Incorporate in Wisconsin for FREE^*

Incorporation is the process of registering a business as a corporation and making it recognizable under law as its own legal entity. Incorporating a business can be a complicated process because each state has its own requirements for registering and operating a business as a corporation. Knowing the necessary steps and forms, however, will help keep you organized and stress-free. 

With our easy business registration service, you simply answer a few questions and we create your initial paperwork and file it with the state for you. The first business entity registration is free for Rocket Legal+ members—you pay only the state filing fees. Then, you can make and personalize all the legal documents you need for your business. Store everything online in your Rocket Lawyer account.

What is a C-Corp? 

A C-Corp, or C-Corporation, is a common business entity type. More specifically, a C-Corp is a corporation taxed under Subchapter C of the U.S. Code. Under Subchapter C, corporations are subject to tax at both the corporate and individual level (sometimes called “double taxation”). Depending on the situation, this may result in lower or higher tax burdens for the shareholders. 

C-Corps allow for anyone to be an investor and for an unlimited number of shareholders and multiple share classes.

As with other types of corporations, C-Corporations provide a common and well-known legal structure for businesses and offer their shareholders some limited liability. Except for certain instances of fraud or misconduct, a shareholder is not liable for the debts or obligations of a corporation beyond the shareholder's investment into the corporation.

Corporations are treated as a C-Corp by default, unless another type of tax treatment is selected, such as an S-Corp.

What is an S-Corp? 

Like C-Corps, S-Corps provide a common and well-known legal structure for businesses and offer their shareholders some limited liability. However, S-Corps have two main differences from C-Corps: they are taxed differently and they have more restrictions with shares.

An S-Corporation, or S-Corp, is an IRS election that allows a company to be treated like an LLC for income tax purposes, that is, as a “pass-through" entity. Instead of income taxes being owed at both the company and individual level, the income of an S-Corp is only taxed at the individual level, which means it passes through the company directly to the owners and shareholders. Again, this may result in lower or higher tax burdens for the shareholders depending on the situation.

S-Corps have more restrictions regarding shares and shareholders than C-Corps. Specifically, S-Corps can have no more than 100 shareholders, only one class of shares, and only U.S. residents or citizens as investors.

One area of common confusion is what type of entity can elect S-Corp status. Remember that this election is simply a tax choice, not a governance or legal structure choice. Both limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations can choose S-Corp status if they qualify under the IRS's guidelines.

There are similarities between a Wisconsin S-Corp and a C-Corp regarding personal liability, management, structure, and compliance. The differences in Wisconsin, however, come down to the following:

• Ownership Rules: A C-Corp is taxed as a separate entity from its shareholders. Shareholders may then also report and pay taxes on what the corporation pays them. An S-Corp is taxed like a partnership with a "pass through" structure. It's not doubly taxed as a separate corporate entity because it can pass corporate income, losses, deductions, and credits to its shareholders. Corporate owners pay taxes on their share of the corporation's profits, and they're taxed at their individual tax rates. To qualify as an S-Corp, you must be a domestic corporation, provide only one class of shares, have no more than 100 shareholders, and your shareholders can include only individuals, certain trusts, and estates.
• Documents: If you want to form an S-Corp, you must file IRS Form 2553 to elect this status with the IRS. You must do this within 45 days of incorporating.

Your corporation’s name should be unique and make a statement about your business. Make sure it complies with the following Wisconsin requirements:

• Your name must be distinguishable from that of any other registered business in Wisconsin.
• Your name must end with "Company," "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Limited," or an abbreviation of one of these terms.
• Your name can't be deceptive. If you're selling cheese products, you can't name your business "Mary's Sundries and Dry Goods."
• Ensure that your name is distinguishable from all other existing business names.

Need help coming up with a business name for your corporation? Try the Rocket Copilot™ AI Business Name Generator, a free tool to help you brainstorm business names and get started registering your corporation.

