How to Start an LLC in Wisconsin (2026)

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

The Articles of Organization (Form 502) cost $130 filed online with the Department of Financial Institutions, or $170 on paper because Wisconsin adds a $40 paper surcharge. Expedited service is an extra $100. Your EIN is free from the IRS. After that the annual report is $25 online each year.

Q: When is the Wisconsin annual report due?

It depends on the quarter you formed in, starting the year after formation. Form between January 1 and March 31 and it is due March 31. April 1 to June 30 is due June 30. July 1 to September 30 is due September 30. October 1 to December 31 is due December 31. It costs $25 online or $40 on paper.

Q: Who do you file a Wisconsin LLC with?

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, not a Secretary of State. Wisconsin is one of a handful of states where business entity filings are handled by a financial institutions department. Everything, including the Articles of Organization and the annual report, goes through dfi.wi.gov.

Q: Can I use a PO box for my Wisconsin registered office?

No. Form 502 says the registered office address must be an actual physical location with a street address and not solely a PO Box or mailbox service. If you do not want your home address in a public database, use a commercial registered agent, who supplies a compliant Wisconsin street address.

Last updated: August 28, 2026

To start a Wisconsin LLC, file the Articles of Organization (Form 502) with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions for $130 online ($170 on paper), give a registered office street address, and get a free EIN. The annual report is $25 online and is due at the end of the calendar quarter your LLC was formed in, starting the year after you form.

Quick note: we're operators, not attorneys or accountants. This is general educational info, not legal or tax advice. Wisconsin is one of the few states where business filings go to a Department of Financial Institutions rather than a Secretary of State.

Wisconsin is inexpensive and predictable, with one quirk worth knowing: your annual report deadline depends on which quarter of the year you formed in, not on a single statewide date. Here is the whole process in plain English, written for people starting something real like a courier route.

Filing on paper costs $40 more, for no benefit Wisconsin charges a paper filing surcharge: the Articles of Organization are $130 online but $170 on paper, and the annual report is $25 online but $40 on paper. Unless you have a reason to mail forms, file online and keep the $40. Expedited service, if you need it, is an extra $100.

How to start a Wisconsin LLC in 6 steps

Name it, set a Wisconsin registered office and agent, file Form 502 online ($130), write an operating agreement, get a free EIN, then file the $25 annual report at your quarter-end.

Name your Wisconsin LLC

The name must be distinguishable from other Wisconsin entities and include an LLC designator. Search it in the DFI corporate records search before you file. Wisconsin LLCs are organized under chapter 183 of the Wisconsin Statutes, which is the citation you will see on the form.

Set your registered agent and registered office

Form 502 asks for the initial registered agent's name and email, plus the street address of the registered office. Wisconsin states it plainly on the form: the registered office must be an actual physical location with a street address, not solely a PO Box or mailbox service. Northwest includes agent service free the first year with their $39 filing.

File the Articles of Organization (Form 502)

File Form 502 with the Wisconsin DFI. It is $130 online or $170 on paper, with optional expedited service for an extra $100. You can also set a delayed effective date up to 90 days out, which is handy if you want the LLC to start on January 1.

Write an operating agreement

Wisconsin does not require one, but write it anyway. It sets out ownership, management, and who can sign, it backs your liability protection, and banks usually ask for it at account opening. A simple template covers a single-owner courier business.

Get a free EIN from the IRS

Your EIN is free at irs.gov and takes about ten minutes. You need it for the business bank account, contracts, and hiring. Never pay a third-party site for one.

File the $25 annual report at your quarter-end

Starting the year after you form, Wisconsin wants an annual report, $25 online or $40 on paper. The deadline is set by the quarter you formed in, not a single statewide date. The table below has the exact dates.

Wisconsin LLC cost breakdown

$130 online to form and $25 a year. Wisconsin is one of the better-value states, as long as you file online.

Item	Cost	Required?
Articles of Organization (online)	$130	Yes
Articles of Organization (paper)	$170 ($40 surcharge)	Alternative
Expedited service	+$100	Optional
EIN	Free from the IRS	Yes (free)
Registered agent service	$0 (yourself) to $300/yr	No
Annual report (online)	$25 per year	Yes
Annual report (paper)	$40 ($15 surcharge)	Alternative

Wisconsin figures as of August 2026, from the DFI fee schedule and Form Corp502 (Revised May 2026). Your annual report is due March 31, June 30, September 30, or December 31 depending on the quarter you formed in. Confirm at dfi.wi.gov before filing.

Rather have it filed for you? Northwest will form your Wisconsin LLC for $39 + the $130 state fee and act as your registered agent the first year, keeping your home address off the public record. See the $39 formation service → Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Setting up to run courier routes in Wisconsin?

The LLC is step one. Our course covers the rest: insurance and certifications, the business bank account, and how to find routes and win contracts with Wisconsin clinics, labs, and hospitals.

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Wisconsin LLC FAQs

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

Form 502 costs $130 online or $170 on paper. Expedited is an extra $100. Your EIN is free. Then $25 a year for the annual report.

When is the Wisconsin annual report due?

It follows your formation quarter: Jan to Mar is due March 31, Apr to Jun is due June 30, Jul to Sep is due September 30, Oct to Dec is due December 31. It costs $25 online.

Who do you file a Wisconsin LLC with?

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (dfi.wi.gov), not a Secretary of State. Wisconsin is one of the few states that works this way.

Can I use a PO box for my Wisconsin registered office?

No. The registered office must be a physical street address, not solely a PO box or mailbox service. A commercial registered agent solves this.

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