How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Wisconsin?
Last updated: March 2026
Wisconsin Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$130
Sales Tax Rate
5.0%
Minimum Wage
$7.25/hr
Cost of Living Index
94.5
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$25
Starting a Business in Wisconsin
Wisconsin businesses register with the Department of Financial Institutions. Many industries require state licenses through the Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Wisconsin has a graduated income tax with rates from 3.54% to 7.65%. Corporate income tax is 7.9%. LLCs are taxed as pass-through entities.
Wisconsin's strong dairy, beer, and manufacturing heritage creates demand for food processing and related businesses. The state has a stable, diverse economy.
For official formation documents, visit the Wisconsin Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Wisconsin
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Wisconsin’s cost of living index of 94.5. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $6,650 | $19,000 | $43,700 |
| Airbnb / Vacation Rental | Real Estate | $10,450 | $28,500 | $85,500 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $76,000 | $190,000 | $475,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $9,500 | $28,500 | $76,000 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $19,000 | $52,250 | $123,500 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $4,750 | $28,500 | $95,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $71,250 | $190,000 | $475,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $19,000 | $90,250 | $285,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $95,000 | $332,500 | $807,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,250 | $61,750 | $166,250 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $23,750 | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $95,000 | $380,000 | $950,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $118,275 | $315,400 | $1,182,750 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $118,275 | $516,800 | $1,476,300 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $9,975 | $26,600 | $66,500 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $11,400 | $50,350 | $123,500 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $38,000 | $114,000 | $285,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,425 | $10,450 | $35,150 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $23,750 | $114,000 | $332,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $23,750 | $61,750 | $142,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $1,900 | $8,550 | $24,700 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $47,500 | $266,000 | $712,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $7,600 | $20,900 | $52,250 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $19,000 | $52,250 | $142,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,000 | $76,000 | $237,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $57,000 | $171,000 | $475,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $28,500 | $76,000 | $190,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $237,500 | $475,000 | $950,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $3,800 | $11,400 | $30,400 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $4,750 | $14,250 | $47,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $14,250 | $52,250 | $152,000 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $7,600 | $38,000 | $114,000 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $47,500 | $123,500 | $332,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $19,000 | $52,250 | $123,500 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $19,000 | $71,250 | $190,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $9,500 | $49,400 | $123,500 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $71,250 | $237,500 | $712,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $42,750 | $114,000 | $190,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $15,200 | $34,200 | $76,000 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $47,500 | $190,000 | $570,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $19,000 | $52,250 | $123,500 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $19,000 | $57,000 | $142,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $19,000 | $66,500 | $190,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $47,500 | $237,500 | $950,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $14,250 | $71,250 | $237,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $1,900 | $9,500 | $31,350 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $38,000 | $123,500 | $285,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $19,000 | $66,500 | $190,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $19,000 | $71,250 | $190,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $14,250 | $38,000 | $85,500 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $14,250 | $38,000 | $95,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $23,750 | $85,500 | $237,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $9,500 | $38,000 | $114,000 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $95,000 | $237,500 | $570,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $11,400 | $32,300 | $76,950 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $38,000 | $85,500 | $209,000 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $47,500 | $171,000 | $475,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $4,750 | $17,100 | $47,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $19,000 | $66,500 | $190,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $19,000 | $61,750 | $190,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $95,000 | $332,500 | $950,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $142,500 | $380,000 | $950,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $14,250 | $47,500 | $142,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $9,500 | $47,500 | $142,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,000 | $85,500 | $237,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $4,750 | $23,750 | $76,000 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $4,750 | $23,750 | $95,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $9,500 | $38,000 | $114,000 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $28,500 | $95,000 | $285,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $142,500 | $380,000 | $950,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $57,000 | $171,000 | $427,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $47,500 | $166,250 | $380,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $14,250 | $47,500 | $142,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $1,900 | $5,700 | $17,100 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $47,500 | $142,500 | $380,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $9,975 | $22,800 | $52,250 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $9,500 | $26,600 | $66,500 |
| Real Estate Investing (Rental) | Real Estate | $23,750 | $71,250 | $237,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $166,250 | $356,250 | $712,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $14,250 | $57,000 | $171,000 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $19,000 | $57,000 | $190,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $9,500 | $66,500 | $237,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $19,000 | $52,250 | $142,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $190,000 | $570,000 | $1,900,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $19,000 | $56,050 | $190,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,325 | $9,500 | $25,650 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $19,000 | $71,250 | $190,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $47,500 | $142,500 | $380,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $47,500 | $142,500 | $380,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $28,500 | $76,000 | $190,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $1,900 | $22,800 | $95,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $47,500 | $190,000 | $570,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $23,750 | $71,250 | $190,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,325 | $11,400 | $31,350 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $14,250 | $38,000 | $95,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $142,500 | $723,900 | $2,850,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $14,250 | $76,000 | $190,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Wisconsin
Licenses & Permits in Wisconsin
General Business License
Wisconsin does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and register with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue for sales and use tax and withholding tax purposes. Some Wisconsin municipalities require local business licenses, though this varies. Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay have their own licensing requirements. Wisconsin's one-stop portal at DFI.wi.gov helps streamline business registration.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Dealer License — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection or Local Health DepartmentCost: $50-$400 • Renewal: Annual
- Dwelling Contractor Certification — Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional ServicesCost: $100-$400 • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Shop License — Wisconsin Board of CosmetologyCost: $50-$150 • Renewal: Biennial
- Real Estate Broker License — Wisconsin Real Estate Examining BoardCost: $60-$200 • Renewal: Biennial
- Child Care License — Wisconsin Department of Children and Families — Child Care CertificationCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Class B Beer License / Liquor License — Wisconsin Department of Revenue — Alcohol Beverage RegulationCost: $100-$3,000 • Renewal: Annual
- Pesticide Business License — Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer ProtectionCost: $50-$200 • Renewal: Annual
- Medical Practice License — Wisconsin Medical Examining BoardCost: $200-$500 • Renewal: Biennial
Home-Based Business Rules
Wisconsin cities, villages, and towns regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Madison and Milwaukee allow home occupations in residential zones with standard restrictions on commercial signage, customer traffic, and non-resident employees. Wisconsin's many small towns and rural areas are generally accommodating of home-based businesses. Wisconsin's cottage food law supports home-based food production and direct consumer sales up to $20,000 annually.
Wisconsin Business Resources
SBA District Office
Wisconsin SBA District Office — Milwaukee
Secretary of State
https://www.wdfi.org/corporationsZoning Information
Wisconsin municipalities manage zoning. Milwaukee and Madison have active commercial zoning with mixed-use and historic overlay districts.
Health Department Notes
Food service establishments require a license from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Workers Compensation
Required for all employers with 3 or more employees. Wisconsin has a competitive private insurance market.