.
- When that year is done, we send a renewal notice offering another year of registered agent service for $49, the same price you paid when you first signed up.
Free membership certificates and initial resolutions are also part of the deal when you use our formation services. If you’re worried about an operating agreement, don’t be, because we’ll upload an operating agreement template into your online account. You can modify the template to match what your Wisconsin LLC needs.
Want to form a Wisconsin LLC without help? That’s the harder road, but it’s an option. Keep reading to find out how.
Starting a Wisconsin LLC
Here’s what steps to take if you’d prefer to form your LLC without any outside help.
Name your Wisconsin LLC
The right name helps ensure your company gets started on the right foot. But, you also have to follow some rules for naming an LLC in Wisconsin.
For starters, the name must contain the phrase “limited liability company” or “limited company.” Or, your business name can include the abbreviation “LLC” or “LC,” or variation.
The name of your Wisconsin LLC also has to be distinguishable from other businesses already on record with the state. You can search name availability by looking at corporate records on the WI Department of Financial Institutions’ website.
You can sign up for additional services inside your account, like our Trade Name Service. If you want to register a trade name, also known as a DBA in Wisconsin, we can do this for only $130, which includes state filing fees.
Hire A Registered Agent for Your Wisconsin LLC
A registered agent is someone who accepts legal mail on your Wisconsin LLC’s behalf. Wisconsin law requires your business to have a registered agent, and the agent must also have an office physically located within the state. If you prefer, you can act as your own registered agent. But if you hire us instead, we’ll provide privacy protection by listing our business address. When we receive important documents on your behalf, we’ll quickly upload them to your secure online account so you can view them as soon as possible.
It’s OK if you’ve formed your LLC on your own already. You can still hire us to act as your Wisconsin registered agent for just $49 a year.
File Wisconsin LLC Articles of Organization
To file Articles of Organization for your Wisconsin LLC, include the following information. If you’re filing a paper form, make sure to write in black ink.
- Name of company – It must include a business identifier like “limited liability company” or “LLC.”
- Registered agent name and email – This is so the state knows who the registered agent is and how to reach them.
- Registered agent’s office – This has to be a physical address, not a PO box.
- Main company office address – If the principal office is outside Wisconsin, list a street address for one of your business offices within the state. If there isn’t one, say so in the provided space.
- Name and address of every organizer of your LLC – If all the information won’t fit, attach a sheet labeled “Article 7” and continue listing the organizers there.
- Additional provisions (optional) – Attach a separate sheet if you want to include information like the purpose of the company or specifics on how the company will be managed.
- Organizer’s signature – This is where at least one person acting as a company organizer signs, dates, and writes their printed name.
- Delayed effective date (optional) – The date can be up to 90 days in the future.
You can submit your Articles of Organization by mail or online. If filing by mail, the cost is $170. If filing online, the cost is $130. However, if you’re at least 18 years old and currently enrolled in a Wisconsin post-secondary school, you may qualify to have the $130 filing fee waved. To file as a student, you’ll need to file Student Entrepreneur Articles of Organization (Form 502SE). This form must be filed by mail. If you file online, you will have to pay the full $130 filing fee, which is not refundable.
All documents are typically processed within 5 business days after receipt, but you can also pay an extra $25 for expedited service. Expedited service means your paperwork will “receive attention” by the end of the next business day after it’s received. If you’re seeking expedited service with a paper form, you must mail it to a different address than you would for standard processing. The expedited service address is:
State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, 4822 Madison Yards Way
4th Floor, North Tower
Madison WI, 53705
For standard processing, send to:
State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Box 93348
Milwaukee WI, 53293
Submit Beneficial Ownership Information Report
Within 30 days of forming your LLC with the state, you’ll need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The goal of these reports is to combat fraud and other financial crimes in the US.
You need to disclose certain information about your company and about two types of key players in your business: beneficial owners and company applicants. A beneficial owner is any person who exercises substantial control over business operations (like an LLC member-manager) and/or anyone who holds 25% ownership interest or more. A company applicant is the person responsible for the filing of company formation paperwork, and the person who directed the filing if different.
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Company Information |
Beneficial Owner and Company Applicant Information |
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Your BOI must be filed online using the FinCEN database. Filing is free, and in contrast to state filings, your BOI report is not accessible to the public.
There are some exemptions to filing for businesses that are already highly regulated. Additionally, businesses formed before 2024 do not need to include company applicant information and have until January 1, 2025 to file.
Let Us Help You Form Your Wisconsin LLC
Our LLC formation service offers several benefits that you won’t get if you fly solo.
Local LLC experts: Our customer service team doesn’t work from several times zones away. Instead, we work out of an office in Appleton, which means we bring knowledge to the table that you can’t find elsewhere. Since we are based in Wisconsin, we’re also more invested in making sure Wisconsin businesses succeed.
Speedy filing: In today’s competitive business market, you don’t want to sit around and twiddle your thumbs while waiting for paperwork to get filed. We’ll prepare and file your Wisconsin Articles of Organization in one business day.
Steady pricing: The price you pay today for registered agent service is also the price you’ll pay if you renew next year. We don’t believe in jacking up the price just because we can.
Privacy protection: Hiring us means we can list our business address on formation paperwork instead of your personal address, because we care about keeping your private information off the public record.
Other Questions About Your Wisconsin LLC
Can I reserve a name for my Wisconsin LLC?
Yes. Let’s say you know the business name you want but aren’t ready to file Articles of Organization. In that case, you can reserve your business name by filing a Name Reservation Application to the Wisconsin Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. You’ll also need to pay a filing fee of $15. Once the form is submitted, the state will then reserve your name for 120 days.
Do I need to file a Wisconsin annual report?
Yes. Your Wisconsin LLC’s annual report is due at the end of the quarter in which your LLC was originally formed. So if you formed your LLC on February 15, 2022, the first annual report would be due March 31, 2023. The cost to file your annual report is $25, and the reports can be submitted online or via mail.
How are Wisconsin LLCs taxed?
LLCs are automatically taxed as pass-through entities, which means you must report your share of the business’ profits on your personal taxes. You’ll also be responsible for federal self-employment taxes (15.3%) and Wisconsin’s personal income tax. The latter is a marginal tax rate that starts at 3.54% and tops out at 7.65%, meaning you’ll have to pay both a fixed dollar amount plus a percentage of any excess over a specific amount. For example, someone filing as a single taxpayer must pay 3.54% on any amount up to $12,760. The next tax bracket requires them to pay $451.70 for the first $12,760 of income, plus an additional 4.65% for any income over $12,760 but not over $25,520.
Do I need a Wisconsin business license?
No, you don’t need a general Wisconsin business license. The state doesn’t require a general Wisconsin business license, nor do cities or counties. But if you’re making retail sales, you will need a seller’s permit unless all your sales are exempt from sales or use tax. For instance, a business that sells less than $2,000 worth of goods or services a year is exempt from paying sales tax. You will also need a permit or license if you’re engaging in certain activities. For instance, a business that works with or stores solvents should check with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for licensing and permit information. Other than that, local licensing requirements will vary, so consult with your city or county to get the scoop on additional regulations. For instance, Milwaukee doesn’t issue general business licenses, but it does require occupancy permits for businesses in the city.