Wisconsin Secretary of State Business Search Guide 2024

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions maintains a website that allows you to easily search for business information typically found on the Secretary of State's website.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use their search portal:

1. Visit the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions' business search page.
2. On the landing page, you'll find a simple search bar. For more advanced search options, click the 'Advanced Search' link next to the search bar. This allows you to refine your search by:

• Matching results that begin with, contain, or exactly match your search term
• Searching by entity name or Registered Agent name
• Filtering by entity status (active or inactive)
• Matching current or former business names
• Filtering by entity type or legal structure
• Searching for businesses registered within a specific date range

3. After performing a search, you'll be directed to the results page. Results are displayed on a single page, sorted alphabetically by company name. For each entry, you can see the state-assigned ID number, business name and type, initial registration date, current status, and the date the status last changed.
4. To view more detailed information about a specific business, click on its name. The details page provides additional information, including:

• Principals and Registered Agent names and contact information
• List of documents on file (e.g., Annual Reports)
• Historical information such as former business names, additional Officers and Directors, and a chronology of changes to the business along with related forms

Note that while Wisconsin offers basic business information at no cost, the search functionality is limited. Records prior to 2000 are stored on microfilm, while more recent records are stored in the database. Copies of documents on file can be ordered for a fee.

Want to skip all these steps and get all the information in one click? Use Cobalt Intelligence

For those needing to search hundreds or thousands of records per month, using the state's website directly can be time-consuming. Additionally, integrating Secretary of State data from multiple states can be complex due to variations in data format and content. In such cases, we have specialized tools or services that is more efficient and effective.

Schedule a call today.

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