 Texas |  Wisconsin | |
|---|---|---|
| All-in to start with usOur $40 fee with the EIN, the registered agent for the first year, and the state fee. | $392 | $225 |
| State filing fee | $307 | $140 |
| Typical approval time | 3–5 business days | 1–3 business days |
| What the state asks each year | Franchise tax report (no tax under threshold) | Annual report $25 |
| Yearly state cost, about | $0 | $25 |
| Total over 5 years, aboutFormation, then four years of registered agent ($45) and state fees. Excludes bookkeeping and IRS filings, which are the same in every state. | $572 | $505 |
| State income tax on wages | None | Yes |
| Owners in the public formation document | Can be listed | Can be listed |
| Newspaper publication after formation | No | No |
Texas against Wisconsin
Advantages
- No yearly state fee (franchise tax report (no tax under threshold)), against about $25 a year in Wisconsin.
- No state income tax on wages.
- A large economy, and a name that reads well on an invoice.
Disadvantages
- Costs $167 more to form than Wisconsin.
- Slower approval: usually 3–5 business days.
Wisconsin against Texas
Advantages
- Cheaper to form: $140 state fee against $307 in Texas.
- Faster approval: usually 1–3 business days, against 3–5 business days.
Disadvantages
- About $25 a year more to keep than Texas (annual report $25).
- Has a state income tax, though it normally only reaches income connected to the state.
Which one to choose
Wisconsin comes out ahead on both cost and speed: about $67 less over five years, and usually approved in 1–3 business days.
If your company will have staff, an office or a warehouse in one particular state, form it there: otherwise you register in that state anyway. Federal taxes and IRS filings are the same in every state.
General information about the states, not legal or tax advice. State fees change occasionally; the price at checkout is the price you pay.
Texas or Wisconsin
Questions about this comparison
Is a Texas or a Wisconsin LLC cheaper?
Wisconsin is cheaper to form: $225 all-in with us, against $392. Each year after, Texas costs the state about $0 and Wisconsin about $25, plus $45 for the registered agent.
Which is faster, Texas or Wisconsin?
Texas usually approves an LLC in 3–5 business days, Wisconsin in 1–3 business days. We file within 48 hours of payment in either state.
Can a non-US resident form an LLC in Texas or Wisconsin?
Yes, in both. Neither state asks for citizenship or residency, and the registered agent we include provides the in-state address. The EIN is included without an SSN.
Another pair