Jake Lawson here. After 15+ years helping entrepreneurs launch their businesses and personally testing every major LLC formation service, I’m sharing my unfiltered take on the Wisconsin landscape. No affiliate commissions, no sugar-coating—just straight talk about who delivers value and who’s wasting your money.
Planning to form an LLC in Wisconsin? Smart choice. The Badger State offers solid business protections, reasonable fees, and straightforward requirements. But choosing the right formation service? That’s where things get tricky.
I’ve personally used these services, called their support lines at odd hours, and even tried canceling to see how they handle it. Here’s what I found.
My Wisconsin LLC Service Rankings
#1. Northwest Registered Agent – The Clear Winner
Cost: $39 + $130 state fee
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
After testing dozens of services across all 50 states, Northwest consistently delivers what they promise without the games. Their address privacy feature alone makes them worth considering—you can use their Wisconsin office address throughout your entire formation process, keeping your personal information off public records.
What Makes Them Special:
- Address privacy from day one (nobody else offers this for free)
- Actually answer their phone with knowledgeable staff
- One year of registered agent service included
- No hidden fees or surprise upsells
- Straightforward cancellation if you ever need it
Why They’re My Top Pick: I use Northwest for my own LLCs. When legal documents arrive, they scan and upload them the same day. Their customer service team knows their stuff—no reading from scripts or transferring you around.
Potential Downside: They only offer one package. If you want 47 different options and confusing upgrade paths, look elsewhere.
#2. MyCompanyWorks – The Value Player
Cost: $79 + $130 state fee
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recently acquired by Registered Agent Solutions Inc., but they’ve maintained their focus on small business owners. MyCompanyWorks includes more extras in their base package than most competitors charge separately for.
What I Appreciate:
- Fast turnaround times
- Includes business license research tools
- Transparent pricing without gotcha fees
- Solid customer support team
- Good compliance resources
Where They Fall Short:
- No address privacy option
- Some expensive add-on services
Best For: Entrepreneurs who want good value and don’t mind their address being public record.
#3. ZenBusiness – The Marketing Machine
Cost: $0 + $130 state fee (but read the fine print)
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness spends heavily on advertising and offers a “free” formation package. The catch? Their registered agent service renews at $199/year—nearly double what Northwest charges.
The Good:
- Slick website and user experience
- Compliance dashboard for ongoing management
- Will file your annual reports for you (for a fee)
The Reality Check:
- “Free” formation comes with expensive renewals
- Customer service often feels like a sales pitch
- Website prioritizes upsells over information
- Can be difficult to cancel auto-renewing services
Bottom Line: The math rarely works out in your favor once those renewal fees kick in.
#4. Bizee (formerly IncFile) – The Budget Option
Cost: $0 + $130 state fee
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Bizee made their name with “free” LLC formations, and they do deliver basic service. Their business license research tool is actually quite good if you need help figuring out what permits your Wisconsin business requires.
What Works:
- Truly free formation (you pay only state fees)
- Decent business license research
- One year of registered agent service included
- Clean, functional website
What Doesn’t:
- Customer service can be hit-or-miss
- Strict refund policies
- Lots of upsells during checkout
- Support staff often seems undertrained
Real Talk: Good for DIY entrepreneurs who just need paperwork filed and won’t need much hand-holding.
#5. Rocket Lawyer – The Subscription Trap
Cost: $99 + $130 state fee ($0 + state fee if you pay $40/month)
My Rating: ⭐⭐
Rocket Lawyer wants to be your everything—legal forms, attorney access, business formation, ongoing compliance. The problem? You pay for it all whether you use it or not.
What They Offer:
- Access to legal document templates
- Limited attorney consultations
- Professional-looking website
- Multiple business services under one roof
Why I’m Not Impressed:
- Only makes financial sense if you use multiple services
- Customer support focuses on selling upgrades
- Expensive registered agent service ($250/year standalone)
- Subscription model designed to keep you paying
Best For: Businesses that genuinely need ongoing legal document access and consultations. For most Wisconsin LLCs, it’s overkill.
What About LegalZoom?
You’ll notice LegalZoom didn’t make my top 5. Here’s why:
- Overpriced: $149+ for basic formation vs. $39-79 elsewhere
- Slow processing: Unless you pay extra for expedited service
- Poor customer service: Long hold times, sales-focused staff
- Expensive registered agent: $249/year for basic service
- Hard to cancel: Their reputation speaks for itself
LegalZoom has name recognition and a big advertising budget. That’s about it. You’re paying premium prices for average service and dealing with a company that makes cancellation unnecessarily difficult.
Wisconsin LLC Requirements: The Basics
Before we dive deeper, here’s what Wisconsin actually requires:
Articles of Organization Filing Fee: $130
Registered Agent: Required (Wisconsin address, business hours availability)
Annual Reports: Due every two years, $25 fee
EIN: Free from IRS (don’t pay services for this)
That’s it. Wisconsin keeps things simple, which is why formation services can offer competitive pricing.
