Start a Business in Wisconsin
Costs, permits, taxes, and requirements for WI.
- Cost rank
- 20th of 50
- 93% of the national average · tied with 1 other state
- State income tax
- 3.54-7.65%
- Charged on top of federal income tax
- Sales tax
- 5%
- You collect it on taxable sales and remit it to the state
- LLC filing fee
- $130
- One-off, paid to the Secretary of State · 15th most expensive of 50 (median $100)
Where Wisconsin sits on cost
Cheapest third to most expensive third, by startup cost index. Hover a state for its index and rank.
What's different in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is one of the few states where the rate you see is close to the rate you charge: counties may add a little and a handful of local exceptions exist, but there is none of the stacking that makes quoting awkward further south. Winter is the real variable in the accounts, because outdoor trades lose months of the year and anyone holding a shop or warehouse pays to heat it through them. The north of the state lives on seasonal visitors and the south on manufacturing, and those two halves hire on calendars that have nothing to do with each other.
- What you see is close to what you charge
- Local add-ons are small and rare, so the combined rate stays near the state one.
- Heating is a line in the accounts
- A shop or warehouse carries months of heating that a southern equivalent never budgets for.
- North and south hire differently
- Tourist counties staff up for a season; manufacturing counties hire the whole year round.
Business Guides for Wisconsin
All 53, cheapest first. Ranges are what that business actually costs in WI.
Under $10K 22
- Notary Services $276 – $1,840
- Pet Sitting $465 – $2,790
- Social Media Management $475 – $2,800
- Dog Walking $465 – $4,650
- Web Design $475 – $4,650
- E-Commerce $465 – $9,300
- Tutoring $475 – $9,300
- Graphic Design $925 – $9,300
- Window Cleaning $930 – $9,300
- Bookkeeping $1,850 – $9,300
- Cleaning Business $1,500 – $10,000
- Handyman $2,000 – $10,000
- Lawn Care $2,000 – $10,000
- Personal Training $2,000 – $10,000
- Tax Preparation $1,850 – $13,950
- House Painting $1,860 – $13,950
- Pool Cleaning $1,860 – $13,950
- Vending Machine $2,760 – $13,800
- Auto Detailing $2,000 – $15,000
- Photography $3,000 – $15,000
- Pressure Washing $3,000 – $15,000
- Consulting $925 – $18,600
$10K – $50K 17
- Event Planning $1,850 – $18,600
- DJ Service $2,800 – $18,600
- Interior Design $1,860 – $23,250
- Carpet Cleaning $4,650 – $23,250
- Massage Therapy $4,650 – $23,250
- Mobile Spa $7,360 – $23,000
- Landscaping $5,000 – $30,000
- Wedding Photography $9,300 – $37,200
- Junk Removal $4,650 – $46,500
- Bakery $2,000 – $50,000
- Pest Control $9,300 – $46,500
- Pet Grooming $4,650 – $69,750
- Catering $9,300 – $69,750
- Florist $9,300 – $69,750
- Tree Service $9,300 – $69,750
- Electrician $13,950 – $69,750
- Plumbing $13,950 – $69,750
$50K and up 14
- Yoga Studio $13,950 – $93,000
- Moving Company $18,400 – $92,000
- HVAC $18,600 – $93,000
- Barber Shop $23,000 – $110,400
- Nail Salon $27,600 – $138,000
- Hair Salon $32,200 – $138,000
- Gym $46,000 – $138,000
- Food Truck $40,000 – $160,000
- Ice Cream Shop $46,500 – $279,000
- Coffee Shop $76,000 – $285,000
- Daycare $4,650 – $465,000
- Car Wash $46,500 – $465,000
- Laundromat $93,000 – $465,000
- Restaurant $161,000 – $460,000
Get a personalized cost estimate for Wisconsin
Calculate CostsBusiness Requirements in Wisconsin
Register Your Business
File with Wisconsin Secretary of State. LLC fee: $130
Get Business License
Most cities require a general business license ($50-$300).
Get EIN
Free from IRS. Required for bank accounts and taxes.
Register for Sales Tax
State rate: 5%. Local taxes may apply.
Get Business Insurance
General liability protects from lawsuits. Often required by landlords.