Fact Checked by Editorial Staff
Wisconsin Registered Agent: If you wish to start a Wisconsin LLC, you have to appoint a registered agent. According to Wisconsin State Law, it is mandatory to have a Wisconsin Registered Agent if you are conducting business in the state. A registered agent receives all the official and legal documents from the State. They also receive the service of process if there’s any lawsuit in concern.
In the following guide, we have shared all the required information regarding hiring a registered agent, why you need a registered agent in Wisconsin, and who can be a registered agent for your LLC. Read this guide carefully before you hire a Wisconsin Registered Agent.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
What is a Wisconsin Registered Agent
A registered agent (or a statutory agent or a resident agent) in Wisconsin is an individual or a business that represents your business in receiving official documents. These official papers include formation documents, business renewal documents, tax filing, and any legal document if the LLC gets sued by other companies. All these documents go straight to the registered agent’s official address in the state. While forming an LLC, it is mandatory to appoint a registered agent.
When you file the Wisconsin LLC formation papers with the Secretary of State, LLCs have to mention their registered agent’s name and address. When you choose a registered agent in Wisconsin, you can go for two options, hiring an in-house registered agent or outsourcing the service.
Hiring a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
You may have several options for hiring a registered agent in Wisconsin. To become a registered agent, one has to meet the basic eligibility criteria. If the minimum requirements are fulfilled, anyone residing in Wisconsin can represent your LLC as your registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent
- The person must be above 18 years old.
- The person must have a legal and physical address in the state where the LLC will operate.
- The person must be physically present during normal working hours.
- Anyone who fulfills the above requirements can act as a registered agent.
- Recommended – You should use a professional registered agent in Wisconsin always.
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent
Yes, you can be your own registered agent. In fact, any member of the LLC, managers, and the owner can be a registered agent. Besides, someone from the owners’ family, such as a spouse, relatives, or other family members, can also act as a registered agent. As mentioned above, anyone who is representing the business as an agent should fulfill the basic criteria.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent
Many small businesses do not hire a registered agent to save a chunk of money. However, it is not recommended to be your own registered agent. There are a bunch of problems one has to face while being a registered agent of his own LLC. Following are some of the issues you face,
- If you are operating your business from home, or you are into web business, then your home address will be shared on the public portal. This address will be used for mailing and other official purposes. This will hamper your privacy.
- A registered agent has to be physically available at the official address during working hours on working days for 52 weeks. Being your own registered agent might restrict your other work due to this.
- The registered agent’s address must be up to date in the Secretary of State portal.
It is recommended to outsource the registered agent service to ease your work. As it protects your privacy, especially if you conduct your business from home. It is always wise to outsource the RA service than be your own registered agent.
Recommended: You can get the best registered agent service at a reasonable price with online LLC service providers. We recommend using –
LegalZoom – $299 Per Year
How to Choose a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
You can choose a Wisconsin Registered Agent in two ways, either you can employ an in-house RA or outsource the service. Another option is to be your own registered agent. However, it is recommended to outsource the service as it is less worrisome and hassle-free.
In-house Registered Agent
As far as the in-house registered agent is concerned, it can be anyone from the LLC, including you, or you can employ an individual for this position. In that case, your office or home address will be the Registered Agent’s office address. Every LLC has to share its principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address to the state public portal. Hiring a registered agent service will make it easier as you can use the RA’s address as a mailing address.
Outsourcing Registered Agent Service
You may also avail yourself of professional registered agent services. Doing so ensures that you will have the best service provider to represent your business. Following are the best Registered Agent services on our list that will provide you with registered agents to ease your worries.
LLC Service | Our Rating & Pricing | Top Features | Learn More |
#1 TOP PICK  | $99 Per Year |
| |
 | $125 Per Year |
|
Note that availing of the services of professional registered agents would be your best option since you are guaranteed that whoever is handling your legal affairs knows their stuff well. If you are forming your LLC from scratch, then with LegalZoom Registered Agent, you will get the full formation package, including registered agent service.
What to Consider While Choosing a Wisconsin Registered Agent
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a registered agent.
- Service Fee: Since most states require formal businesses to have registered agents, selecting the best-registered agent is critical. Hiring a registered agent typically costs between $99 and $300 annually. When you consider how much time it will save you, this is a small price to pay.
