Wisconsin Secretary of State – WI SOS Business Search

Wisconsin Secretary of State Division of Corporations
Address: Corporations Bureau, Suite 300, PO Box 7846, Madison, WI 53707-7846
Telephone: 1(608) 261-7577
Fax: 1(608)267-6813
Website: www.sos.wi.gov
E-Mail: sos.wi.gov/contact

Lookup a Business Entity

Step 1 – Start

Search for a Business Entity (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership) in Wisconsin by using the Secretary of State’s Website. You may perform a lookup by Name or through the Advanced Search option. If you choose the ‘Name’ option, you will be instructed to use as many terms as you can in order to narrow down the results as much as possible as the database will pull all matching records.

Once you have made your selection, you will be redirected to the Results Page (As Seen Below).

Step 2 – Choose Your Entity

Now you are able to view all the listings matching your search criteria including a preview of its ID Number, Name, Type, Incorporation Date, and Status (including Date). When you have found your listing, you will want to click on the blue text link that is the under the ‘Name’ column. This will bring you to the final step where you will be able to extract the details of the business (See Below).

Step 3 – Retrieve Information

You have reached the end of your search and now you can view all the information on file with the Secretary of State about the business including its ID Number, Incorporation Date, Period of Existence, Status, Type, Annual Report Requirements, Registered Agent info (Name and Address), and the Principal Address of the company.

Step 4 – Steps to form your new Business in Wisconsin

• Business name availability search (above)
• Internet domain availability search for website and email.
• Choose your entity type (LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, Partnership, or Non-Profit Org)
• Obtain IRS EIN Number (employer identification number).  Create New IRS EIN Number
• Create Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws that include describing the business purpose of the entity, naming the registered agent, directors, registered address, operating guidelines, dissolution provisions, and other information.
• Determine if the new entity requires any federal, state, or local business licenses.
• Determine payroll tax requirements.
• Determine federal, state, and local tax filing requirements.
• Establish the business physical and/or mailing address, phone number, voicemail, website, email address, and business cards.