Starting an LLC in Wisconsin: what you should know first

Filing a Wisconsin LLC costs $130. The Annual Report costs $25 a year. Our pick is Mainstay Filing; $777 covers three years.

By kind of owner

Side hustle: Quiet-year cost: $224 in year 2 with Mainstay Filing, including the $25 state report in that year.
Online business: Required registered agent. 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.
Startup: Filing: Articles of Organization - Limited Liability Company (Form 502) with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Write the operating agreement before you open the bank account.
First-time owner: Report due: End of the calendar quarter containing the LLC's anniversary date.

Best LLC formation service in Wisconsin for a first-time owner?

Mainstay Filing: $329 in year 1 including the $130 filing fee, $224 in year 2.

Wis. Stat. § 183.0201 (formation; articles of organization); fee § 183.0122(2)(a)1 ('Articles of organization, $130') (multira state research spine): dfi.wi.gov/Documents/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Forms/CORP502.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
Wisconsin formation fee: Filing fee, official source read 2026-10-01: dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Fees.aspx, checked October 1, 2026
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services (multira state research spine): dfi.wi.gov/Documents/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Forms/CORP5.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services (multira state research spine): dfi.wi.gov/Documents/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Forms/CORP5i.pdf, checked August 12, 2026
Wisconsin report due date (multira state research spine, due dates verified 714/714): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/II/0210, checked August 12, 2026
Wisconsin registered agent statute (Wis. Stat. § 183.0115): docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/i/0115, checked October 20, 2026