Wisconsin Articles of Organization: Form 502 Fee (2026)
You form a Wisconsin LLC by filing the Articles of Organization (Form 502) with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and paying $130 to file online ($170 by paper). You must name a registered agent, and once the LLC exists you file a $25 annual report with the DFI each year. Filing is governed by the Wisconsin Uniform Limited Liability Company Law, Wis. Stat. § 183.0201.
Quick Answer
- Form
- Form 502, Articles of Organization (limited liability company)
- Filing fee
- $130 online / $170 paper (2026); +$25 expedited
- Agency
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
- Registered agent
- Required - Wisconsin registered agent and registered office (§ 183.0115)
- After filing
- Annual report to the DFI - $25 per year
- Governing law
- Chapter 183, effective Jan 1, 2023 (Wis. Stat. § 183.0201)
What the Articles of Organization Do
The Articles of Organization is the founding document that legally creates a Wisconsin limited liability company. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions provides it as Form 502 (the PDF is labeled CORP 502). Filing this document - and the DFI's acceptance of it - is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence under Chapter 183 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the Wisconsin Uniform Limited Liability Company Law that took effect January 1, 2023. Until Form 502 is on file and effective, the entity does not exist and its owners have no liability shield.
People sometimes call this a "certificate of formation" or "certificate of organization," but Wisconsin's actual document for an LLC is the Articles of Organization (Form 502). A corporation instead files Articles of Incorporation. If you are researching the general national process first, see how to form an LLC, and for the full Wisconsin walk-through see how to form an LLC in Wisconsin. For the "certificate of formation" terminology specifically, see Wisconsin certificate of formation.
What Form 502 Requires
Form 502 is short. Under Wis. Stat. § 183.0201, the Articles of Organization must state a limited set of items:
- LLC name. The name must contain "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or "L.L.C." and be distinguishable on the DFI's records from existing names. Confirm availability before filing.
- Registered agent and registered office. Name a registered agent with a physical Wisconsin street address (see below).
- Management structure. Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed is generally fixed by the operating agreement; Form 502 collects the organizer and management details the DFI requires.
- Organizer. The name and address of each organizer signing the articles.
- Drafter and delayed effective date. The form allows a delayed effective date if you want the LLC to start on a future day.
Because the form is standardized, most rejections come from name problems or a missing registered agent address rather than the body of the document. Your internal governance - ownership percentages, voting, and distributions - goes in an operating agreement, which Wisconsin does not file.
How to File the Articles of Organization
The fastest way to file is online through the DFI, which accepts online filings upon receipt and confirms them immediately. You can also file the paper Form 502 by mail. The steps are:
- Check the name. Search existing entities in the DFI database and confirm your name is available and distinguishable.
- Name your registered agent. Confirm the agent consents and has a physical Wisconsin address.
- Complete Form 502 online or on paper, listing the organizer and management details.
- Pay the fee - $130 online or $170 by paper - and submit. Keep the filed copy the DFI returns; banks ask for it.
- Calendar your annual report and set up your tax accounts.
If you need faster paper handling, the DFI offers expedited service for an additional $25. Online filing is generally quickest and needs no expedite fee.
Wisconsin LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The core cost of creating a Wisconsin LLC is the Articles of Organization fee. The table below lists the fees most new LLCs encounter. Amounts are set by the state, not by any filing service, and are verified against the DFI form and fee schedule.
| Item | Form | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization - online | Form 502 | $130 | DFI |
| Articles of Organization - paper | Form 502 | $170 | DFI |
| Expedited service (paper) | Add-on | +$25 | DFI |
| Annual report (domestic LLC) | DFI annual report | $25 | DFI |
| Trade name / trademark registration | DFI trademark filing | $15 | DFI |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
Confirm current expedite and certification amounts on the DFI fee schedule before you file, because those can change. For a full breakdown of recurring costs, see how much a Wisconsin LLC costs.
Registered Agent Requirement
Every Wisconsin LLC must name a registered agent on Form 502 and keep one continuously. Under Wis. Stat. § 183.0115, the LLC must maintain a registered agent and registered office in Wisconsin; the agent receives service of process (lawsuits) and official notices on the company's behalf. The agent may be an individual who resides in Wisconsin with a physical street address, or an entity authorized to do business in Wisconsin - a P.O. box alone does not satisfy the registered office requirement. A member or manager can serve as the agent, or you can hire a commercial service. If your agent resigns or moves and you do not update the record, you can miss a lawsuit and the DFI can administratively dissolve the LLC. For a deeper explanation, see Wisconsin registered agent requirements and the national registered agent overview.
