Wisconsin Registered Agent
Every LLC and corporation doing business in Wisconsin must maintain a registered agent. We'll explain what this means and the various ways your company can fulfill this requirement, including how you can be your own registered agent. We'll also explain the privacy benefits you get when you hire a professional registered agent.
Hire Northwest, and you'll get a free business address, mail forwarding, same day mail scans, and access to loads of other services like a local business phone number, domain services, and more!
What Is a Wisconsin Registered Agent?
A Wisconsin registered agent is a person or company that you designate to receive legal mail (like service of process) on behalf of your business. Registered agents exist to provide an official and reliable way to contact your business.
The Wisconsin Secretary of State requires that LLCs and corporations operating in Wisconsin maintain a registered agent.
If your business is ever served with a lawsuit, the process server will deliver the paperwork directly to your registered agent. At that point, your business is legally considered served. The registered agent should then forward you your mail, quickly and securely.
The requirements for a Wisconsin registered agent are outlined in WI state statute 180.0501. At a minimum, your registered agent must list a physical address on the public record and be present at that address during business hours. But ideally, your registered agent should do more.
Legal Requirements for Registered Agents in Wisconsin
According to Wisconsin law, any resident over the age of 18 can be a registered agent, as well as other business entities authorized to do business in the state. The address of the agent's registered office (the agent's official address) must be located within the state, and P.O. Boxes are not valid addresses, as the agent's address must be a physical one. A registered agent must also be available at their registered office during normal business hours and have a reliable way to notify businesses when they've received a notification on that business's behalf.
How Do I Change My Registered Agent in Wisconsin?
There are two ways to change your registered agent in Wisconsin.
- 1Hire us and we'll complete the change of agent form for you for free.
- 2Do it yourself and file a Change of Registered Agent form with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. There is a $10 fee to file this form.
Why Registered Agent Center Is the Best Registered Agent in Wisconsin
Our Registered Agent Service includes the tools you need to keep your business running without a hitch. When you hire Registered Agent Center as your registered agent, you get:
Same-Day Scans
We scan your legal docs the same day we receive them and reach out if your essential mail goes unread.
Privacy by Default®
We list our business address on public docs to keep your personal info safe. And unlike those other guys, we never sell your data.
Corporate Guides®
Have questions? We have answers. Our guides are business experts whose sole job is to provide support for all your business questions.
Business Identity
Registered Agent Center is a Business Identity provider. Get a domain name that matches your business name. Tack on website hosting, we'll get you an expert-built website, hosted and secured by us. Want to start talking to suppliers, advertisers, customers, and more? Set up business email addresses and a separate business phone number so you can protect your data and keep your communication professional.
How to Order Wisconsin Registered Agent Service
You sign up online, clicking on one of the buttons or links that says HIRE US.
We collect the first year of the registered agent service fee up front.
For new businesses, we'll become your registered agent once your business registration filing with the state is complete.
About a year later, we'll send you an invoice for another year of Registered Agent Service. If you want to keep using us, great; if you don't, you can easily cancel.
With offices in every state, we make it easy to add registered agent services anywhere in the country. We don't farm out work (or your info) to other companies—wherever you are, WE are your registered agent.
We make your account a real go-to resource for you, not just for Wisconsin Registered Agent Service or paying a bill but for keeping up with Wisconsin corporate compliance.
Registered Agent FAQs
Why do I need a registered agent?
When you appoint a registered agent for your LLC or corporation, you are giving that person or business the responsibility to accept official mail and service of process on your business's behalf. Once your agent accepts your mail, it is their responsibility to deliver it to you, the business owner.
The reasoning for registered agents' existence is the idea that these agents serve as a link in the chain of due process. If your business is sued, before the lawsuit can move forward in court, your business must be officially notified. Registered agents serve as a reliable point of contact, so business owners can't hide from lawsuits and businesses can't be sued or dissolved without the business first being notified.
Can I be my own registered agent in Wisconsin?
Yes, you can be your own registered agent in Wisconsin. However, after considering the registered agent requirements most business owners elect to hire a registered agent service instead. Why? Well although being your own registered agent will cost you $0 upfront, a registered agent's name and address becomes part of the public record. Additionally, the registered agent is required to be available to accept service of process during normal business hours five days a week.
Where is Registered Agent Center's registered office in Wisconsin?
We accept and scan all of our Wisconsin clients' documents on-site at our registered office in Appleton, WI.
Can I use your Wisconsin registered office address for everything on my business filing?
Definitely! We're the only national registered agent service that allows our clients to list our address for everything when you're doing a filing to keep your private address off public records.
Can I have my business's mail delivered to your Wisconsin office?
We don't want ALL of your business mail. It's not what we do. And it wouldn't serve you well. You wouldn't have a unique address or suite number. Any mail we receive on your behalf would come to Registered Agent Center, care of you.
But we understand that businesses and clients sometimes reach out to you through your registered agent. Through us. That's why we give you five FREE scans of regular business mail a year. You can request any additional documents to be forwarded at a per document rate of $15.
Should I hire a registered agent before or after I start my business in Wisconsin?
You should definitely know who your registered agent is before forming your business entity because all states require that you appoint a registered agent on your formation documents. Your registered agent should also be able to help you with your filing.
How do Wisconsin registered agents get served?
When your business is sued, a process server will deliver a complaint form and a summons form to your registered agent. Then the agent signs for the documents, acknowledging receipt of the lawsuit. This delivery is what service of process means. If Registered Agent Center is your registered agent, we'll quickly scan the documents, upload them to your account, and notify you instantly.
How do I search for a Wisconsin registered agent?
- You can do a Wisconsin business name search on the DFI website.
- Type in the company name you are trying to find.
- Look at the WI registered agent name and registered office street address.
NOTE: If you want to legally notify someone through their Wisconsin registered agent service, just send a certified letter directly to the registered agent name and registered office address.
How do I resign from being a registered agent in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, to resign as a registered agent, you need to submit a Resignation of Registered Agent statement (and $10 for processing) to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. For a more detailed walkthrough, you can refer to our guide on how to resign as a registered agent in Wisconsin.
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