How to search Wisconsin records
- Search DFI by name, entity ID or registered agent.
- Check "Status" and "Annual Report Requirements" on the record for the next due quarter.
- Order a certificate of status from the same page for proof of good standing.
Open the official Wisconsin search
Wisconsin SOS, corporation and LLC search
Wisconsin SOS Business Search
Wisconsin does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Wisconsin SOS business search" are looking for the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and its Corporate Records Search. It is free to search by name or entity ID, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Wisconsin Entity Search
An entity search of the Wisconsin business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Wisconsin expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Wisconsin Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "Wisconsin SOS corporation search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Wisconsin LLC Search
Run the Wisconsin LLC search with the exact name, then note the entity ID. Forming a Wisconsin LLC costs $130 and the annual report is $25. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
Wisconsin Business Name Search
A Wisconsin business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Wisconsin lets you hold a name for 120 days for $15 (online price). The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
WDFI Business Search
WDFI is the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, which keeps corporate records in Wisconsin instead of the Secretary of State. For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Wisconsin UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Wisconsin businesses are filed with the Department of Financial Institutions. A filing shows a lender's claim on the company's assets, and it must be searched under the exact legal name on the entity record. The UCC lien search guide explains how to read one.
Wisconsin Tax ID Lookup
A Wisconsin tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Wisconsin tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
A financial regulator keeps the register
Wisconsin's business register is run by the Department of Financial Institutions. The annual report is due by the end of the calendar quarter containing the formation date and costs $25 online or $40 on paper.
Wisconsin filing facts
| Record number | Entity ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $130. Online Articles of Organization ($170 on paper). |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $25, yearly |
| Due | End of the anniversary quarter. $40 on paper. |
| Name reservation | $15 for 120 days. Online price. |
| Agency phone | 608-261-7577 |
What a Wisconsin LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $130 | $0 | $130 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Three-year state total | $180 | ||
No state DBAs and cheap bulk data
Wisconsin does not register DBAs at the state level; see DBA. It sells its full register for a one-time $40 fee, the lowest of any state, as listed in data downloads by state. Order a certificate of status from the record page when you need proof of standing.
Reading quarter-based deadlines
A Wisconsin company formed in February files its annual report by March 31 each year, while one formed in May files by June 30. Check the formation date to know which quarter applies.
How Wisconsin compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | $130 | $25 | Yearly | $15 |
| Minnesota | $155 | $0 | Yearly | $55 |
| Illinois | $150 | $75 | Yearly | $25 |
| Michigan | $50 | $25 | Yearly | $25 |
Before you rely on a Wisconsin result
- Wisconsin does not register DBAs at the state level.
- Entities that miss annual reports are administratively dissolved after notice.
Bulk Wisconsin business data
Sold by the state. $40 one time (form CORP51).
Searching beyond Wisconsin
Registries next to Wisconsin: Minnesota business search, Illinois business search, Michigan business search.
Wisconsin business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Wisconsin?
The state filing fee is $130. Online Articles of Organization ($170 on paper). Keeping the LLC on file then averages $25 a year in state fees.
When is the Wisconsin annual report due?
Wisconsin calls it the annual report. It costs $25, it is filed yearly, and it is due end of the anniversary quarter. $40 on paper.
Can I reserve a business name in Wisconsin?
Yes. A name reservation costs $15 and holds the name for 120 days. Online price.
When is the Wisconsin annual report due?
By the end of the calendar quarter that contains your formation date. The fee is $25 online.
Is the Wisconsin business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Corporate Records Search costs nothing. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). Its business line is 608-261-7577, and its free search is the Corporate Records Search.
What number identifies a business in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin assigns each entity an entity ID. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Wisconsin businesses?
Only by buying it. $40 one time (form CORP51).
Sources
Data Updated Recently