- Tenure in Business of Registered Agent: You want the registered agent to have established and time-tested procedures for handling documents. We recommend Registered Agent Services that have been in business for a long time. They are experienced and well capable of handling all your documentation.
- State Jurisdiction Limitation: If your company expands to another state, you should use the same registered agent in all states to reduce the administrative burden of dealing with multiple registered agent service providers. Check out the best Registered Agent Services to consider for this job.
- Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services: You want to receive up-to-date information and alerts from your registered agent as soon as possible so that you are aware of the various statutes, rules, and regulations that apply to your company. Some of the service providers offer this service. Make sure to choose an RA service that includes this service.
How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
At the time of submitting the Wisconsin Article of Organization, the registered agent can be appointed by the LLC. It can be done online or by mail. No additional fee is charged for appointing a Registered Agent. Only the state filing fee should be paid.
Appoint Registered Agent Online
To appoint a registered agent online, you have to go to the Wisconsin LLC Online Filing page and provide the information of your Registered Agent accordingly.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Wisconsin by mail, you need to download the Wisconsin LLC filing form (PDF). Fill up the “Registered Agent” section with appropriate details of the agent and submit it to the SOS office. For more information, read on Wisconsin Articles of Organization.
Cost of a Wisconsin Registered Agent
The cost of having a registered agent can be variable. It depends on whether you are employing an in-house registered agent, being your own agent, or outsourcing the service. The cost of having a registered agent can start from $99 and go up to $300 per year. It will be cost-effective if you outsource the registered agent service in Wisconsin.
Registered Agent services that also provide LLC formation packages can provide the same service at a lower price. For example, LegalZoom Registered Agent offers standalone registered agent service at $299 per year, but if you buy their LLC formation package at $0 + state fees, you might get registered agent service at a low cost.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
To change the Wisconsin registered agent, you must file a Change of registered agent or office by entity form. This form can be submitted to the Wisconsin Secretary of State via mail or email.
File Online
For online filing, you need to get the online form, which is available on the Wisconsin Secretary of State portal. Fill in all the necessary information of LLC as well as current and old registered agents. This form must be completed and signed by the newly appointed registered agent and any authorized member of the LLC. The signature of the new registered agent acts like the consent to be appointed as one. Submit it online.
Fee: $10
File By Mail
You can also choose to file the form through the mail. You need to download the Change of registered agent or office by entity form from the Wisconsin Secretary of State’s portal. Fill in all the details on your computer. The completed form is to be signed by the newly appointed registered agent. The duly signed form must be sent to the following address,
Mail to: State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Box 93348
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348
In-person Submit: State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate & Consumer Services
201 W. Washington Ave, Suite 300
Madison, WI 53703
How to Pay: The filing amount is payable to the Wisconsin secretary of state through a credit card when filing online/by email. For paper filing, you can choose to pay through money order or check.
Why Do LLCs in Wisconsin Need a Registered Agent Service
There are several reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Wisconsin. Some of the most important reasons are listed below,
- Confidentiality: Having a registered agent service in Wisconsin ensures the complete privacy of your business and related documentation. Appointing a registered agent company instead of an individual gets you privacy and confidentiality contracts beforehand.
- Up-to-date Compliance: LLCs and corporates have plenty of paperwork and compliances that are to be updated on time. With a registered agent service, you don’t have to worry about those compliances as your registered agent will maintain a compliance calendar.
- Privacy: It is mandatory for businesses in Wisconsin to publicly upload their address to the Wisconsin Secretary of State. If you are using the home address for your business, then it would not be safe to make your private address public. On the other side, appointing a registered agent service will cover you up here as they have to provide their address to the Wisconsin SOS and not yours.
- Availability: Every registered agent has to be available during office hours of work on business days. If you hire a registered agent service, then they can be available at the required time without harming other tasks at the company.
- Online Safe Backup: Every registered agent in Wisconsin or any other state usually takes online backup of all the documents and paperwork. This ensures the LLC papers are securely saved in a central system.
- Lawsuits or Summons: Getting summoned or involved in a lawsuit does not leave a good impression on the employees. With a registered agent, all the related papers will be delivered to the Registered Agent’s official address. Hence, owners do not have to receive any such papers in their office in front of their employees.
Wisconsin Business Laws for Registered Agents to Note
Registered agents are responsible for handling all the business laws and other legal issues related to Wisconsin LLC. Every state has its own business laws. Wisconsin is no exception. It has its own set of different business laws to follow. Here are some of the important business laws every business should follow.
