Filed with
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Every year
- 01
Choose a name for your Wisconsin LLC
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services business filings →The name must include "limited liability company", "limited company", "LLC" or "LC" (punctuation and capitalization variations allowed; "Limited" may be "Ltd." and "Company" may be "Co."). It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Wisconsin register.
Search the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services business records before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Wisconsin LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Wisconsin, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Wisconsin operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Wisconsin business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Wisconsin requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Wisconsin sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Wisconsin LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due during the calendar quarter in which the anniversary of the Articles of Organization's effective date falls, so by the end of that quarter.
Worth knowing in Wisconsin
- The due window is the whole calendar quarter of your formation anniversary, not just the anniversary month.
- Articles of Organization and annual reports can both be filed online with DFI.
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services and pay the state fee, act as your Wisconsin registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Wisconsin?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Wisconsin, and file a Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Wisconsin LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Wisconsin LLC have to file an annual report?
Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year. It is due during the calendar quarter in which the anniversary of the Articles of Organization's effective date falls, so by the end of that quarter.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Wisconsin, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Wisconsin?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Wisconsin and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
