Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

Last Updated on February 4, 2022

The Wisconsin Secretary of State manages a corporate division that keeps record of all the commercial activities going on in the state. The business corporation registry keeps track of all those corporate entities that are registered with the Wisconsin Secretary of State. All entities including Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Limited Companies, Limited Liability Partnerships and Limited Partnerships, have their details recorded in the registry.

If you are finding a corporate entity that is based in Wisconsin, this is the right place for you. By using the online business entity search tool facilitated by the Secretary of State of Wisconsin, you can search the online database for any entity headquartered in the state.

Also see: How to start an LLC in Wisconsin

You can perform the search provided you have the corporate name handy. The search page is also made feasible for advanced search.

Read on the steps below which will assist you in your search.

  • Search by Business Name
  • Secretary of State Contact Information

Search by Business Name

Step 1 – Visit the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions website to search for registered business entities in Wisconsin. The page looks similar to the screenshot below.

Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

Step 2 – Type the name of the business entity, say, “ABC supply”. The screenshot for the same is shown below.

Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

Step 3 – Click on the Search button. The result page with a list of entities with the given name would appear as shown in the screenshot below.

Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

Step 4 – Click on the entity name to get further details about the business.

Available information includes;

  • Entity Name
  • Entity ID
  • Date of Formation
  • Status (Good Standing, Dissolved, Organized, etc)
  • Entity Date (Corporation, Limited Liability Company)
  • Principal Office Address
  • Registered Agent Information
  • Owner / Director Information

Additionally, from this page, you can request a Certificate of Status or copy of the Annual Report for a small fee.

Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

You can also file online reports and request certification of standing for the entity.

Business Licenses

The business name registration is different from business licensing in Wisconsin.  The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has more information regarding Wisconsin business licenses.

Also see: How to do a Wisconsin UCC search

Information on SOS Wisconsin (WI)
Wisconsin secretary of state business entity name search

Office:
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is one of the constitutionally elected executive branches of the Wisconsin State Government. The succession of the Secretary of State of Wisconsin lies in second for the Governor post. The election of the Wisconsin Secretary of State takes place on the election day in November and he takes office on the first Monday of next January.

Functionalities :
The Secretary of State of Wisconsin is responsible for a wide set of duties in the state. He is in charge of keeping record of all the legislative and executive acts in the state. He also acts as the custodian to the Great Seal of the State of Wisconsin and has the authority to attest and authenticate government documents using the seal.

Secretary of State Contact Information

4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower
Madison, WI 53705

(608) 261-9555


Select the State Where the Corporation is Registered:

How do you check if a business name is taken in Wisconsin?

To search for an available business name in Wisconsin, you must visit the Wisconsin Secretary of State's website and the Department of Financial Institutions. There, you will find the business entity search. Enter your name into the search bar and see if any Wisconsin businesses are using your proposed business name.

How do you see if an LLC name is taken in Wisconsin?

You should check if the name you're considering is already taken by another business. The Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) keeps a database of available business names. You can use this database to determine if a name is available before you file your Wisconsin LLC registration application.

How do I look up a business license in Wisconsin?

Search for a Business Entity (Corporation, LLC, Limited Partnership) in Wisconsin by using the www.wdfi.org/corporations/ website. You may preform a lookup by Name or through the Advanced Search option.

How do I find articles of organization in Wisconsin?

Articles of Organization for Wisconsin LLC can be accessed through the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions website. You can also download the PDF from the same website. If you want to create a Wisconsin LLC, you need to file Articles of Organization. You can file these online or in paper form.