Wisconsin Antitrust Laws:
Antitrust laws regulate and prevent anti-competitive practices in any open market by levying heavy penalties and punishment against such activities. These laws counter the formation of cartels, monopolies, or any barrier created for new entrants in the market. The Wisconsin Antitrust laws prohibit any agreement in restraint of trade, quantity fixing, acquisitions executed to reduce competition in the market, price-fixing, and any unfair methods of competition. The time limit to bring in such claims is 6 years. The State allows citizens to initiate lawsuits against offenders via the Department of Justice or local district attorney, and a successful plaintiff is permitted to recover attorneys’ fees.
Wisconsin Deceptive Trade Practices Laws:
The State of Wisconsin aims to protect its residents from unfair business practices. Such practices mislead the consumers into investing in invaluable market products by selling them with twisted statements and lies such as false advertising. Wisconsin has its own Consumer Act that specifically prohibits false advertising and odometer tampering. The Remedies available in such cases range from recovery of the original amount paid by the customer, fine up to $2000, injunction, and attorney’s fees. In case of odometer tampering, the offender can be sentenced to imprisonment for up to 12 months and/or a fine of up to $5000.
The Registered Agents are the people who act as points of contact between your business and the State Authorities. They assist your business in ensuring compliance with all regulations and codes of the State. Hiring a registered agent in Wisconsin will help you handle your business in a smooth and legally compliant manner.
FAQ
The registered agent may be changed in Wisconsin. You need to download, fill up, and send the RA change application form to the Secretary of State online, by mail to the address State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions, Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. In Wisconsin, it costs $10 to change the registered agent.
To become a registered agent in Wisconsin, you must meet some requirements. One of the most crucial requirements is that you must be a mature adult (18+). You also need to be a Wisconsin resident to qualify. If you meet these criteria, then you can become a registered agent.
In Wisconsin, a registered agent may be a spouse, any LLC member, a member of your family or close friends, or even you. Being a legal adult (18+) and a resident of the state are the two main requirements. You may become a registered agent with ease if you can meet the prerequisites.
In Wisconsin, it’s simple to change a registered agent’s address. You must file the RA Change Form, which may be found on the website of the Wisconsin Secretary of State. Add the new address to the form. Submit it online, by mail to the address State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions, Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348, or by fax, whichever provision is available for you. The address change might incur a cost.
By going to the Wisconsin SOS website, you may discover who is a company’s registered agent. If you know the business name, use that to do a search. If you find the business you’re searching for, use that information to find the registered agent.
In Wisconsin, you are required by law to have a registered agent for your business. Your registered agent will serve any process, permits, and notices and will be responsible for receiving legal suits again the company in his registered office. During business hours, he or she must be accessible at their office.
Companies must provide their name, address, and contact information at the time of company registration in Wisconsin in order to formally designate a registered agent. The registered agent is covered in its own section of the articles of incorporation. How to designate a registered agent in Wisconsin is as follows.
In Wisconsin, you must go to the official website of the Wisconsin Secretary of State to look for a registered agent’s address. Seek for the steps in the list below to look for the registered agent’s address.
1. Go to Wisconsin SOS’s official website.
2. Using the firm name, look for the corporate information
3. Find the list of registered agent addresses.
This will make it simpler to locate the registered agent’s address.
You may look for a company in Wisconsin by its registered agent’s name. Visit the official website of the Wisconsin Secretary of State. Look for the “Business Search” option. You may choose to “Search by the registered agent” in the search area. Choose the option and type the name of the registered agent. You will get the company name.
The major requirements in Wisconsin for a registered agent are that they be at least 18 years old and have a physical residence there. If the person or the entity is a resident of the state and fulfills the age requirement, then he/she can be the registered agent.
You must go to the Wisconsin SOS if you want to check for a registered agent for a company in Wisconsin. You need to click Business Search on the main page. If you have the corporation name, then enter the name to search the business. To find out more, choose the registered agent option.
In Wisconsin, a registered agent must deliver a letter of resignation to the business that they are currently working for. A resignation notification should be given to the Wisconsin Secretary of State to confirm the registered agent’s resignation after a certain number of days, along with the resignation letter.
By login onto the website of the Wisconsin Secretary of State, you may make changes to a registered agent there. Make sure the online method is accessible for you, however, before you go through with it. In such a case, mail the RA Change Form.
