Wisconsin Articles of Incorporation
Wisconsin articles of incorporation are filed to create a corporation.
Preparing and filing your articles of incorporation is the first step in starting your business corporation. Approval of this document secures your corporate name and creates the legal entity of the corporation. Only after this approval can the corporation apply for tax IDs, obtain business licenses, sign contracts, and otherwise conduct business.
Benefits
Incorporating provides many important benefits:
- Limits the liability of directors, officers, and shareholders
- Fulfills statutory requirements to register your business name
- Provides governance and adds credibility
Fast Facts
For Domestic Corporations:
| Agency: | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Corporations Bureau |
| Form: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online |
| Agency Fee: | $100 + optional $25 expedite fee |
| Turnaround: | ~4-7 business days. ~1 business day for $25 expedite fee. |
| Law: | |
| Notes: | Submit original and one copy. The copy will be marked "FILED" and returned as evidence of filing. |
For Domestic Close Corporations:
| Agency: | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) - Division of Corporate and Consumer Services - Corporations Bureau |
| Form: | |
| Instructions: | |
| Filing Method: | Mail or online. |
| Agency Fee: | $100 + optional $25 expedite fee |
| Notes: | Follow the instructional document for organizing a close corporation when filling out Form 2. |
Other Helpful Wisconsin Facts
As you are preparing to incorporate, keep in mind the following requirements specific to Wisconsin.
Wisconsin Directors
- Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: Natural person.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws or articles of incorporations fix a different number. No less than one third.
Wisconsin Officers
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices.
Wisconsin Bylaws
- Required: No.
Wisconsin Annual Shareholder Meeting
- Required: Yes.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
Wisconsin Shareholders
- Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Optional, but shareholder must receive a writing with the same information.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
