1. Your LLC must be formed within three months of filing your articles of organization.
2. You must file your articles of organization within 90 days of forming your LLC.
3. You cannot hold yourself out as a licensed attorney.
4. You must provide proof of insurance coverage.
5. Your LLC must use the name “Limited Liability Company.”
6. You must maintain a physical address where you conduct your business activities.
How Much Does a Wisconsin LLC Cost?
There’s a $130 filing fees for an LLC in Wisconsin, according to the state’s Division of Corporations. Once formed, your LLC will go into effect immediately.
The filing fee depends on how many members are involved in the organization. If there are three people, each person pays $65. If there are four people, each person pays a flat fee of $100. For five or more people, the fee doubles. A six-person LLC costs $130.
Forming an LLC is probably worth considering if you’re planning on doing business in Wisconsin. An LLC allows you to protect yourself from liability, avoid paying taxes, and offer additional benefits to your employees. However, it has some drawbacks, including paying a hefty filing fee.
Wisconsin Annual Report Fee: $25
The Wisconsin Annual Report Fee is a tax imposed on certain businesses and organizations within the state. It is collected by the Department of Revenue and distributed to local governments. The annual report fee’s purpose is to provide public school funding.
Registered Agent Fee
A registered agent is like having an assistant or secretary who helps you manage your legal affairs. They are responsible for filing documents with the state and keeping track of important information about your business. If you don’t use a registered agent, it could cost you thousands of dollars per year. In fact, according to the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers, the average annual fee for a small business is $1,500.
The good news is that there is no charge for registering as a sole proprietorship or partnership. However, some states do offer discounts for larger businesses. For example, New York offers a 25% discount for companies with over $250,000 in gross sales annually. Florida charges an additional 2% for each additional $100,000 in gross sales.
In addition to saving money, using a registered agent will help keep your company compliant. Many states require certain types of documentation to be filed with the government. These include things such as tax returns, corporate filings, and licenses. Having someone else take care of these tasks will save you time and money.
A foreign LLC allows you to incorporate in Wisconsin while avoiding forming a new corporation or LLC entirely. You’ll still have to pay taxes, file annual reports, and maintain corporate records. But it’s easier than starting a new entity.
The cost is $100 and there’s a limit of three corporations or LLCs per year. To start, you must submit a completed application to the Secretary of State’s Office. Once approved, you’ll receive a certificate of formation. Then, you’ll fill out tax forms and pay filing fees.
Business Permits and Licenses
State licensing varies based on what type of business entity you are operating. For example, if you are running a sole proprietorship, you will need a state business permit; if you are running a corporation, you will need a federal business permit. If you are running a partnership, LLC or limited liability company, you will need a local business license. You must obtain a license to operate your business in each jurisdiction where it does business.
Local licensing depends on where you live. In some states, such as California, you do not require a separate license for every location. However, in other states, such as New York, you must obtain a license for each location.
Federal licenses apply to all businesses irrespective of size. All businesses, regardless of size, must file a report with the IRS once a quarter. This includes filing Form 990, Schedule B, and Form 8300.
Other LLC Filing Costs
There are numerous expenses involved in setting up an LLC. These include filing fees, annual reports, and even taxes. While some states charge nothing, others charge significant amounts. For example, California charges $800 per year for an LLC. However, Delaware does not charge anything. Instead, it requires that you pay a fee to form the corporation.
The following table lists the most common requirements for each state. Some states do not require that you register your LLC with the secretary of state. If you live in one of those states, you don’t have to file anything.
State Requirements
Delaware
No filing requirement
California
$800/year
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an LLC necessary?
An LLC offers several benefits over sole proprietorship and general partnership forms of organization. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider forming an LLC.
1. Limited Liability Protection – If you start a business without protecting yourself legally, you could end up personally liable for debts incurred during the operation of your business. For example, if you fail to pay employees, vendors may sue you personally for the money owed. An LLC gives you legal protections against lawsuits, meaning creditors cannot come after your personal assets.
2. Tax Advantages – You can deduct certain expenses related to running your LLC, including salaries paid to members and fees charged to customers. These deductions can lower your taxable income and reduce your overall tax bill.
3. More Flexibility – You don’t have to file annual reports with the IRS, and there are fewer recordkeeping requirements. However, you must still report information about your finances and operations to the Secretary of States, where you do business.
4. Easier Formation – Many states offer online filing services to make it easier to open an LLC. In addition, most states allow you to form an LLC within 30 days of starting your business.
5. Protecting Your Personal Assets – A business owner’s personal assets are protected under the principle of limited liability. If someone sues your LLC for damages, they cannot reach your personal assets to satisfy a judgment.
6. Reduced Reporting Requirements – Most states require you to file annual financial statements with the state, showing how much profit the business earned and what distributions went out to owners. With an LLC, you don’t have to submit those documents.
Can I pay myself a salary from my LLC?
If you want to start paying yourself a salary from your limited liability corporation (LLC), there are a few things you need to know about how to do it correctly. This includes whether you’re allowed to take distributions out of your LLC, what happens if you don’t pay taxes, and how much money you’ll actually make.
You can pay yourself a salary, but it won’t look like one. If you’re thinking about doing this, you might think you can just write a check to yourself from your LLC and call it good. However, the IRS calls these “distributions,” and they must be reported on your personal tax return. Distributions are taxable income even though they come from your LLC. So, if you plan on taking distributions from your LLC, you’ll need to figure out how to report those amounts on your 1040.
James Rourke is a business and legal writer. He has written extensively on subjects such as contract law, company law, and intellectual property. His work has been featured in publications such as The Times, The Guardian, and Forbes. When he’s not writing, James enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
