Wisconsin Registered Agent 2023 – The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Hire #1 Registered Agent Service for Wisconsin
In order to form a Wisconsin LLC, you must designate a Wisconsin Registered Agent. This is required by Wisconsin State Law if you are conducting business within the state. The registered agent will be responsible for receiving all official and legal documents from the state, as well as receiving service of process for any lawsuits.
We have provided important details about hiring a registered agent, the reasons for needing one in Wisconsin, and who is eligible to be an LLC registered agent in this guide. Please read it thoroughly before engaging a Wisconsin Registered Agent.
Our #1 recommended Registered Agent service in Wisconsin is:
- Northwest Registered Agent ($39+state fees) (best support)
- Hire #1 Registered Agent Service for Wisconsin
- What is a Wisconsin Registered Agent
- What’s the best Wisconsin Registered Agent Option to Choose?
- How to Choose a Registered Agent in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin Registered Agent Fee ($39 or $125/year)
- What to Consider While Choosing a Wisconsin Registered Agent
- How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
- Cost of a Wisconsin Registered Agent
- How to Change a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
- Why Do LLCs in Wisconsin Need a Registered Agent Service?
- How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Wisconsin?
- Best Registered Agent Services for Wyoming
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What is a Wisconsin Registered Agent
In Wisconsin, a registered agent (also known as a statutory agent or resident agent) is responsible for receiving official documents on behalf of your business. These documents can include formation papers, renewal documents, tax filings, and legal papers if your LLC is ever sued by another company. They are sent directly to the registered agent’s address listed with the state.
When creating an LLC in Wisconsin, you must assign a registered agent. This means that when submitting formation documents to the Secretary of State, you are required to provide the name and address of your chosen registered agent information below. You can either have an in-house agent or outsource the service when selecting a registered agent in Wisconsin.
Hiring a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
There are multiple choices available for selecting a registered agent in Wisconsin. Meeting the minimum requirements is necessary for becoming a registered agent. Assuming the minimum criteria are met, any Wisconsin resident may serve as your LLC’s registered agent.
What’s the best Wisconsin Registered Agent Option to Choose?
To help you decide on the best Wisconsin Registered Agent option for your business, consider the following three options.
Option #1 (You):
To be your LLC’s Registered Agent in Wisconsin, you must live in Wisconsin and have a physical street address there. Additionally, you must be okay with your address being publicly available.
What do I need to do?
To designate a Registered Agent for your LLC, simply provide your name and address in the designated fields of the Articles of Organization. There is no additional form or fee required. After your LLC is established, be sure to check your mail regularly.
Why choose this option?
Choosing this option can help you save money by eliminating the need to hire a Wisconsin Registered Agent Service.
Option #2 (Friend or Family):
If you want a friend or family member to be your Wisconsin Registered Agent, they must meet two requirements: first, they need to live in Wisconsin; second, they need to have a physical street address in Wisconsin. Additionally, they should be aware that their address will be made available to the public as part of your public records.
What do I need to do?
You don’t need to file an additional form or pay an extra fee. Simply include your friend or family member’s name and address in the Registered Agent fields when filling out the Articles of Organization. After your LLC is established, remind your friend or family member to check their mail regularly.
Why choose this option?
If you’re not a resident of Wisconsin but want to save money, this option is a good choice because you won’t have to hire a Wisconsin Registered Agent Service.
Option #3 (Wisconsin Registered Agent Services):
A Wisconsin Registered Agent Service, also known as a Commercial Registered Agent, is a company that specifically handles receiving, mail forwarding and Service of Process for your LLC. Typically, they charge $100 to $300 per year. Once they receive mail for your LLC, they will either forward it to you or upload it to your online account.
Why You Shouldn’t Be Your Own Registered Agent
It’s common for small businesses to forego hiring a registered agent in order to save money. However, it is not advisable to act as your own registered agent. There are many issues to consider when taking on this role for your LLC, some of which include:
- If your business is being run from your home or online, your home address will be made public and used for mailing and formal purposes, potentially affecting your privacy.
- As a registered agent, you must be physically present at your official address during working hours for all 52 weeks. This may limit your availability for other work if you are your own registered agent.
