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Starting an LLC in Wisconsin: step by step (2026)

To start an LLC in Wisconsin, file the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502) with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and pay the $130 state fee. Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date, for $25. Every Wisconsin LLC must keep a registered agent with a Wisconsin street address.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in Wisconsin

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) business records.
  2. Name a registered agent: a Wisconsin resident, or a business entity formed in Wisconsin or authorized there, whose business office is the registered office. The agent needs an email address and has to consent.
  3. File the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502) with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and pay $130.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date, for $25.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus Wisconsin’s fees.

Wisconsin LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$130
Formation document
Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502)
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $25
Due
End of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date
Registered agent
Required. A Wisconsin resident, or a business entity formed in Wisconsin or authorized there, whose business office is the registered office. The agent needs an email address and has to consent.
Agent address
The address has to be an actual physical location with a street address in Wisconsin, not solely a P.O. box, mailbox service or answering service.
Filing fee rank
35th lowest of 50 (34 states charge less, 15 charge more)
Best overall for a Wisconsin LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus Wisconsin’s $130 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

Wisconsin compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
Wisconsin$130$25 / yr
Illinois$150$75 / yr
Iowa$50$30 / 2 yrs
Michigan$50$25 / yr
Minnesota$155$0 renewal

All 50 states

Wisconsin LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Wisconsin?

$130 to the state to file. Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date, for $25. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does Wisconsin require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. Wisconsin LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due the end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date, for $25.

Do I need a registered agent in Wisconsin?

Yes. A Wisconsin resident, or a business entity formed in Wisconsin or authorized there, whose business office is the registered office. The agent needs an email address and has to consent.

Can I form a Wisconsin LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502) directly with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and pay the $130 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources