Wisconsin entity search: How to find your business information

All Wisconsin business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, is available through the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions’ business search portal. This free database provides access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

Below, we'll explain exactly how to search the Wisconsin database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Wisconsin's system.

Summary table: Finding your Wisconsin entity information

How to search for Wisconsin business entities

Navigate to the Wisconsin Business Search portal and enter your business name in the search field. Wisconsin's system supports partial matches and ignores special characters and case differences, so searching "badger" will return "Badger Industries LLC," "A.B.C. Badger Group," and similar variations.

For the most precise results, use your complete legal name as registered. Wisconsin's flexible matching helps when you're unsure of the exact spelling, but using the full legal name ensures you get the correct entity without sorting through similar matches.

Click your entity name in the results to view complete details, including your entity number, formation date, registered agent information, and filing history. 

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative, etc.)
• Entity ID (Wisconsin's unique format)
• Registered effective date (formation date)
• Current status (Active, Dissolved, Delinquent, etc.) and status date

How to find your entity number in Wisconsin

Your Wisconsin entity number, officially called your "Entity ID," follows a unique format assigned by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Wisconsin entity number

1. Wisconsin business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in search results and at the top of the entity details page
• Labeled as: "Entity ID"
• Format: Unique identifier specific to Wisconsin's filing system

2. Certificate of Organization/Formation/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "Document Number," or "Entity ID"
• Stamped or referenced by the Wisconsin DFI

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Wisconsin DFI documents
• Used as your account identifier for ongoing filings

Wisconsin entity number format

• Format: Unique identifier that may include year and document archive references
• Example: Format varies based on filing system (some include year/reel/image identifiers)
• Pattern note: Wisconsin uses a distinctive numbering system that reflects its document management approach, differing from the sequential numbering systems used by many other states

How to find your entity type in Wisconsin

Wisconsin recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Wisconsin entity type

1. Wisconsin business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Clearly shown in the search results table and prominently on the detail page
• Listed as: "Entity Type"
• Examples include: Limited Liability Company (LLC), Corporation, Limited Partnership (LP), Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), Cooperative

2. Certificate of Organization/Formation/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• May state "Certificate of Organization of Limited Liability Company" or similar formal language

3. Annual reports

• Listed in entity information section
• Entity type cannot be changed without filing a formal conversion (not amendment) with the Wisconsin DFI

How to find your formation date in Wisconsin

Your formation date (when the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Wisconsin business search results and in official state records such as the Certificate of Status, but not directly on the original Certificate of Formation.

Where your Wisconsin formation date appears

1. Wisconsin business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Registered Effective Date"
• Location: Displayed in both the search results table and the detailed entity page
• This represents when your entity was officially registered with Wisconsin

2. Certificate of Organization/Formation/Incorporation

• Top of the document
• May say "Filed on [date]" or show the official filing date
• Often stamped with the Wisconsin DFI seal and date

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate ongoing compliance requirements and due dates

Formation date vs. effective date

Wisconsin allows you to select a delayed effective date (up to 90 days in the future) when forming a business entity, so the formation date and effective date are not always the same. The state's system records the “effective date” you select in your filing, which is when your entity is legally recognized.

Streamline entity compliance with Discern

You've got what you need from Wisconsin's system: business name, entity type, Entity ID, and formation date. Now, you can get those details into Discern and let our platform handle annual reports, deadline tracking, registered agent coordination, and compliance management across all your jurisdictions.

Ready to streamline ongoing compliance? Book a demo to see our platform in action.