- It is important to keep the registered agent’s address updated on the Secretary of State portal.
Why choose this option?
- If you’re unable to receive mail during normal business hours,
- if you’re hesitant to disclose your address in the Articles of Organization,
- if you don’t have a friend or family member’s address to use,
- or if you don’t live in Wisconsin, this is a suitable option to consider.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent
To be a registered agent for an LLC operating in a particular state, the same individual or business entity must:
Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Wisconsin?
To clarify, individuals who are members of the LLC, managers, or owners can all serve as the registered agent for the business. Additionally, family members such as spouses, relatives, or other family members of the owners may also act as the registered agent. However, it’s important to note that whoever serves as the registered agent must meet the necessary qualifications.
How to Choose a Registered Agent in Wisconsin?
When Selecting option#3. There are two ways to choose a Wisconsin Registered Agent: hiring an in-house RA or outsourcing the service. Alternatively, you can be your own registered agent. It is advisable to outsource the service for a less worrisome and hassle-free experience.
In-house Registered Agent
For the registered agent of your LLC, you can either choose someone from the LLC, including yourself, or you can hire an individual for the role. If you choose to hire someone, then the office or home address you provide will be considered the Registered Agent’s office address. It is mandatory for all LLCs to share their principal office address, mailing address, and registered agent’s office address on the state public portal. Using a registered agent service can simplify this process as you can use their address as your mailing address.
Outsourcing Registered Agent Service
It may be beneficial for you to use professional registered agent services. This can ensure that your business is represented by a reliable service provider. We have compiled a list of the best Registered Agent services that can provide you with the best registered agent service and agents to relieve your concerns.
Wisconsin Registered Agent Fee ($39 or $125/year)
To set up an LLC in Wisconsin, you need to choose a Registered Agent who will receive legal documents and state notifications for your business. The Registered Agent must have a physical address in Wisconsin and be available during regular work hours.
If you choose to be your own registered agent, you will not incur any additional charges, whether it’s for yourself, another person, or a company.
Here are our recommended Agent service providers:
- Northwest Registered Agent services is the perfect choice for those seeking to establish a new business and gain access to a registered agent, with full LLC creation package starting at only $39 + state fees.
OR:
- When you only require a professional registered agent service, Northwest is the perfect solution. Their exceptional RA service comes at an unbeatable price of $125/year!
What to Consider While Choosing a Wisconsin Registered Agent
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a registered agent.
Service Fee:
Selecting the best-registered agent is crucial for formal businesses as most states require them. The cost of hiring a registered agent is usually between $99 and $300 per year, which is a reasonable investment considering how much time it can save you.
Tenure in Business of Registered Agent:
It’s best to choose a professional registered agent service who has proven procedures in place for managing documents. We suggest selecting a Registered Agent Service that has been in operation for a significant period. This way, you can be confident that they are skilled and capable of managing all your documentation.
State Jurisdiction Limitation:
To make things easier for your company if you expand to another state, it’s recommended to use one free registered agent services for all states. This helps reduce the amount of administrative work involved in managing multiple registered agent service providers. You can find some good registered agent services to consider for this job by checking out our list of the best ones.
Offer Monitoring and Follow-up Services:
To stay informed about the laws and regulations that affect your company, it’s important to receive timely updates and alerts from your national registered agent service. Look for an RA service provider that offers this service when selecting one.
How to Appoint a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
When submitting the Wisconsin Article of Organization, the LLC can appoint a registered agent. This can be done through an online or mail application and does not require an extra fee. The only fee needed is the state filing fee.
Appoint Registered Agent Online
In order to appoint a registered agent online, you need to visit the Wisconsin LLC Online Filing page and provide the necessary information for your registered agent.
Appoint Registered Agent By Mail
To appoint a registered agent in Wisconsin by mail, follow these steps:
1. Download the Wisconsin LLC filing form (PDF).
2. Complete the “Registered Agent” section with appropriate details of the agent.
3. Send the completed form to the SOS office.
For further instructions, refer to the Wisconsin Articles of Organization.
