Business formation
Form your business in Wisconsin
Start your LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, or Nonprofit in Wisconsin with a guided, step-by-step workflow tailored to your entity type - and know the state filing fee before you begin.
Forming an LLC in Wisconsin costs $130 in state filing fees, which is above the national median: 36 of the 51 U.S. jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. A corporation files for $100 and a nonprofit for $35. Below: the fee table, what else you pay in year one, and the questions founders ask before filing here.
Wisconsin state filing fees
These are the one-time fees paid to the Wisconsin Secretary of State to file your formation document. They are separate from any EazeAccounts service or package fee.
| Entity type | State filing fee |
|---|---|
| LLCArticles of Organization - flexible, pass-through, simple to run. | $130 |
| Corporation (C-Corp / S-Corp)Articles of Incorporation - shares, board, officers. S-Corp is a federal tax election on the same state filing. | $100 |
| NonprofitNonprofit Articles of Incorporation - mission-driven; optional 501(c)(3). | $35 |
Estimated state filing fees, separate from EazeAccounts service fees. Some states set a minimum that can rise with authorized shares, and expedited or online filing may differ. Fees last verified May 2026; confirm the current amount with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions before filing.
What an LLC costs every year in Wisconsin
Annual Report
$25, $40 by paper
By the end of the calendar quarter that contains the anniversary of formation (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31), starting the year after formation A late report makes the LLC delinquent, and the Department of Financial Institutions can begin administrative dissolution once the report is a year overdue.
State tax on the LLC
Wisconsin charges no entity-level franchise or income tax on an LLC taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity, and the economic development surcharge has not applied to partnership LLCs since 2013. An LLC taxed as a partnership with any Wisconsin-source income files Form 3, and it generally must withhold Wisconsin tax on income allocable to nonresident members.
How long Wisconsin takes
Department of Financial Institutions rules give it five business days to process business filings. Expedited service costs $100 for processing by the end of the next business day. At the Madison counter, four-hour service costs $250 and one-hour service costs $500.
What is different about Wisconsin
- • The Department of Financial Institutions raised the next-day expedite fee to $100 in 2026, from $25.
- • The registered agent must have an email address on file, and the LLC cannot name itself as its own registered agent.
- • Filing on paper costs more: $170 to form an LLC instead of $130 online, and $40 for the annual report instead of $25.
Guide reviewed October 2026 against the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and the tax authority. Confirm current figures before filing.
What else you pay in year one
- Registered agent. Free if you serve as your own agent at a Wisconsin street address; a service charges an annual fee if you would rather keep your address off the public record.
- EIN. Free from the IRS. Anyone charging for an EIN alone is charging for the form.
- Annual report or franchise tax. Most states ask for a yearly report and some charge a fee or tax with it; the amount and deadline are set by Wisconsin. Check the Secretary of State page before you file so the first renewal is not a surprise.
- Licences and permits. City and county rules depend on what the business does, not on the entity type.
Not sure whether an LLC or a corporation fits? The entity cost calculator compares the two over three years, and the guide to LLC vs C-Corp covers the tax and investor side.
Questions founders ask about Wisconsin
- How much does an LLC cost per year in Wisconsin?
- $25 for the annual report filed online, or $40 by paper. Wisconsin charges no franchise tax on an LLC taxed as a partnership or disregarded entity.
- How much does it cost to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
- $130 online or $170 by paper for the Articles of Organization. Next-day expedited service adds $100.
- When is the Wisconsin LLC annual report due?
- By the end of the calendar quarter that contains the LLC's formation anniversary, starting the year after formation. An LLC formed on May 10 files by June 30 each year.
- How much does it cost to start an LLC in Wisconsin?
- The Wisconsin state filing fee for an LLC is $130, paid once when you file the formation document. That is above the national median: 36 of 51 jurisdictions charge less, and the national median is $100. Registered agent service, expedited processing and any EazeAccounts package are separate.
- Do I need a registered agent in Wisconsin?
- Yes. Every state requires an LLC or corporation to name a registered agent with a physical street address in Wisconsin who is available during business hours to receive legal and official mail. You can be your own agent if you live in the state, or use a service.
- What is the difference between the state fee and the EazeAccounts fee?
- The state fee goes to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and is the same whoever files for you. The EazeAccounts formation package covers preparing and filing the documents, the EIN, the operating agreement or bylaws, and setting your books up from day one. You always see both amounts before you pay.
- Is the state filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?
- Generally no. States keep the fee even when a filing is rejected for a name conflict or a missing detail, which is why the name check and document review happen before anything is submitted.
Next step
Comparing states? Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, District of Columbia, or see filing fees in every state.
Ready to form in Wisconsin? Begin the step-by-step formation workflow.