The Corporation Bureau of the Division of Corporate & Consumer Services at the Department of Financial Institutions is the filing office for the organizational instruments to create corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited liability companies, as well as documents to amend those charters in some respect or other. The unit also licenses foreign (out-of-state) organizations desiring to transact business in Wisconsin. Additionally, the bureau maintains the video service franchise and Homeowners' Association registry.
General Characteristics of Entity Types
Business corporation is a general-purpose entity in which management is exercised by a board of directors elected by shareholders. (Corporations, business Chapter 180)
Common law trust is organized by creating a Declaration of Trust. The trust may sell beneficial or participating certificates to investors. In order to have authority to conduct business in Wisconsin, it must file an application with the department, accompanied by an original or certified copy of its Declaration of Trust. (Common Law Trusts
Section 226.14)
Cooperative association is formed on a membership basis with no capital stock, or on a membership basis with capital stock. Five or more adults, one of whom must be a resident of Wisconsin, may organize a cooperative. (Cooperatives
Chapter 185)
Investment companies are those that specify that they are organized as a "management investment company" under 15 USC 80a to 80a-64. These "mutual fund" companies have authority to issue an indefinite number of shares. (Corporations, business
Chapter 180)
Limited liability company has members (similar to a partnership) who may directly manage the company or who may vest management in one or more managers. It combines the features of both a partnership and a corporation. (Limited Liability Companies
Chapter 183)
Limited liability partnership is a general partnership that has filed a registration statement declaring itself a "limited liability" partnership. (Limited Liability Partnership & General Partnership
Chapter 178)
Limited partnership has one or more general partners and one or more limited partners. Management is exercised by the general partners, with the limited partners as passive investors. (Limited Partnerships
Chapter 179)
Nonstock corporation is a corporation formed without capital stock that typically has members who are the functional equivalent of stockholders in a business corporation. Nonstock corporations may also choose to have no members. (Nonstock Corporations Chapter 181)
Service corporation is a special-purpose type of business corporation for shareholders who are all licensed, registered or certified to engage in the same professional occupation. (Corporations, business
Chapter 180)
Statutory close corporation is a general purpose business corporation or service corporation, but one in which the shareholders agree to limitations on the transferability of shares, may elect to operate without a board of directors, and may impose greater voting or quorum requirements. The number of shareholders is limited to 50 or less at the time the corporation elects statutory close status. (Corporations, business
Chapter 180)
Unincorporated cooperative association is formed on a membership basis with no capital stock, or on a membership basis with capital stock. It may be organized by one or more organizers who shall be individuals over the age of 18, who may act for themselves as individuals or as the agents of other entities. The organizers forming the cooperative need not be members of the cooperative. (Unincorporated Cooperative Associations
Chapter 193)
To find forms specific to each type, visit the
Business Entity Forms page and search by the references chapter of law.
Frequent Links
Avoid Mailing Cash
Consider more secure payment methods such as:
• Business or Personal Checks
• Money orders purchased in person
• DFI Online Order System (Paper and Online submissions)
• ACH/Credit Card via US Bank (Online submissions only)
Disclaimer: The Department of Financial Institutions acts as a
filing registry for businesses. This office lacks the authority to
certify if a business is operating legally.
Contact Us
Phone: (608) 261-7577
Email: DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov
Mailing Address:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
PO Box 93348
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348
Physical Address:
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower
Madison, WI 53705