Lesson 1 · Wisconsin
How to Start an LLC in Wisconsin (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Quick facts
By the end you will know
- The official fee and form in Wisconsin
- What the agent rule says
- What comes after formation
- Our graded picks and the reasoning
Who we would hire in Wisconsin
1. Mainstay Filing: best for having the annual report done for you
Mainstay Filing gets our top grade for Wisconsin: three chores, the filing, the registered agent and the annual report, are folded into a single $199 annual price.
Three years here cost $200 more than WI Registered Agent.org, in return for doing more of the work.
Each annual report is filed on your behalf (state fee $25, at cost).
What the price covers
- The formation filing
- Registered agent for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- State fee billed at cost
Marks in its favor
- It files the EIN application for you
- Renewal stays at $199
- $199 yearly, everything in one
Where it loses points
- Costs $100 more per year from year two
2. WI Registered Agent.org: best for Wisconsin LLCs on a tight budget
For number 2 we picked WI Registered Agent.org: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Its price leaves out the annual report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Year one of agent service is in the price
- Then $99 a year
- $199 plus the state fee
Where it loses points
- You file the annual report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
3. Wisconsin Registered Agent.co: best for founders who prepare their own reports
For number 3 we picked Wisconsin Registered Agent.co: $199 on top of the state fee, with the first year of agent service thrown in, then $99 yearly.
Its price leaves out the annual report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
It costs exactly what WI Registered Agent.org does.
What the price covers
- Filing with the state
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- Then $99 a year
- $199 plus the state fee
- Year one of agent service is in the price
Where it loses points
- You file the annual report
- Help with the EIN is $99 more
The 3 graded picks compared
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | WI Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit WI Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | Wisconsin Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit Wisconsin Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
The lesson, step by step
-
Step
1Settle on a name
Before filing, search the business records at the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) so you know the name is not already on the Wisconsin register.
Have a spare name ready.
-
Step
2Decide who your registered agent will be
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. A Wisconsin resident, or a business entity formed in Wisconsin or authorized there, whose business office is the registered office. The agent needs an email address and has to consent.
The address has to be an actual physical location with a street address in Wisconsin, not solely a P.O. box, mailbox service or answering service.
Any service in our graded list can be your registered agent.
Where this comes from: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
-
Step
3Choose between DIY and a service
Without a service you pay $130. With one of our graded picks you pay $199 more and skip the forms.
-
Step
4Fill out and file the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company
To form the LLC, pay $130 and give the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502) to the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI); the authority is Wis. Stat. § 183.0201.
Where this comes from: dfi.wi.gov confirms it, as of October 2026
-
Step
5Get the company a tax ID (EIN)
Wait for the state to approve the LLC, then request the EIN from the IRS. Mainstay Filing treats the EIN application as part of the package.
-
Step
6Agree on the ground rules in writing
The owners sign an operating agreement covering shares, votes and what happens if someone leaves. It stays in your files and is not filed with the state.
-
Step
7Put the yearly deadlines on your calendar
What recurs is the annual report ($25, every year, by end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date). Filing late adds $25.
Where this comes from: dfi.wi.gov confirms it, as of August 2026
Costs, step by step
| Cost item | Paid to | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | Paid to the state | $130 |
| Annual report | Paid to the state | $25 every year |
| If the report is late | Paid to the state | $25 |
| Service fees (optional) | Service | $199 to start |
| State fees for three years | Paid to the state | $180 |
Why Mainstay Filing comes first
What settled it was homework the price handles, worth 33% of the grade.
Having the annual report handled counted for more than WI Registered Agent.org's lower three-year cost.
Short answers
Which fees come with forming an LLC in Wisconsin?
$130 goes to the state. If you hire a service, add $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) receives the Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502), the filing that forms the company.
Is a registered agent required?
Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address.
What does Wisconsin require each year?
Keep an eye on the annual report: $25, every year, end of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes, you may. Pay the state $130 when you file, and remember that the LLC still needs a registered agent.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Mainstay Filing, WI Registered Agent.org and Wisconsin Registered Agent.co, graded from first to last.
Class references
- Class reference on Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate: dfi.wi.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate: dfi.wi.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Wisconsin report due date: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Wis: dfi.wi.gov (the state's own page), reread in August 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Wisconsin formation fee: Filing fee, official source: dfi.wi.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Class reference on Wisconsin registered agent statute: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov (the state's own page), reread in October 2026 for this lesson.
- Prices taken from the Wisconsin service page of Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of WI Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of Wisconsin Registered Agent.co on November 13, 2026