Annual Report After Formation
Filing Form 502 is only the first obligation. Every Wisconsin domestic LLC must file an annual report with the DFI for a $25 fee. Wisconsin uses a distinctive quarterly system: your report is due by the end of the calendar quarter in which the anniversary of your LLC's formation falls, rather than on one statewide date. The report, authorized by Wis. Stat. § 183.0212, confirms your registered agent, principal office, and management information. Missing it can lead to administrative dissolution. See the Wisconsin annual report for filing windows and details.
EIN, State Tax, and Licenses
A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is issued free by the IRS and is used to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment. An EIN is required if the LLC has more than one member or any employees.
If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you must register with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for a seller's permit and Business Tax Registration before making sales. Wisconsin has no single statewide general business license, but many municipalities and regulated professions require their own permits. See Wisconsin LLC tax filing and business licenses in Wisconsin for details.
Common Mistakes and Rejections
Most Form 502 problems are avoidable, and knowing them ahead of time keeps your intended formation date intact. The frequent ones are:
- A name that is not distinguishable. If your proposed name is too close to an existing Wisconsin entity, the DFI will reject it. Search the DFI database first and, if needed, adjust the name before filing.
- A P.O. box for the registered office. The registered agent needs a physical Wisconsin street address; a post office box alone does not satisfy Wis. Stat. § 183.0115.
- Naming an agent who has not agreed. Confirm your registered agent consents before you list them, or you may have to amend the record later.
- Forgetting the annual report. New owners often miss the $25 DFI annual report, which is due by the end of the calendar quarter of the formation anniversary; missing it risks administrative dissolution.
- Confusing the LLC with a corporation. Filing Articles of Incorporation (Form 2) when you meant to form an LLC creates the wrong entity type. Confirm you are filing Form 502.
Filing accurately the first time avoids rejection notices and preserves your formation date. If you are weighing an LLC against a corporation, review S-corp vs LLC and what is an LLC before you file, and confirm the current fees on the DFI fee schedule. When you eventually close the business, you file Articles of Dissolution with the DFI - see how to dissolve an LLC in Wisconsin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Wisconsin Articles of Organization?
They are Form 502, the document you file with the Wisconsin DFI to create an LLC. The filing fee is $130 online or $170 by paper, and filing is authorized under Wis. Stat. § 183.0201.
How much does it cost to file the Articles of Organization in Wisconsin?
$130 online or $170 by paper, plus $25 for expedited paper service. After formation, the DFI annual report is $25 a year. See Wisconsin LLC cost.
What agency handles LLC filings in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), not the Secretary of State. You file the Articles of Organization online through the DFI or by mailing Form 502.
Does a Wisconsin LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. Under Wis. Stat. § 183.0115, every Wisconsin LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and registered office with a physical Wisconsin address.
What do I do after the Articles of Organization are approved?
Adopt an operating agreement, get an EIN, register for state taxes, obtain any licenses, and calendar your $25 DFI annual report.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin "Certificate of Formation" explained
- Wisconsin registered agent
- How much does a Wisconsin LLC cost?
- Wisconsin annual report
- Wisconsin operating agreement
- Wisconsin DBA (trade name) filing
- Wisconsin LLC tax filing
- How to dissolve an LLC in Wisconsin
Sources
- Wisconsin DFI - Articles of Organization (Form 502) ($130 online / $170 paper; +$25 expedited; registered agent).
- Wisconsin DFI - Annual Report Instructions (CORP 5) (domestic LLC annual report; $25 fee).
- Wisconsin DFI - Annual Report Filing (quarterly due date; file online).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Wis. Stat. § 183.0201 (formation; articles of organization; required contents).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Wis. Stat. § 183.0115 (registered agent and registered office).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Wis. Stat. § 183.0212 (annual report for the department).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Wis. Stat. § 183.0102 (definitions; member-managed vs manager-managed).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Chapter 183, Wisconsin Uniform Limited Liability Company Law (table of contents).
- Wisconsin Legislature - Chapter 183 (full text, PDF) (updated statutes).
- Wisconsin Department of Revenue - Starting a Business (Business Tax Registration; seller's permit).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and Department of Revenue before acting.