You may acquire a free registered agent in Wisconsin. You won’t have to physically pay anything to yourself if you act as your own registered agent. If your spouse or a friend becomes an agent, then you might avoid the cost. Finally, you can go for a free professional registered agent service in Wisconsin.
To research information about the registered agent in Wisconsin, you need to visit the Wisconsin Secretary of State. The option to “Search Business” will appear. You may look for your company using its name. As you get the result, you will be able to get the registered agent’s details from the list.
The registered agent is not given its own form in Wisconsin. When establishing their firm, companies must choose a registered agent and transmit their information through the formation paperwork. The State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions, Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348 must receive the formation paperwork via mail.
You must contact the Wisconsin SOS if your firm does not have a registered agent in Wisconsin. Since every Wisconsin firm has to have a registered agent, there can be a legal concern. You may need to act as a registered agent in Wisconsin if there isn’t one.
In Wisconsin, if a registered agent dies, all the powers get terminated. In Wisconsin, having a registered agent is required. Hence, the company must appoint/change another registered agent. A manager, an official of the business, or the owner may act as the registered agent in the interim.
There are regulations for registering your company in Wisconsin. If you visit the Wisconsin Secretary of State, they will be able to tell you whether or not you may keep your registered agent’s name off the public platform. You may conceal a member’s identity if you have an Anonymous LLC.
In Wisconsin, to get the registered agent information, you must call to the Secretary of State’s office. The hours are officially from 8 am to 5 pm. To speak with the executive, dial 608-266-8888. To get the information, adhere to the caller’s instructions.
A registered agent’s permission is a declaration in writing that the agent is prepared to represent the business. In Wisconsin, whether you appoint a new registered agent or replace the existing one, the newly appointed agent must get the SOS’s approval.
In Wisconsin, a registered agent and a resident agent are the same titles. In some states, the term resident agent is used, while in most states, the term registered agent is used. In every state, the designation, appointment, and registration procedures are the same.
In Wisconsin, if the registered agent does not give their consent, then the company might have to serve a legal penalty for presenting a false statement. However, the registered agent has the right to refuse any obligation that has been placed upon them.
The corporation may still be sued even if there isn’t a registered agent in Wisconsin. Simply put, the corporation is not represented by an agent, making it impossible for them to receive legal notices. However, the lawsuit will proceed, and an alternative method of giving notice will be used.
In Wisconsin, a registered agent must file an application of rejection if they want to reject the designation. Simply sign the rejection statement and mail it to the Wisconsin Secretary of State is all that is required. It resembles accepting the designation in many ways.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Wisconsin
A registered agent for LLC in Wisconsin can be removed by filing a Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Change Form with the Wisconsin Secretary of State with a filing fee of $10.
First and foremost, it is important to understand the role of a registered agent in an LLC. A registered agent is a person or entity who is designated to receive important legal and tax documents on behalf of the LLC. This includes notifications from the state, such as government notices, tax forms, and legal documents. The registered agent is essentially the point of contact for the LLC with the state and other third parties.
If you find yourself in a position where you need to remove your current registered agent, the process is relatively straightforward. According to Wisconsin law, in order to remove a registered agent for your LLC, you must file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent form with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. This form can be filed online or by mail, and there is a filing fee associated with it.
When filling out the form, you will need to provide information about your current registered agent, as well as the name and contact information for your new registered agent. Once the form is filed and the fee is paid, the Department of Financial Institutions will update their records to reflect the change in registered agent for your LLC.
It is important to note that you must have consent from the new registered agent before filing the form. The new registered agent will also need to sign an acceptance of appointment, affirming their willingness to accept the role and responsibilities associated with being a registered agent for your LLC.
It is also crucial to notify your current registered agent of the change in writing. Even if they are unresponsive or unable to fulfill their duties, it is a professional courtesy to inform them of the change and ensure a smooth transition to the new registered agent. This can help prevent any potential legal issues or delays in receiving important documents.
In conclusion, knowing how to remove a registered agent for your LLC in Wisconsin is an important aspect of running a business. By following the proper steps and submitting the necessary documentation, you can ensure a seamless transition to a new registered agent. Remember to communicate openly with both your current and new registered agents throughout the process to avoid any complications.
In Conclusion
Before you choose a registered agent for your Wisconsin LLC, compare their price and services from the table. They will be responsible for all your documentation, filings, and other LLC-related tasks. Hence, choose the best one for your business that provides 100% accurate service at a reasonable price.