CobaltProsper

How to start an LLC in Wisconsin

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated

Forming an LLC in Wisconsin costs $130 to file the Articles of Organization with the Wisconsin Secretary of State. After that you file an annual report of $25. Wisconsin charges no franchise tax on a standard LLC. Articles of Organization cost $130 filed online or $170 by mail with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), the Corporation Bureau of DFI's Division of Corporate & Consumer Services, not DSPS (Dept. of Safety and Professional Services, which handles professional licensing, not business entity filings). An Annual Report is required every year, due during the calendar-year quarter of the LLC's formation anniversary, costing $25 online or $40 by mail. Every WI LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office in the state (Wis. Stat. 183.0115), there is no exemption for single-member LLCs.

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

Wisconsin LLC costs (reviewed August 29, 2026)
ItemCost
Filing fee (Articles of Organization)$130
Annual report$25/year
Franchise or business taxNone
Registered agentRequired

Source: Wisconsin Secretary of State, fee schedule reviewed August 29, 2026.

What are the steps to form an LLC in Wisconsin?

  1. Name your LLC. Pick a name that is available and meets Wisconsin naming rules, then check it against the Secretary of State's business database.
  2. Appoint a registered agent. Wisconsin requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive legal mail. You can be your own agent, or hire a service.
  3. File the Articles of Organization. Submit it to the Wisconsin Secretary of State and pay the $130 fee. This is the step that legally creates the LLC.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and takes minutes. Do not pay a service for it. See how to get an EIN free from the IRS.
  5. Calendar your annual report. Wisconsin charges $25 to keep the LLC in good standing. Missing it risks penalties or administrative dissolution.
  6. Open a business bank account. Keep business money separate from personal money so your liability protection holds up.

Does Wisconsin have a franchise tax on an LLC?

No. Wisconsin does not have a franchise tax or LLC tax on business income beyond the standard individual/corporate income tax; a default pass-through LLC owes neither.

How is an LLC taxed in Wisconsin?

By default, an LLC is a pass-through entity: it pays no income tax itself, and the profits flow to the owners' personal returns. Wisconsin has a state individual income tax with a top rate of 7.65% (graduated brackets), so those profits are taxed on your Wisconsin return on top of federal tax. 2026 tax brackets (single filers/HOH): 3.50% on $0-$14,680; 4.40% on $14,680-$50,480; 5.30% on $50,480-$323,290; 7.65% on $323,290+. Married filing jointly: 3.50% on $0-$19,580; 4.40% on $19,580-$67,300; 5.30% on $67,300-$431,060; 7.65% on $431,060+. Four brackets total (not five), brackets are adjusted annually for inflation under Wis. Stat. 71.06 and republished each year by DOR.

An LLC can also elect to be taxed as an S-corp, which changes how owners pay self-employment tax. See LLC vs S-corp vs sole proprietorship and how self-employment tax works.

Sources