Cost of a Wisconsin Registered Agent
The cost of a registered agent may vary depending on whether you choose to have an in-house agent, act as your own agent, or outsource the registered agent service free you. The annual cost could range from $99 to $300. It may be cost-efficient to outsource the registered agent service if you are in Wisconsin.
Companies that offer both Registered Agent services and LLC formation packages can provide a more cost-effective solution. For instance, Northwest Registered Agent charges $125 per year for standalone Registered Agent service, but if you purchase their LLC formation package for $39 plus state fees, you’ll receive one year of free Registered Agent service.
How to Change a Registered Agent in Wisconsin
In order to replace the registered agent for a Wisconsin entity, you need to fill out a form called “Change of registered agent or office by entity.” This form can be sent by mail or email to the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
File Online
To file online, go to the Wisconsin Secretary of State portal and download the online form. Provide all required information for the LLC, including current and previous registered agents. Both the newly appointed registered agent and an authorized member of the LLC must sign the form. By signing, the new registered agent consents to the appointment right registered agent. Once completed, submit the form online.
Fee: $10
File By Mail
Another option for filing the form is to send it through mail. Follow the steps below:
1. Download the Change of registered agent address or office by entity form from the Wisconsin Secretary of State’s portal.
2. Fill in all the details on your computer.
3. Ask the newly appointed registered agent to sign the completed form.
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?
Below are some of the most important reasons why a business should appoint a registered agent in Wisconsin.
By appointing a registered agent, all pertinent documents will be sent to the registered agent’s official address. Therefore, business owners won’t have to receive such documents at their workplace in front of their employees.
How to Remove a Registered Agent for LLC in Wisconsin?
To remove the registered agent for your LLC in Wisconsin, simply file a Registered Agent and/or Registered Office Change Form with the Wisconsin Secretary of State and pay a filing fee of $10. It’s important for business owners to know how to complete this process to avoid any disruption in company operations.
To start, it’s important to know the crucial role a registered agent plays in LLC operations. This person or entity is designated to receive important legal documents and business mail for your LLC. They act as a liaison between your own business entity and the state government, making sure that all necessary paperwork is received, reviewed, and processed in a timely manner.
It may be necessary to change your registered agent in case you want to switch to a new one or replace/eliminate the current one. This situation can arise due to various reasons, such as the resignation or unavailability of the current agent. Additionally, a change in top registered agent services or agents can occur if the previous agent did not perform well in handling documents, was frequently absent or late, or lacked good communication skills.
The process of ending a registered agent in Wisconsin involves several vital and straightforward steps.
To change the registered agent, the LLC owner or authorized member must file a Statement of Termination of an Authorization of Registered Agent in Wisconsin. The legal document also must be completed and signed correctly before submission.
After filling out the form correctly, you need to deliver it to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions along with a small fee. The department will verify the filing, and if it is successful, the LLC holder can proceed.
Please keep in mind that after you complete the termination process within your company, you are required to send an authorized copy of the termination to the individual register agent, who is also known as the old or previous registered agent, within five business days. This allows the previous authorized worker to review its validity and submit their analysis to the government’s legal department within the Justice department.
Best Registered Agent Services for Wyoming
As we mentioned before, being your own Registered Agent isn’t the best option for various reasons. That’s why we recommend hiring true professionals and forgetting all of the headaches of legal papers, being available 24/7, and collecting a ton of business mail.
#1 — Northwest Registered Agent Service
Northwest is one of our (and many others’) top-rated LLC services. They have thousands of positive testimonials and hundreds of thousands happy customers.
You can read our honest review of Northwest Registered Agent here.
$39+State Fees
Rating: 4.9/5
Review count: 4850+
Form an LLC today with Nortwest. They have 98% customer satisfaction rating and over 4150+ verified reviews. They will include 1 year of free registered agent service!
Conclusion
LLCs need to understand the process of removing a registered agent due to inefficiency, late responses, or changing service providers. It is crucial to know what a registered agent is, be familiar with Wisconsin’s process, and quickly remove and replace them while following legal protocol. All of these steps must be completed using previously prescribed methods.
LLC owners in Wisconsin can handle executive crisis by taking simple yet crucial steps. They should inform authorized branches about the change to minimize any disruption in processes. By doing so, they can ensure a smooth transition.