Wisconsin Foreign LLC Registration
To register as a foreign LLC in Wisconsin, you must file a Foreign Registration Statement – Limited Liability Company with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Services. The filing fee is $100. You’ll also need to appoint a Wisconsin registered agent.
Feeling Overwhelmed? Rest assured, our team of experts is here to assist you. For just $149 plus state fees, we’ll file your paperwork and provide a year of registered agent service. You’ll also get immediate access to our library of Wisconsin business resources, real-time annual report reminders, and lifetime support from our knowledgeable team.
HIRE US TO REGISTER YOUR FOREIGN LLC IN WISCONSIN
Do I have to register as a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin?
Probably. Although Wisconsin doesn’t formally define what qualifies as “doing business,” you’ll likely need to register if you plan on hiring Wisconsin employees, buying or renting property in the state, or consistently offering products/services under your LLC in Wisconsin.
Oddly enough, Wisconsin does provide a specific list of activities that do NOT qualify as “doing business,” including selling through independent contractors, securing or collecting debts, and maintaining accounts in a Wisconsin financial institution. You can read through the state statute (WI Stat § 183.0905) for a complete list.
What happens if I don’t register as a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin?
The state will impose penalty fees if you conduct business in Wisconsin without registering first. You’ll be responsible for all fees that would have been imposed by the state during the time you were not registered, or $5,000, whichever is less. In addition, you must file a Foreign Registration Statement and pay the $100 filing fee. For more information, you can read WI Stat § 183.0902.
If you conduct business before registering, the Foreign Registration Statement contains a section (page 4) to help you determine any additional fees owed.
How do I register a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin?
The easiest (and most cost-effective) way to register a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin is to hire us. Our Wisconsin Foreign LLC Registration Service ($149 plus state fees) includes all of the following:
- Foreign Registration Statement Filing
- A year of Wisconsin Registered Agent Service
- Real-time annual report reminders
- Access to our library of business resources
- A secure online account to keep everything organized
- Lifetime support from our team of business experts
Hiring us means your foreign Wisconsin LLC will be registered quickly, securely, and (most importantly) accurately. But, if you’d rather file yourself, follow the steps outlined below. Remember, you can still hire us for Wisconsin Registered Agent Service ($49 a year).
GET LOCAL REGISTERED AGENT SERVICE + REGISTER YOUR FOREIGN LLC
1. Make sure your company’s name is available.
Before registering as a Foreign LLC in Wisconsin, you must ensure your business name is available. Do a quick business name search to make sure your LLC’s name is free. You must establish a fictitious (or DBA) name if your name isn’t available.
2. Choose a Wisconsin Registered Agent.
Wisconsin law (WI Stat § 183.0115) requires all LLCs (foreign and domestic) to have and maintain a registered agent. Your registered agent must be a Wisconsin resident (over 18 years old) or a company (like us) authorized to provide registered agent service. In addition, your registered agent must be available during regular business hours to accept service of process.
Although you can choose to act as your own registered agent, it can put your privacy at risk. How? When you file your Foreign Registration Statement, you must list the physical street address of your Wisconsin registered agent. Unfortunately, your state documents are public records, which means anyone (including scammers) could find your information online. Thankfully, when you hire us to register your foreign LLC, we’ll list our business address instead of yours.
3. File a Foreign Registration Statement
Once you’re ready to register your foreign LLC, you’ll need to complete and submit a Foreign Registration Statement ($100) with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate & Consumer Affairs. Here’s a complete list of everything you must include:
- Legal name of your LLC and DBA (if applicable).
- State where you initially formed your LLC.
- Name, street address, and email of your Wisconsin registered agent.
- Principal business address (must be a street address).
- Mailing address (if different from your principal address).
- Principal office address. If your home state requires your LLC to maintain an office, list that street address in sections 9a and 9b. Otherwise, you can leave this blank.
- Business transactions. If your LLC conducted business in Wisconsin before registering, check “Yes.” Most companies will check “No.”
- Name and signature of the person filing your statement.
- Delayed start date (optional). If you want to delay your LLC’s registration (up to 90 days), enter the date you will begin conducting business.
You can submit the Foreign Registration Statement (Form 521) online or by mail. If you file a paper form, you must use black ink. The filing fee is $100.
Online:
Online Foreign Registration Statement
Mail:
State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
PO Box 93348
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348
Express or Priority Mail:
State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
4822 Madison Yards Way, 4th Fl., North Tower
Madison, WI 53705
It typically takes the state five business days to process applications. However, if you’re in a hurry, you can get expedited service (24-hour turnaround) for an additional $25.
How do I maintain my Wisconsin Foreign LLC Qualification?
Now that you’re registered with the state and ready to conduct business, you must keep a few things in mind to remain in good standing.
- File your Wisconsin Annual Report. All Wisconsin foreign LLCs must file an annual report by March 31 each year. The filing fee is $80.
- Obtain any required business licenses. Like most states, you’ll need to review local business licensing requirements. Depending on your city and the services your Wisconsin foreign LLC provides, you may need to obtain a business license. For example, Milwaukee requires businesses such as bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, and pet stores to get a local business license. You can check with your local government for more information.
- Get a Seller’s Permit. If your foreign LLC “makes retail sales, including leases, licenses, or rentals” from a physical location in Wisconsin, you will likely need a Seller’s Permit. The filing fee is $20.
We make registering a Foreign Wisconsin LLC easy and simple
Hiring us to register your foreign LLC in Wisconsin can save you time and money. Let’s be honest—filing anything with a state department can be a hassle. There’s often a lot of fine print to comb through, and if you make a mistake, you could end up having to repeat the process.
Thankfully, our Wisconsin Foreign Registration Service includes filing your Foreign Registration Statement for you and a year of local registered agent service. Plus, you’ll get real-time annual report reminders, immediate access to our library of business resources, a secure online account, and lifetime support from our team of experts. Get started today!