Wisconsin LLCs are formed with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), not a Secretary of State. Filing Articles of Organization online costs $130, the statutory fee under Wis. Stat. § 183.0122, while the paper Form 502 costs $170 (fees as of October 2026).
Each year after that, the LLC files a $25 online annual report by the end of the calendar quarter that contains its anniversary date. With a registered agent, an operating agreement, an EIN and any tax registrations in place, that is the whole process. Details follow.
Updated October 2026.
Go to:
Best LLC Formation Services in Wisconsin (2026)
If you’d rather not handle forming an LLC 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 LLC at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Filing office | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services |
| Formation document | Articles of Organization (Form 502) |
| Filing fee | $130 online; $170 on paper |
| Annual report | $25 online; $40 on paper (Form 5) |
| Annual report due | End of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary date |
| Late annual report | $25 delinquency fee |
| Registered agent | Required; Wisconsin street address and an email address |
| Registered agent change | $10 online; $25 on paper |
| Expedited paper filing | Optional $100 |
Step 1: Choose a name for your Wisconsin LLC
Your LLC name must include a designator identifying it as a limited liability company, such as “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company,” and it must be distinguishable from names already on DFI’s records. Search DFI’s corporate records before filing.
Our Wisconsin business name search guide explains the search. Then confirm the domain and social handles are free with Namechk, look for alternatives with the business name generator, and search the USPTO trademark database.
Step 2: Appoint a registered agent
Under Wis. Stat. § 183.0115, every Wisconsin LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state. The agent can be:
- An individual who lives in Wisconsin and whose business office is the registered office, or
- A domestic corporation, nonstock corporation, LLC, limited partnership or LLP with a business office at the registered office, or a foreign one authorized to do business in Wisconsin
The registered office must be an actual physical location with a street address, not solely a P.O. box, mailbox service or telephone answering service. Wisconsin also requires the agent to have an email address, and the agent must consent to serve. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
Mainstay Filing includes a Wisconsin registered agent for the first year with its formation service. If you only need an agent, WI Registered Agent.org offers one at a flat $99 per year. Changing agents later costs $10 online or $25 on paper.
Step 3: File Articles of Organization
File online through DFI’s online filing service for $130, or mail the paper Form 502 for $170 (with an optional $100 expedite fee). The articles are governed by Wis. Stat. § 183.0201.
The articles ask for the LLC name, the registered agent’s name, Wisconsin street address and email, the name and address of each organizer, and a contact for the filing. Wisconsin LLCs are member-managed by default unless the operating agreement provides for managers.
For a full cost breakdown, see the Wisconsin LLC cost guide from Mainstay Filing.
Step 4: Write an operating agreement
Wisconsin does not require you to file an operating agreement with DFI. It is still the key internal document: it sets ownership percentages, decides whether members or managers run the LLC, and covers profit distributions and member exits.
Spell out how new members are admitted, how a departing member is paid, and what happens if a member dies or becomes disabled. Those are the gaps that most often lead to disputes in small LLCs.
Because management defaults to the members in Wisconsin, an operating agreement is especially important if you want managers to run the company. Banks also commonly ask for it.
Step 5: Get an EIN and register with the Department of Revenue
Apply for a free EIN with the IRS. If you sell taxable goods or services or have employees, register with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for a seller’s permit and withholding account before you begin.
By default, a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC is taxed as a partnership, with profits flowing to the owners’ returns unless the LLC elects corporate taxation.
Step 6: File the annual report by the end of your quarter
Wisconsin LLCs file an annual report (Form 5) by the end of the calendar quarter in which their anniversary date falls. An LLC formed in February, for example, files by March 31 each year; one formed in August files by September 30.
Because the deadline is tied to a calendar quarter rather than a fixed date, it is easy to lose track of. Put the quarter-end date on your calendar the day DFI accepts your articles, and keep the registered agent’s email address current so official notices reach you.
The fee is $25 online through DFI’s online filing service or $40 on paper. The report lists one member or one manager and the registered agent, including the agent’s email address, and DFI rejects reports with unanswered questions. Each delinquent year adds a $25 fee, and an LLC that does not file can be administratively dissolved under Wis. Stat. § 183.0708.
Step 7: Licenses and permits
Wisconsin has no general statewide business license. Many professions and trades are licensed by the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and cities and counties may require local licenses or permits.
Our guide to starting a business in Wisconsin covers licensing, insurance and banking in more depth.
Wisconsin LLC FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Wisconsin?
Filing Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions costs $130 online or $170 on paper, as of October 2026. The annual report costs $25 online or $40 on paper. A registered agent change is $10 online, and paper filings can be expedited for $100.
When is the Wisconsin LLC annual report due?
A Wisconsin LLC files its annual report by the end of the calendar quarter that contains its anniversary date: March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31. The fee is $25 online. Late reports add a $25 delinquency fee per year, and non-filing can lead to administrative dissolution.
Who can be a registered agent in Wisconsin?
Under Wis. Stat. § 183.0115, the agent can be a Wisconsin resident whose business office is the registered office, or a domestic or authorized foreign business entity with an office there. The registered office must be a physical street address, and the agent must have an email address. The LLC cannot be its own agent.
Who files LLC paperwork in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin LLC filings go to the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, rather than a Secretary of State. DFI handles Articles of Organization, annual reports and registered agent changes, most of which can be filed online.
Is a Wisconsin LLC member-managed or manager-managed?
A Wisconsin LLC is member-managed by default unless its operating agreement vests management in managers. If you want managers to run the company, put that in a written operating agreement. The annual report only needs to list one member or one manager.
Does Wisconsin require an operating agreement?
Wisconsin does not require LLCs to file an operating agreement with DFI. Writing one is still recommended because it sets ownership, management and profit-sharing terms, overrides default member management if you want managers, and is commonly requested by banks when you open an account.
How do I change my registered agent in Wisconsin?
File a statement of change of registered agent or registered office with the Department of Financial Institutions. It costs $10 online or $25 on the paper form. The new agent must have a Wisconsin street address and an email address, and must consent to serve before you file the change.
Can I file my Wisconsin LLC online?
Yes. The Department of Financial Institutions accepts Articles of Organization through its online filing service for $130, which is $40 less than the $170 paper filing fee. Annual reports and registered agent changes can also be filed online, at lower fees than their paper versions.
CHK_ YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW
Use our engine to quickly check your content right now!
Disclosure: We may earn a commission from services recommended on this page.
