Wisconsin DFI business registration — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Official Resource
Wisconsin Official SOS WebsiteThe 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
- 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 | Fee (Online / Paper) |
|---|---|
| Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization | Online $130 / Paper $170 |
| Annual Report — LLC, Corporation (due last day of anniversary quarter) | Online $25 / Paper $40 |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $100 (online and paper) |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $35 (online and paper) |
| Annual Report — Nonprofit (due last day of anniversary quarter) | Online $25 / Paper $40 |
| Amendment or Restatement (LLC or corporation) | $40 |
| Dissolution/Cancellation/Termination (LLC or corporation) | Online $20 / Paper $35 |
| Foreign Entity — Registration (corporation, LLC, LP) | From $75 (LP) to $100 (corporation, LLC) |
| Foreign Entity — Annual Report | Online $65 / Paper $80 |
| 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 |
DFI warns that once an entity is properly formed or registered, it is never required to purchase a certificate of status to remain valid — the department has received reports of solicitations designed to look like official invoices from "WI Certificate Service" and "US Business Regulations Dept." Verify any notice against DFI's official fee schedule before paying.
Key Wisconsin state licensing agencies
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
- What it covers
- Sales and use tax registration, employer withholding, business registration
- Website
- revenue.wi.gov
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, wage and hour compliance
- Website
- dwd.wisconsin.gov
Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS)
- What it covers
- Contractor licensing, professional and occupational licenses — healthcare, real estate, cosmetology
- Website
- dsps.wi.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wisconsin have a Secretary of State for business filings?
No. Wisconsin has no Secretary of State handling business entity registration — that role belongs to the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Division of Corporate and Consumer Services, which processes all corporate and LLC filings.
Is it cheaper to file a Wisconsin LLC online instead of by paper?
Yes. Online LLC formation costs $130 versus $170 by paper — a $40 savings over the paper option. Annual reports also cost $15 less when filed online ($25) than when filed on paper ($40), so online filing is cheaper either way.
Has Wisconsin's DFI warned about fake certificate of status invoices?
Yes. DFI has received reports of solicitations designed to look like official invoices, sent under names like 'WI Certificate Service' and 'US Business Regulations Dept.' A certificate of status is never required to keep a properly formed entity valid — check any such notice against DFI's fee schedule first.
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, August 2026. Wisconsin business entity registration is through the DFI — not the Secretary of State. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.