Wisconsin · Start a business

How to start a business in Wisconsin

Wisconsin's One Stop Business Portal registers a new business with three state agencies in one process.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$130FILEDWISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIALEINANNIVOPENWISCONSIN · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Wisconsin, pick a structure and file with the Wisconsin Department of Financial: $130 for an LLC, $100 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Wisconsin?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Wisconsin LLC guide, Wisconsin corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Wisconsin. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Wisconsin Department of Financial records before you pick a name: state name search. Wisconsin sole proprietors can register a business name as a tradename with the Department of Financial Institutions, but that filing does not register the business or reserve an entity name. 1 See Wisconsin name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Wisconsin charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $130 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $100 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A Wisconsin corporation must keep a registered office at a real street address and a registered agent in the state. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Wisconsin registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Wisconsin?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Wisconsin Department of Revenue registers sole proprietorships, partnerships, nonprofits and non-Wisconsin LLCs and corporations online, while other new businesses use the One Stop Business Registration to register with several agencies. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    A commercial employer becomes covered by Wisconsin unemployment insurance, administered by the Department of Workforce Development, after paying wages of $1,500 or more in a quarter or employing someone in 20 or more weeks of a calendar year. 7 Wisconsin employers with a federal employer identification number report each newly hired employee to the State Directory of New Hires, run by the Department of Workforce Development, within 20 days. 8 The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development requires workers' compensation insurance for employers with three or more employees, or with one or more employees paid $500 or more in a calendar quarter. 9

What keeps your Wisconsin business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Wisconsin's One Stop Business Portal says a business may need additional licenses or permits from the state, and that local governments may set their own requirements. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Wisconsin annual report: $25, due by the end of the calendar quarter your formation anniversary falls in (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31). 11 See Wisconsin annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Wisconsin runs through the Wisconsin Small Business Development Center. 12 The Wisconsin One Stop Business Portal registers a new business with the Department of Financial Institutions, the Department of Revenue and the Department of Workforce Development in one process. 13

What it costs to start a business in Wisconsin

$130to file an LLC 2
$100to file a corporation's articles 3
$25each year, annual report 11
71,717business applications filed in Wisconsin in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Wisconsin?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 15 Wisconsin's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Wisconsin One Stop Business Portal.

How to register a business name in Wisconsin

QuestionWisconsin
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeDepartment of Financial Institutions
What it is calledtradename

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Wisconsin

  • Pass-through entity withholding. The Wisconsin Department of Revenue requires a pass-through entity with Wisconsin income allocable to a nonresident member, partner or shareholder to withhold Wisconsin tax on that income. 16
  • Workplace posters. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development makes the required workplace posters available to download. 17

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Wisconsin?

Pick a structure, file with the Wisconsin Department of Financial, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, an LLC filing is $130 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $100. The annual report is $25 each year.

Can I start a business in Wisconsin with no money?

Wisconsin charges $130 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $25 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center is a statewide network that offers no-cost, confidential consulting and educational programs to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Are there small business grants in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says it has helped small businesses with grants and strategy, and its Small Business Development Grant program is aimed at communities and economic development partners.

What is the Wisconsin SBDC?

The Wisconsin Small Business Development Center is a statewide network that offers no-cost, confidential consulting and educational programs to entrepreneurs and business owners.

Sources 18 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration dfi.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings dfi.wi.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration revenue.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration dwd.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting dwd.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage dwd.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license onestop.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. Wisconsin annual report docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Oct 4, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center onestop.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal onestop.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  16. Pass-through entity withholding revenue.wi.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  17. Workplace posters dwd.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  18. State small business funding wedc.org, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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