Wisconsin Business Entity Search (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you plan on starting a new business in the state of Wisconsin, the first thing you’ll need to do is conduct a business name search on the Secretary of State’s website. This will ensure that your desired name is not in use by another business registered in the state. https://secretaryofstates.com/wisconsin/

You’ll need to determine whether your name is taken or available prior to filing a name reservation request. The most effective way to find the information you’re looking for is when you search for an entity name, excluding identifiers such as LLC, LP, Corp., etc. This will give you the best possible and broadest search results.

The following step-by-step guide will show you how to conduct a business name search in Wisconsin.

Business search by name

To begin your Wisconsin organization name search, refer to the Wisconsin Secretary of State – Business Search webpage.

Enter the desired name into the search bar and click on the Search Records button.

The information that will be displayed if there are matching results includes the company:

If there are no records that match the name you’ve entered, you’ll see a message that says, “sorry, your search returned no records.”

In some cases, you could have misspelled the entity name so check the spelling of the name if no records are found. Alternatively, try using fewer words or adding additional words if you were searching for initials, letters, or abbreviations only.

You can always try an advanced search if your search is still bringing up no records.

To access further information about an entity, click on the company name. On this page, you’ll see a period of existence, the registered agent’s office, the principal office address, and historical information.

Advanced search

If the basic search doesn’t give the expected results, you can try Advanced Search by clicking on this link.

Start by clicking on the search box and entering the desired name. Further, refine your search by specifying whether you are searching for:

Your search can be narrowed down even further by selecting the names of registered agents or business entities.

You can select entity status, which could be:

You may also narrow down the search by selecting the:

Additionally, select the type of entity you’re searching for and the possible business registration dates. Once you’ve refined the search, click on the Search Records button.

You may then review the results that are displayed in the table. For additional details on any business entity, click on the hyperlink to the business’s name.

When using the registered agent name, only the current names of the agents are searched for. You may also try variations of the names to get different results. Another suggestion is to try searching individual names without spaces and apostrophes.

Name availability search

The name availability search is essential when it comes to determining whether or not a selected name is available for registration in the state.

Click on the search bar and type the name you‘d like to register. Click on the Search Records button.

If the name is available, you’ll see the following message, “No records appear to conflict with the name you entered.”

Alternatively, suppose another entity already registers the name. In that case, you’ll see a message that says, “The record(s) in the search results below appear to conflict with the name you entered for availability.”

You can also view the:

For additional information, click on the entity name.

Business search results

The information that will be returned on both the basic and advanced searches include:

Additional information displayed includes:

Copies of documents and certificates

After conducting a business name search in Wisconsin, you may want to request certified copies of business documents. Some of the documents that you may request from the Secretary of State include:

The only way to obtain documents of this nature is to request them from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions Division of Corporate and Consumer Services Operations Bureau.

You can request copies of business documents by using the following information:

Business name availability

It’s important to note that although a company name may not come up on the search results when conducting the name availability search, it’s no indication that the name is available to be registered. Ultimately, it is the state that determines whether or not you will be able to register that name to your business.

And something else you should be aware of is that, unlike other states, Wisconsin does not allow name reservation requests online.

Instead, you will need to mail in your name reservation request in a printed application. This consists of a form containing two pages that you need to complete for your selected name and is referred to as a Name Reservation Application Form. To obtain a Name Reservation Application Form, you need to contact the Department of Financial Institutions.

When completing the Name Reservation Application Form, enter the following information:

Please also note that there are fees involved when it comes to processing the application as well as reserving the desired Wisconsin business name. The fee ultimately depends on your entity type and could be anywhere between $10-$15. It is payable to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, and you should mail a check with your completed reservation form to the address below:

The requested corporation or LLC name will be reserved for a period of 120 days. Additionally, the state of Wisconsin will allow you to reserve the name for a longer period of time, and all you need to do is modify the form. If you’ll need a longer name reservation, then the fee for an extended reservation is $50.

Domain name availability

Domain names are just as important as corporate business names simply because they play a huge role in your marketing strategy and success. Therefore, if you find a suitable business name, try to ensure that it is available as a domain name as well.

One of the best ways to do this is to use a domain name checker like namechk.com. This is a professional service that filters domain names and also offers suggestions for relevant or applicable domain names.

Ultimately, registering a domain name will ensure that you establish your brand and online presence as you will attract more traffic and have the opportunity to convert this traffic into profit. Ultimately, investing in a domain name is one of the best decisions you can make from a marketing point of view.

Fictitious business name search

If you plan on using any other name to conduct business besides your legal entity name, then Wisconsin law dictates that you must have a DBA. In addition to being able to operate legally under your fictitious business name, you’ll also be able to write contracts and open bank accounts with a DBA name.

The process starts with checking whether or not the DBA is available for use in the state. The Wisconsin Public Records Database is a good place to start.

Additionally, when registering a fictitious name in the state, it is required by law that the name be distinguishable from other registered entities.

When it comes to registering DBAs for Wisconsin corporations, the name will need to be significantly different from other fictitious names across a variety of different business structures operating within the state of Wisconsin.

The Secretary of State contains more information on how to register for DBA.