Each state has its own personnel requirements for incorporating. In Wisconsin, you must  have at least one director and the names and addresses of the directors must be listed in your Articles of Incorporation .

There is no age requirement for directors, nor is there any requirement that directors live in Wisconsin.

Your corporation must appoint a registered agent. You must include the name of your registered agent in your Articles of Incorporation. Your agent must have a physical address in the state of Wisconsin. A registered agent is a person or business designated by you to receive important tax, government, and legal documents for your corporation, including service of process of lawsuits. Your agent must be available during normal business hours. You can act as your own registered agent, but you may not want to. You can keep a degree of privacy by appointing an independent registered agent. We can help you designate your registered agent when you incorporate with us.

You must also include the following in your Articles of Incorporation in Wisconsin:

• The number of shares authorized to be issued.
• Any provision granting or limiting preemptive rights.
• The address of your corporate office.
• A statement that the corporation is incorporated under the laws of Wisconsin.

Yes, Wisconsin requires that you file additional paperwork with your Articles of Incorporation. You must file an annual report that is due during the same quarter in which the business was incorporated.

Nearly every state has standard processing times, but not all provide expedited processing for corporations. In Wisconsin, there are a few fees that you may be charged when you register your business as a corporation. They include the following:

State fee: $100.

• Fee to expedite your filing: $85.

Rocket Lawyer filing fee: $0 $99.99.

• First filing FREE* for Rocket Legal+ members (excluding state fees).
• Get additional filings HALF OFF with Rocket Legal+.

Processing time: 5-7 business days.

•  Expedited processing time: 1-2 business days.

Note: The above state fees and processing times (including expedited processing fees and times) are provided as a summary and may or may not encompass various fees mandated by your state or local authorities. Your state may also change these fees and processing times over time and without notice. If you have questions, speak to a Rocket Lawyer Business Pro to understand the costs and processing times that apply to your specific filing.

Businesses can save up to $2,500 per year with a Rocket Legal+^™ membership. This calculation is based on total savings on an initial business registration and registered agent, trademark, and business tax filing services for Rocket Legal+ members (a total cost of $924.97) compared to Rocket Legal members (a total cost of $1,949.96). This is in addition to savings on the average cost of 5 hours for document preparation by a non-Rocket Lawyer network attorney at the average attorney hourly rate in the U.S. of $300 (an estimated cost of $1,500 when purchased without any form of Rocket Lawyer membership) compared to unlimited use of customizable business documents for both Rocket Legal+ and Rocket Legal members at no extra cost.

Yes, you do have to pay taxes for your new Wisconsin corporation. Before getting started, apply to the IRS for an employer identification number, or EIN. All corporations with employees require an EIN. An EIN is similar to your Social Security number, but it's for businesses. You'll also need an EIN to open a corporate bank account.

We have more information about the tax structures and obligations of both C-Corps and S-Corps.

Wisconsin requires that you create corporate records to maintain your corporate status. These include Corporate Minutes, which keep track of all votes on important business decisions. You must keep Minutes of your director and shareholder meetings at your corporate office.

Wisconsin doesn't require that corporations maintain Bylaws, but you should do so anyway. Bylaws set forth your company's internal operating rules and procedures. They define the responsibilities of your directors, the rights and powers of your shareholders, and all other corporate matters. Your Bylaws also demonstrate to banks, lending institutions, creditors, the IRS, and the courts that your corporation is valid and legitimate. They help to establish rules so you can keep your corporate assets and debts separate from your personal ones. 

We wish you success with your new Wisconsin corporation! You can count on Rocket Lawyer for all the business, tax, and legal help you need at a price you can afford.

If you are planning to operate in another state, you may need to register a corporation in that state. Rocket Lawyer can help you determine which states you should register in.

Other states may have their own rules for foreign corporations that originate in Wisconsin or domestic corporations that also operate in Wisconsin. Talk to an attorney to understand the legal and tax requirements for the state(s) in which you plan to operate.