Thinking about starting a business in Wisconsin? You may be required to obtain one — or several — business licenses in order to begin operating.
It’s important to note that, since the state doesn’t issue a general Wisconsin business license, the licenses and/or permits you’ll need will depend on your specific industry and location.
In this Wisconsin Business License article, we’ll break down everything you need to know into simple, scannable steps.
Let’s get started!
We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
Wisconsin does not have a general business license. This means that whether your business will require licensing will ultimately depend on where you are based, as well as on what services and/or products you plan to sell.
Below, we’ve detailed common ways in which your business type can dictate the licenses you’ll be required to obtain, as well as specific examples of these:
However, this is not the only factor influencing the exact combination of licenses you’ll need — the location of your business within Wisconsin plays an important role as well.
In this section, we’ve provided a succinct overview of the potential licenses and permits that your business may need due to local, state, and federal requirements:
Since the exact permits and licenses your business will need are entirely unique to your situation, you’ll have to conduct thorough research into your own local, state, and federal regulations to smoothly launch your business.
Alternatively, many entrepreneurs opt to leverage the expertise of third-party services to handle this on their behalf.
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We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
In order to get your business license(s) in Wisconsin, you will need to complete the following steps:
Let’s take a look at each step in more detail below.
Before setting out to obtain a business license in Wisconsin, it’s pivotal that you first choose an appropriate structure for your business. Sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and corporations are all common choices, however it’s often seen as the most advantageous for small businesses in Wisconsin to register as a Limited Liability Company (LLC). Here are a few reasons for why:
Many small business owners opt to avoid the tricky process of forming an LLC by instead leveraging the help of third-party LLC formation services.
The second step you’ll need to complete before applying for your business license is to obtain your EIN. This is a unique nine-digit number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to businesses in the United States so that their financial transactions can be identified and tracked.
An EIN is often necessitated when applying for various permits and licenses as it allows local and state governments to ensure your business is operating within the confines of the law. You can obtain it in a number of ways:
Note: If you are a sole proprietor, you will be able to use your Social Security Number (SSN) instead (as long as you do not have employees).
After settling on the appropriate structure for your business and initiating the application for your EIN, the next step is to focus on securing the necessary licenses and permits to operate legally within your locale and industry.
Note: For more detailed information on municipalities and their respective websites, check out the League of Wisconsin’s Municipalities website.
Your business tax registration will need to be renewed at the end of the initial two-year period, and will last an additional two years. Keep in mind that you will need to pay a $10 renewal fee in order to renew.
When it comes to local business licenses in Wisconsin, you will need to contact the local city or county government where your business is situated in order to obtain additional information on all renewal processes and potential requirements. This is because these can vary significantly depending on where your business will be based.
For example, In Milwaukee, businesses can renew their licenses through the City Clerk’s Office, which handles all licenses and permit-related applications, including renewals.
Alternatively, you can use a third-party service or a professional attorney for this process. This can be a good choice if you want to ensure that you avoid potential fines, as well as if you want to be as time-efficient as possible.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this process, see our article on How to Get a Business License.
The initial business tax registration fee in Wisconsin is $20, which covers a period of two years. The cost of any additional local business license will vary depending on the municipality and the type of business in question.
For example, in some local municipalities, the fee for a Class “B” Beer Retailer License is around $100 per year. In the Village of Pleasant Prairie, secondhand article or jewelry dealers will need to apply for a local business license from the Village Clerk, which costs $75 per year.
All in all, knowing your license cost information will help you budget and plan wisely, ensure legal compliance, and help you avoid potential fines and penalties. If this is not something you feel comfortable handling independently, we recommend working with a third-party service or hiring a business attorney instead.
We recommend registering your business as an LLC before getting your business license(s) in order to avoid potentially having to repeat the process later on. To get started, you can use a trusted LLC formation service.
Tailor Brands ($0 + State Filing Fees)
You might do. In Wisconsin, there is no general state-level business license that is required for all businesses. Having said that, specific industries and/or specific locations can impose certain licensing requirements. See our Wisconsin Business License article for more information.
Your business’s Wisconsin business license cost will depend on your industry, as well as on your exact location. If you want specific information that relates to your Wisconsin business licenses, we recommend either consulting with your relevant local agency, speaking to a business attorney, or hiring a third-party service.
To start a business in Wisconsin, you will need to a) choose a business structure, b) register your business with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and c) obtain business licenses applicable to your industry and location. For more information, see our How to Get a Business License article.
If you choose to handle all filings independently (as well as act as your own registered agent) you will need to file your business’s Articles of Organization with the SOS in order to form your LLC. This includes a $130 filing fee (online submissions) or a $170 fee (paper filings). Additional costs may include obtaining state and local licenses, annual report fees, and investing in workforce development.
For all related articles, have a look at our How to Get a Business License page.
Information on this page was researched and gathered from a multitude of sources and was most recently updated on September 9, 2024
Any Information on this site is not guaranteed or warranted to be correct, accurate, or up to date. StateRequirement and its members and affiliates are not responsible for any losses, monetary or otherwise. StateRequirement is not affiliated with any state, government, or licensing body. For more information, please contact your state's authority on insurance.
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