Originally from:
Legal Aspects of Doing Business in North America - 2nd Edition - Loose leaf
Legal Aspects of Doing Business in North America - 2nd Edition - Electronic
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Wisconsin
Walter S Davis
Davis & Keulthau, SC
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Introduction
Foreign enterprises historically have found Wisconsin to be an ideal place in which to
locate facilities and conduct business activities. Situated in the heart of America’s midwest,
Wisconsin is easily accessible to the world through its extensive highway system,
port facilities on Lake Michigan, and its airports, including General Mitchell International
Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin’s State Government has worked hard to create an environment attractive for
business and, as a result,Wisconsin boasts some of the lowest business related state taxes
in the United States. Its force is recognized as being hard working, well educated, and
labor highly skilled. Wisconsin, as the home of the University of Wisconsin and
Marquette University, both recognized research and teaching institutions, and many other
universities and colleges, is well positioned to assume a major role as a leader in growth
industries such as technological development.
In 1990,Wisconsin redesigned its business corporation laws to keep abreast of the changing
needs of modern business. While most of the changes apply to domestic corporations,
certain changes apply to foreign corporations transacting business in Wisconsin.
Conducting Business in Wisconsin
Methods of Conducting Business
Aforeign enterprise or a non-resident alien which desires to conduct business inWisconsin
may lawfully do so in a variety of ways. First, the foreign enterprise itself or an
existing foreign subsidiary may, if required, become authorized to do business in the
State. Second, the foreign enterprise may create a newWisconsin entity to do business in
the State. The enterprise may also merge with or acquire an existing enterprise already
authorized to do business in Wisconsin.
Qualification to Conduct Business
A foreign enterprise that desires to conduct business in Wisconsin may lawfully do so
itself or through an existing foreign subsidiary. If the foreign enterprise is a corporation or
a limited partnership and it desires to transact business inWisconsin, it must register to do
