State hub · Wisconsin
Wisconsin LLC true cost (2026)
Wisconsin state side: $130 formation filing, $25 for Annual Report (DFI) in the 3-year model, ~$205 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #21 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Wisconsin state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services. Filings go through www.dfi.wi.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $130 | DFI Corporation Fees: LLC organization $130 online / $170 paper. Online path used for DIY baseline. Optional expedited processing available for additional fees. |
| Annual Report (DFI) | $25 | Domestic LLC annual report $25 online / $40 paper ($15 paper surcharge). First report typically due the calendar year after formation. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $205 | Online formation $130 + 3 × $25 online annual report = $205. Paper formation/report premiums and expedite fees excluded. Timing of first report may fall after formation year, but three report cycles are counted for a 3-year ownership horizon. |
When Wisconsin actually bills you
Wisconsin's recurring filing is due End of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of formation (domestic LLC); foreign LLCs generally March 31 — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Wisconsin charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $130 | $130 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (DFI) | $25 | $155 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (DFI) | $25 | $180 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (DFI) | $25 | $205 |
Provider + Wisconsin state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Wisconsin state subtotal of $205.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $494 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $702 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $503 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $952 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Wisconsin ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Wisconsin sits at #21 — the 21st cheapest three-year state charter — at $205 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $170 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $75 below the $280 median, and $2,305 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Wisconsin lands in the cheaper half of the table.
- Just cheaper: West Virginia ($205), Louisiana ($190).
- Just pricier: New York ($209), Alabama ($228).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Wisconsin)
- Wisconsin registered agent/office required; agent changes can be filed with DFI (online change fee lower than paper).
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Wisconsin state fees is $205, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Wisconsin, is about 59% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Wisconsin business entities are filed with DFI, not a Secretary of State.
- Quarter-based due dates confuse filers used to a single statewide deadline.
- Missing annual reports can lead to administrative dissolution (Wis. Stat. ch. 183).
Who Wisconsin is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Wisconsin operators wanting moderate formation cost and low online annual report fees.
Often a poor fit when…
- Filers who only mail paper documents (higher $170/$40 fees) or need zero recurring filings.
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Wisconsin LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
$130 to Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services for the formation filing. DFI Corporation Fees: LLC organization $130 online / $170 paper. Online path used for DIY baseline. Optional expedited processing available for additional fees. That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Wisconsin LLC fees after year one?
$25 for the Annual Report (DFI), due End of the calendar quarter containing the anniversary of formation (domestic LLC); foreign LLCs generally March 31. Domestic LLC annual report $25 online / $40 paper ($15 paper surcharge). First report typically due the calendar year after formation. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Wisconsin LLC really cost over three years?
$205 in Wisconsin state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $494 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $952 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Wisconsin.
Do I need a registered agent in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin registered agent/office required; agent changes can be filed with DFI (online change fee lower than paper). Confirm Wisconsin's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Wisconsin figure above.
Is Wisconsin a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Wisconsin ranks #21 of 51 at $205 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Wisconsin three-year number is built
Online formation $130 + 3 × $25 online annual report = $205. Paper formation/report premiums and expedite fees excluded. Timing of first report may fall after formation year, but three report cycles are counted for a 3-year ownership horizon. Figures are re-derived from the cited Wisconsin sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Wisconsin state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- Provider checkout upsells: see the national comparison page.
- Re-check live Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- Wisconsin DFI Corporation Fees
- Wisconsin DFI online LLC formation directions ($130)
- Wisconsin DFI Annual Report instructions (CORP5i)
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Wisconsin's $205 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Wisconsin math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.