Address Privacy: Why It Matters
Here’s something most articles won’t tell you: Once your LLC information is public record, it stays that way. Marketing companies scrape this data and sell it to anyone willing to pay.
Within weeks of forming my first LLC (using my home address), I was getting:
- Junk mail for business services I didn’t need
- Cold calls from vendors and “compliance” companies
- Unsolicited offers for everything from business loans to insurance
Northwest’s address privacy feature prevents this. You use their Wisconsin office address throughout formation, keeping your personal information private. No other major service offers this for free.
The Real Cost Analysis
Let’s talk total cost of ownership, not just formation fees:
Northwest: Year 1 Reality
- Formation: $39
- State fee: $130
- Registered agent year 1: Free
- Total Year 1: $169
- Year 2+: $169 + $125/year registered agent
ZenBusiness: Year 1 Reality
- Formation: $0
- State fee: $130
- Registered agent year 1: Free
- Total Year 1: $130
- Year 2+: $130 + $199/year registered agent
See the problem? ZenBusiness costs more starting in year two, and significantly more over time.
DIY vs. Service: Making the Call
Should you form your Wisconsin LLC yourself or hire a service? Here’s my framework:
Hire a Service If:
- You value time over money
- You want address privacy
- You’re uncomfortable with government paperwork
- You need ongoing registered agent service anyway
DIY If:
- You’re comfortable with paperwork
- You don’t mind your address being public
- You want to save $40-80 on formation
- You have time to research Wisconsin requirements
Pro Tip: Even if you file yourself, consider hiring a registered agent service if privacy matters to you.
Red Flags to Avoid
Watch out for these warning signs when choosing a service:
“Lifetime” Registered Agent Claims
No company provides truly lifetime service. When they get acquired or go out of business, your “lifetime” deal disappears.
Extremely Low Advertised Prices
That $9 formation fee? There’s a catch. Either massive upsells at checkout or such poor service that important documents get lost.
High-Pressure Sales Tactics
Legitimate services don’t need to pressure you. If they’re pushing for an immediate decision or claiming “limited time offers,” run.
Confusing Pricing Structures
If you can’t figure out what you’ll actually pay after the first year, that’s intentional. Look for transparent, straightforward pricing.
Wisconsin-Specific Considerations
Biennial Reports
Wisconsin requires LLCs to file reports every two years, not annually. The fee is $25, and it’s due by the end of your formation anniversary month.
Business Licenses
Depending on your business type, you may need state or local licenses. MyCompanyWorks and Bizee offer research services, but you can also check Wisconsin’s business portal yourself.
Tax Elections
Wisconsin recognizes federal tax elections, so S-Corp elections made with the IRS automatically apply to state taxes too.
Making Your Decision
Here’s my recommendation based on different priorities:
For Most Wisconsin LLCs: Northwest Registered Agent
- Best overall value when you factor in privacy and service quality
- Reliable, straightforward service without games
For Extreme Budget Consciousness: Bizee
- Truly free formation, just pay state fees
- Acceptable service if you don’t need much support
For Multi-Service Needs: MyCompanyWorks
- Good value if you need business license research
- Solid all-around service at fair pricing
Avoid Unless You Enjoy Overpaying: LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer (unless you need their specific legal services)
After Formation: What’s Next?
Forming your LLC is just the beginning. Here’s what you need to handle next:
Get Your EIN
Apply directly with the IRS—it’s free and takes 15 minutes online. Don’t pay services for this.
Open a Business Bank Account
Keep business and personal finances separate from day one. You’ll need your Articles of Organization and EIN.
Create an Operating Agreement
Not required by Wisconsin law, but essential for multi-member LLCs and recommended for all.
Understand Ongoing Compliance
- Biennial reports due every two years
- Keep registered agent information current
- Maintain proper business records
- Handle tax obligations
The Bottom Line
Northwest Registered Agent consistently delivers reliable service at a fair price with valuable address privacy protection. That’s why they top my list and why I use them for my own businesses.
ZenBusiness might look cheaper upfront, but their renewal fees make them more expensive over time. Bizee works for bare-bones needs. The others charge premium prices for average service.
Remember: Your formation service choice matters less than getting your business launched and focusing on customers. Don’t spend weeks agonizing over saving $20 when you could be building your business.
Questions about Wisconsin LLC formation or need help choosing the right service for your specific situation? That’s exactly why I built llciyo.com—to give you straight answers based on real experience, not affiliate commissions.
Ready to form your Wisconsin LLC? Check out our complete Wisconsin LLC guide for step-by-step instructions, or browse our state-by-state comparison to see how Wisconsin stacks up. No sales pitches, just the facts you need to make smart decisions.