In Wisconsin, the business registry isn’t run by the Secretary of State. It belongs to the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. A “Wisconsin Secretary of State business search” therefore means DFI’s free corporate records search, which lists every corporation, LLC and partnership on file.
Search the core words of your name. If nothing registered or reserved is the same once you ignore the LLC or Inc. ending, the name is probably available, though DFI only confirms it when your filing is accepted. A 120-day reservation costs $15, and Wisconsin has no mandatory DBA filing.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Wisconsin (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming your LLC once your name is clear in Wisconsin yourself, these are the services we recommend, in order. The table compares price and what’s included.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | WI Registered Agent.org | Wisconsin registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
| 3 | Wisconsin Registered Agent.co | Wisconsin registered agent service only | $99/year | in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Wisconsin. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. WI Registered Agent.org
WI Registered Agent.org is a Wisconsin registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
3. Wisconsin Registered Agent.co
Wisconsin Registered Agent.co is a Wisconsin registered agent service at $99/year. It provides in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Wisconsin business name search at a glance
| Item | Wisconsin details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services |
| Search tool | DFI corporate records search (free) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $130 online or $170 on paper |
| Name reservation | $15 for an LLC or corporation (Form 1); 120 days |
| Amendment (name change) | $40 |
| Annual report | $25 online or $40 on paper; due by the end of the calendar quarter of your registration anniversary |
| DBA / trade name | No state DBA requirement; optional trade name or trademark registration with DFI for $15 |
Fees are from DFI’s business entity and trademark fee pages and Form 1 (revised May 2026). For total formation and upkeep costs, see Mainstay Filing’s Wisconsin LLC cost guide.
How to do a Wisconsin business entity search
DFI’s database is sometimes called CRIS (Corporate Registration Information System). Here’s how to use it to test a name.
- Open the search. Go to the corporate records search, linked from the DFI home page. Older bookmarks on the wdfi.org domain no longer load, so update them.
- Enter the key words. Search “Driftless Coffee” rather than “Driftless Coffee Roasters LLC.” Fewer words catch more potential conflicts.
- Scan for near-matches. Look for the same words with a different ending, punctuation or plural. Those generally won’t count as different on DFI’s records.
- Check status codes. DFI shows a status for each record. Reserved names appear too: short-term reservations (60 or 120 days) and long-term reservations (10 years, for corporations protecting an old name). Treat reserved names as taken.
- Get it in writing. DFI says no name should be assumed available until your filing is accepted and marked “FILED.” Phone checks are only tentative.
If you need more options, Namechk’s business name generator turns a few keywords into dozens of candidates.
Wisconsin name requirements
Form 1’s instructions summarize the statutory rules (Wis. Stat. § 183.0112 for LLCs and § 180.0401 for corporations):
- LLC ending: “Limited Liability Company,” “Limited Company,” LLC or LC, or a variation that differs only in capitalization or punctuation.
- Corporation ending: Corporation, Incorporated, Company or Limited, or Corp., Inc., Co. or Ltd. Service corporations end in Chartered, Limited, Service Corporation, Ltd. or S.C.
- Distinguishable: the name must be distinguishable on DFI’s records from entities registered with DFI and from names already reserved or registered.
- Final say: a preliminary search helps, but DFI makes the final availability determination only when it examines and files your document.
Names that suggest a regulated business, such as banking or insurance, can also trigger review under other Wisconsin laws, so check with the relevant regulator before you build a brand around those words.
How to reserve a business name in Wisconsin
A reservation is optional and worth it only if you’ll wait before filing. Use Form 1, Name Reservation Application from DFI’s forms page.
- Fee: $15 for an LLC, business corporation, LLP or cooperative; $10 for an LP, LLLP or nonstock corporation. The fee is not refunded if the name is rejected.
- Term: 120 days.
- Expedite: optional, for an extra $100.
- Transfer: a reservation can be transferred with a Notice of Transfer of Name Reservation.
- Old names: a corporation or cooperative that is merging, dissolving or renaming can hold its old name for up to 10 years for $50, filed at the same time as that change.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
DFI’s entity search doesn’t show trademarks. Look up state marks in DFI’s registered trademark search and federal marks in the USPTO database. A federal registration elsewhere can still stop you from using a name that DFI accepted.
Also confirm the name is free online. Namechk checks domain names and social media handles together, and the domain name generator suggests close alternatives.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Do you need a DBA in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has no statewide requirement to file a DBA. DFI’s guidance describes trademark registration as the way to put the public on notice of a “Doing Business As” name, and it’s optional.
- Where: DFI’s trademark program, filed online through its Online Services Portal (free account) or in person in Madison.
- Fee: $15 for each name or design (trademark fees). Renewal is also $15 and can be filed starting six months before expiration.
- Who: individuals and organizations, including sole proprietors, LLCs and corporations.
Even without a filing requirement, banks usually ask for proof before they open an account in a trade name, and some local licenses are issued in the name you trade under. Ask your bank and municipality what they need.
After the search: forming your Wisconsin business
Once the name is clear, our Wisconsin LLC guide walks through formation. The short version:
- File Articles of Organization with DFI: $130 online or $170 on paper (fee page).
- Name a registered agent with a Wisconsin address. Mainstay Filing includes a registered agent in its formation package (Wisconsin costs). Read our Wisconsin registered agent guide for details.
- Get an EIN from the IRS; it’s free.
- File annual reports each year by the end of your anniversary quarter ($25 online). The Wisconsin start-a-business guide covers tax registration and licenses.
FAQs
Who handles business registration in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), through its Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, registers corporations, LLCs and partnerships. The Secretary of State does not. To search existing businesses, use DFI’s free corporate records search on dfi.wi.gov. DFI also handles name reservations, annual reports and state trademark registrations.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Wisconsin?
A name reservation for a Wisconsin LLC, business corporation, LLP or cooperative costs $15 using DFI Form 1. Limited partnerships and nonstock corporations pay $10. Either reservation lasts 120 days. Optional expedited service costs $100 more, and the fee is not refunded if DFI finds the name unavailable.
Does Wisconsin require a DBA?
No. Wisconsin has no statewide DBA filing requirement. If you want public notice of a trade name, you can register it through DFI’s trademark program for $15 per name, with renewal also $15. Your bank or local licensing office may still ask for documentation before you operate under a name other than your legal one.
Is a name available if it doesn’t appear in the DFI search?
Probably, but not certainly. DFI says the corporate records search gives only a preliminary answer, and no name should be assumed available until your filing is accepted and marked FILED. Check variations with different endings, punctuation and plurals, because those usually don’t make a name distinguishable.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Wisconsin?
DFI charges $130 to file Articles of Organization online or $170 on paper. After that, the LLC files an annual report each year, which costs $25 online or $40 on paper and is due by the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was registered. A name reservation ($15) is optional.
How do I change my LLC’s name in Wisconsin?
File an amendment to your Articles of Organization with DFI. The fee for an LLC amendment or restatement is $40, and DFI’s forms page offers a paper version and an online filing option. The new name has to meet the same rules as a new filing, so run a DFI corporate records search on it first and confirm it carries an LLC ending.
When is the Wisconsin annual report due?
A Wisconsin LLC’s annual report is due by the end of the calendar quarter of its registration anniversary: March 31 for January to March registrations, June 30 for April to June, September 30 for July to September, and December 31 for October to December. Filing online costs $25.
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