Foreign registration · Form 21

Louisiana Corporation Foreign Registration in Wisconsin

To do business in Wisconsin, a corporation formed in Louisiana registers there on Form 21, with $100 in state fees. Wisconsin also wants Louisiana's Certificate of Good Standing ($25), dated within 60 days. We file it with the Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services from your Louisiana records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Louisiana vs Wisconsin: the paperwork

	Louisiana formed here	Wisconsin registering here
Document	Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing	Form 21, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$25	$100 at order
How it is handled	Louisiana: online or by mail	Filed on Wisconsin's paper form
Paid expedite		next-day $100, 4-hour (in person) $250, 1-hour (in person) $500
Office	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division	Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
Official page	sos.la.gov	dfi.wi.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 60 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $30, every year	Foreign Business Corporation Annual Report, $65, every year
Due	On or before the anniversary of the date of incorporation	March 31 each year after qualification
Agent	Your Louisiana registered agent	Our Wisconsin registered agent

How Louisiana companies register with Wisconsin

Order the Louisiana certificate
The Certificate of Good Standing ($25) is ordered from Louisiana separately; it is not part of our Wisconsin order. Wisconsin accepts it within 60 days of Louisiana's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 21
It names us as your Wisconsin registered agent, with your Louisiana name and formation date and the certificate attached. The Louisiana certificate comes first; then the Wisconsin filing goes in. After approval, your Louisiana corporation is registered with Wisconsin.

First-year cost, Louisiana to Wisconsin

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$100
Certificate of Good Standing, paid to Louisiana	$25
Our service, with a year of Wisconsin registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Louisiana certificate included	$324

Wisconsin's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your Louisiana name work for Wisconsin?

We search Wisconsin's records for Louisiana's name on file before anything is filed.

Agents: Wisconsin and Louisiana

Louisiana and Wisconsin both call it a registered agent. Wisconsin papers come to us; Louisiana's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Louisiana and Wisconsin

Each year your corporation files Louisiana's Annual Report ($30) and Wisconsin's Foreign Business Corporation Annual Report ($65). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Louisiana plus Wisconsin comes to $244 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Louisiana to Wisconsin

An LLC formed in Louisiana files Form 521 with Wisconsin ($100 in state fees, the same; no home-state certificate is needed). After that come Louisiana's Annual Report ($40) and Wisconsin's Annual Report (Form 5 / CORP5) ($80). See the LLC filing.

Registering a Wisconsin company in Louisiana

A corporation formed in Wisconsin that registers with Louisiana files Form 326 with $160 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: Louisiana to Wisconsin

Does my Louisiana company need to register in Wisconsin?

Yes, once a Louisiana business operates there; Wisconsin does not count a one-off deal finished within 30 days.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: Wisconsin issues one to Louisiana corporations once the form is approved.

How much does it cost to register a Louisiana corporation in Wisconsin?

$299 at checkout plus $25 to Louisiana for the Certificate of Good Standing, $324 in all (checkout is $100 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Louisiana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Wisconsin wants it ($25), no more than 60 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Louisiana and Wisconsin?

$244 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $30 to Louisiana and $65 to Wisconsin for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Wisconsin?

Wisconsin can charge a Louisiana company up to $65 for each year or part of a year.

Does Wisconsin require a registered agent?

Yes: the Louisiana registered agent stays, and ours covers Wisconsin for year one.

Can I form a new Wisconsin corporation instead?

Yes, but Louisiana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Wisconsin's Domestic Business Corporation Annual Report ($25), and the original keeps Louisiana's Annual Report.

Official sources

People also search

Corporation into Wisconsin, by home state (48)

Louisiana into other states (41)

The same move for an LLC