Wisconsin DFI business registration — contact, fees, and licensing

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions' Division of Corporate and Consumer Services handles all entity formations, annual reports, amendments, and certificates of status. Wisconsin's entity registration is not with the Secretary of State — the DFI administers all corporate and LLC filings. Online filings are $40 cheaper than paper for LLC formations and $15 cheaper for annual reports.

DFI office contact

Street address	4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, Madison, WI 53705
Mailing address	P.O. Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348
Phone	(608) 261-7577
Email	DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov
Office hours	Monday – Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time
Entity search	apps.dfi.wi.gov/apps/corpsearch
Business Entities homepage	dfi.wi.gov — Business Entities

Entity formation and filing fees

Wisconsin charges $40 more for paper LLC formations than online ($170 vs. $130). Corporation and nonprofit formation fees are the same regardless of channel. Annual reports cost $15 more by paper. Verify current amounts at dfi.wi.gov before filing.

Filing	Online fee	Paper fee
Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization	$130	$170
Annual Report — LLC, Corporation (due last day of anniversary quarter)	$25	$40
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation	$100	$100
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation	$35	$35
Annual Report — Nonprofit (due last day of anniversary quarter)	$25	$40
Name Reservation (120 days, renewable once)	$15
Certificate of Status (Good Standing)	$10
Expedited — Next Business Day	+$100
Expedited — Same Day (within 4 hours)	+$250
Expedited — Same Hour (within 1 hour)	+$500

Key Wisconsin state licensing agencies

Agency	What it covers	Website
Wisconsin Department of Revenue	Sales and use tax registration, employer withholding, business registration	revenue.wi.gov
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development	Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, wage and hour compliance	dwd.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)	Contractor licensing, professional and occupational licenses — healthcare, real estate, cosmetology	dsps.wi.gov

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Wisconsin DFI sources, May 2026. Wisconsin business entity registration is through the DFI — not the Secretary of State.