Wisconsin business entity search and name check
Search business records
In Wisconsin, businesses register with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), not the Secretary of State, and its CorpSearch tool shows each entity's status code, including dissolved and merged records. We don't search Wisconsin ourselves; we send you to CorpSearch. Forming an LLC online costs $130 ($170 on paper), and the $25 online annual report is due at the end of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was formed.
- How we search Wisconsin
- Official site only (we hand you off). Wisconsin's search results sit behind a bot-protection check, and the site asks AI crawlers not to access it, so we send you to the official search instead of searching it for you.
- What a result can tell you
- Searching the official site shows names on record. Wisconsin decides acceptance when you file.
- State fee to form an LLC
- $130 (Articles of Organization)
- Ongoing LLC filing
- Annual Report, $25. A Wisconsin LLC files by the end of the calendar quarter that contains its registration anniversary (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31), starting the year after it was formed. Out-of-state LLCs file by March 31 each year
What the Wisconsin search covers
CorpSearch covers Wisconsin and out-of-state business and nonstock corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, cooperatives, common law trusts, optional general partnership registrations, and reserved and registered names. Dissolved, merged and revoked records are included. Sole proprietors, ordinary general partnerships and DBAs are not registered here.
Each record has a Entity ID. Search by number on the Corporate Registration Information System (CRIS) / CorpSearch.
How to read Wisconsin results
Wisconsin uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| ORG – Organized / INC – Incorporated / RGD – Registered | The business was formed or registered and has not filed to end its existence. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
| DLQ – Delinquent | The business is behind on its annual reports. Filing the current report and paying past-due fees fixes this; staying delinquent can lead to the state dissolving it. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
| NAD – Notice of Intent to Administratively Dissolve | DFI has given notice that it intends to dissolve the business administratively. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
| DIS – Dissolved / DNP – Dissolved – Name Protected | The business has been dissolved. With DNP, the name stays protected. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
| IBS – In Bad Standing; RCA – Revocation/Termination of Certificate/Registration | An out-of-state business's right to operate in Wisconsin has been revoked or ended, for example because it didn't file its annual report within four months of March 31. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
| MGD – Merged/Acquired; RES – Short Term Name Reservation (60 or 120 day); RLT – Long term name reservation (10 year) | MGD: merged into or acquired by another business. RES: a short-term name reservation of 60 or 120 days. RLT: a long-term name reservation of 10 years. Source: dfi.wi.gov |
A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.
Wisconsin business name rules
An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company
, limited company
, LLC
, LC
, Ltd. (for limited)
, Co. (for company)
.
A new name must be distinguishable in DFI's records from existing businesses (unless administratively dissolved), limited liability partnerships, registered out-of-state businesses, and reserved or registered names. (Wis. Stat. §183.0112) Source: docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
When comparing names, Wisconsin disregards: differences in capitalization or punctuation of the business-type abbreviation (such as LLC vs. L.L.C.). Our name check applies these same rules.
Using a similar name with consent
Yes. The holder of the name can consent in writing and agree to change its name or cancel its registration or reservation. A court judgment establishing your right to the name also works.
Reserving a name in Wisconsin
Wisconsin lets you reserve a name before you form the business, held for 60 or 120 days (short-term) or 10 years (long-term).
Check whether a name is available with DFI's name availability search, then file the reservation with DFI. We couldn't confirm the reservation fee.
Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only DFI Corporations Bureau can.
Forming an LLC in Wisconsin
- Document
- Articles of Organization
- State filing fee
- $130
$130 if you file online; $170 on paper. - File online
- DFI Corporations Bureau filing
- Processing
- Next-business-day expedited service costs $100. At DFI's Madison service counter, processing within 4 hours costs $250 and within 1 hour costs $500.
- Out-of-state LLC registering here
- $100 (Registration (foreign LLC))
Fees change. Confirm them on the official Wisconsin fee schedule before you file.
File it yourself or use a service
File directly with Wisconsin
$130 state fee
You fill in the Articles of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Wisconsin street address; that can be you if you have one.
Use a formation service
A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.
- Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
- LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
- ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr
We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure
An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.
Keeping a Wisconsin LLC in good standing
Annual Report: $25. A Wisconsin LLC files by the end of the calendar quarter that contains its registration anniversary (March 31, June 30, September 30 or December 31), starting the year after it was formed. Out-of-state LLCs file by March 31 each year. Source: dfi.wi.gov
The LLC annual report is $25 online or $40 on paper. An out-of-state LLC pays $65 online or $80 on paper. An out-of-state business that doesn't file within four months of March 31 can have its registration revoked.
Proof of status: Certificate of Status. Source: dfi.wi.gov
Assumed names (DBAs)
DFI is not a DBA registry, and we found no state DBA filing on its pages. Wisconsin businesses sometimes protect a trade name through a state trademark registration. Source: dfi.wi.gov
Good to know about Wisconsin
- Businesses register with the Department of Financial Institutions, not the Secretary of State. Source: dfi.wi.gov
- Filing online saves money: $130 to form an LLC online versus $170 on paper, and $25 for the annual report online versus $40 on paper. Source: dfi.wi.gov
- Annual reports are due at the end of the calendar quarter of the LLC's formation anniversary, not on one statewide date. Source: dfi.wi.gov
- You can reserve a name for 60 or 120 days, or take out a long-term reservation lasting 10 years. Source: dfi.wi.gov
- DFI doesn't record LLC members or owners. Source: dfi.wi.gov
- DFI sells its full business database for $40 per weekly or monthly file. Source: dfi.wi.gov
Sources and accuracy
We checked this page against official Wisconsin sources on . Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.
Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (6)
- We couldn't confirm the name reservation fee on an official page.
- We couldn't confirm the fee for a Certificate of Status.
- We couldn't confirm the late fee for annual reports.
- DFI lists out-of-state LLC registration as "$100.00+" and doesn't say what extra charges may apply.
- We couldn't confirm the format of a Wisconsin Entity ID.
- We couldn't confirm Wisconsin's registered agent rules or the name endings required for corporations.
See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only DFI Corporations Bureau can change an official record.