Wisconsin · Corporation
How to Start a Corporation in Wisconsin
Wisconsin writes its corporation fees into state law, which makes them easy to check and slow to change.
See the stepsShort answer
To start a corporation in Wisconsin, file Articles of Incorporation with the Department of Financial Institutions. At checkout that is $103 for Wisconsin plus $123.75 for our formation, $226.75 before card processing. The statutory fee is $100, and the state may set a larger fee for paper filings. After that, the annual report for a domestic corporation carries a $25 fee.
Last checked .How do I incorporate in Wisconsin, step by step?
Wisconsin puts its fees in the business corporation statute itself: $100 for the articles and $25 for a domestic corporation's annual report. The same section lets the Department of Financial Institutions, by rule, set a larger fee for paper filings, so the filing method can move the baseline.
Choose and check the name
Your name must contain the word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd. It cannot suggest a purpose the corporation is not organized for. Check the Department of Financial Institutions' business entity search before you file. See the Wisconsin name search guide.
Name a registered agent
Every corporation needs one in the state (the rule). Ours is $74.25 a year.
File articles of incorporation
File the Articles of Incorporation with Wisconsin. The fee at our checkout is $103. Details are below.
Adopt bylaws
Bylaws are the board's rules: how directors are elected, how meetings run and how officers are chosen. Every corporation we form includes them.
Name directors, officers and issue shares
A Wisconsin board has 1 or more natural persons. 4 Hold an organizational meeting, record it in minutes, and issue stock to the owners.
Get an EIN
The EIN is the corporation's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it free at irs.gov.
Register for state taxes
Before you pay wages, open a payroll withholding account with the state’s tax department, and a sales tax account if you sell taxable goods or services.
File the annual report
Put the first deadline on your calendar before you file anything else. See the Wisconsin annual report page and the filings below.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Wisconsin?
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| State fees (what our checkout charges) | $103 | At filing |
| Our formation, bylaws included | $123.75 | At filing |
| Total for the filing | $226.75 | Before card processing |
| With our registered agent for a year (Formation + Registered Agent) | $281.20 | At filing |
| With the Day-One Bundle | $325 | At filing |
| Annual report (each year) | $25 5 | annually |
| Registered agent after the first year | $74.25 a year | Optional |
Card processing is added at checkout and shown before you pay. State fees: the state's published fee for the Articles of Incorporation is $100; our checkout charges $103 on the state side, and the state's fee schedule does not itemize the other $3. You see it before you pay.
Wisconsin at a glance
| Question | Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Formation filing and state fee | Articles of Incorporation, $100 1 |
| Name rule | Must contain corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or corp., inc., co. or ltd. 2 |
| Registered agent | Registered office and registered agent in Wisconsin; the office must be a physical location with a street address, not solely a P.O. box, mailbox service or answering service 3 |
| Directors and officers | At least 1 director; officers: officers named in the bylaws or appointed by the board (one person may hold more than one office) 4 |
| Annual report | Annual report, $25, due annually 5 |
| Corporate income tax | 7.9% flat 6 |
Do I need a registered agent in Wisconsin?
A Wisconsin corporation must keep a registered office at a real street address and a registered agent in the state. 3 You can be your own agent if you have a street address in the state and are there in business hours, but the address goes on the public record. Ours, through our partner Registered Agents Inc, is $74.25 a year, or $178.20 with the formation. Wisconsin registered agent rules.
What goes in the Wisconsin articles of incorporation?
File Articles of Incorporation with the Department of Financial Institutions. Check the current fee for the method you pick. Name your registered agent and registered office.
Which annual reports and franchise taxes will a Wisconsin corporation owe?
Each year the corporation files an annual report with the Department. Confirm the exact due date in the Department's online account before you form, and set a reminder.
How do I start an S corp in Wisconsin?
A corporation is a C corporation unless it elects otherwise. An S corp is a tax election, not another kind of entity. The order is plain: form the corporation, get the EIN, then file IRS Form 2553 within 2 months and 15 days after start of the tax year the election takes effect (or any time in the prior tax year) 8. Wisconsin follows federal classification, so a federal S corporation is a pass-through for state purposes. 7
We file Form 2553 for $165. Run your own numbers in the calculator or read Wisconsin: S corp or C corp.
Should I form a corporation or an LLC in Wisconsin?
Shares, a board and officers. The usual choice when you plan to raise money from investors or issue stock options.
Fewer formalities and flexible ownership. Often the simpler choice for one owner or a small team.
Compare the two: How to start an LLC in Wisconsin.
Raising venture money? Investors usually ask for a Delaware C corporation, which you then register in Wisconsin as a foreign corporation. See how to start a corporation in Delaware.
What do I do after filing in Wisconsin?
- Adopt the bylaws and hold the first board meeting; write minutes.
- Issue stock to the owners and keep a stock ledger.
- Get the EIN, open a business bank account and keep money separate.
Form your Wisconsin corporation
We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee ($103), with bylaws included. Add the registered agent for $178.20 in all, or take the Day-One Bundle at $222.
Common questions
How much does it cost to incorporate in Wisconsin?
The statute sets the Articles of Incorporation fee at $100. The Department may set a larger fee for paper filing.
What must a Wisconsin corporation's name include?
The word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd.
How much is the Wisconsin corporation annual report?
The statute sets the fee for a domestic corporation's annual report at $25.
Can Wisconsin charge more for paper filings?
Yes. The Department may, by rule, specify a larger fee for filing in paper format.
Sources 8 links, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wisconsin's statute sets the fee for Articles of Incorporation at $100; the state may set a larger fee for paper filings. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wisconsin corporation's name must contain the word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wisconsin corporation must keep a registered office at a real street address and a registered agent in the state. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wisconsin board has 1 or more natural persons. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wisconsin's statutory fee for a domestic corporation's annual report is $25. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wisconsin C corporation pays a flat 7.9% franchise or income tax on Wisconsin net income. revenue.wi.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- Wisconsin follows federal classification, so a federal S corporation is a pass-through for state purposes. docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- IRS: Form 2553 instructions irs.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
Last verified Nov 7, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.