Resources & Guides

The Anchor Filings Business Blog

Plain-English guides on LLC formation, compliance, taxes, and everything else you need to start and run a business in Wisconsin.

Trademark

Vidal v. Elster: The 2024 Supreme Court Case That Says You Can't Trademark Someone Else's Name

In June 2024 the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the Lanham Act's names clause. What the 'Trump Too Small' case actually means for small businesses naming products after living people.

June 2, 2026 · 8 min read
Trademark

The December 2025 TMEP Update: New USPTO Domicile Address Rules

The USPTO tightened domicile-address rules. Virtual offices, PO boxes, mail forwarders, and registered agent addresses no longer qualify. Here's what to do if you work from home and want to keep your address off the public record.

May 29, 2026 · 9 min read
Trademark

USPTO Trademark Fees in 2026: What the January 2025 Restructure Actually Costs

TEAS Plus is gone. The new $350-per-class base application looks friendly, but three new surcharges catch most small-business filers. The complete 2026 fee picture and how to stay on the base price.

May 29, 2026 · 11 min read
Formation

How Long Does It Actually Take to Start a Business? A Realistic Wisconsin Timeline

Faster than most owners expect: WDFI online filings of Articles of Organization clear the same business day, and the rest of the operational stack stacks tightly behind it. Clean launches reach fully operational in 2 to 5 business days — with payment processing covered.

May 26, 2026 · 12 min read
Compliance

Wisconsin DBA Guide: Trade Names, Filing & Cost (2026)

Wisconsin doesn't have a generic state DBA filing — it has Trade Name Registration with the WDFI under Wis. Stat. ch. 132. Here's how, when, and what it costs.

May 21, 2026 · 9 min read
Domains

ICANN's 2026 New gTLD Round: Who's Involved, What It Costs, and the Timeline

The second new gTLD application window opens April 30, 2026 and closes August 12, 2026. A plain-English breakdown of the four parties (ICANN, Registry Operator, RSP, Registrars), the $350K–$500K+ upfront cost, the $75K+/yr to operate, and what the round actually means if you're not a global brand.

May 19, 2026 · 8 min read
Formation

A Brief History of the LLC — and Wisconsin's 2023 Rewrite of Chapter 183

The LLC is younger than most people think. Invented in Wyoming in 1977, ignored until 1988, then everywhere by 1996. Wisconsin modernized its LLC statute on January 1, 2023, joining the twenty-three other states that had already adopted a uniform-law-based version. Here's the arc and what actually changed.

May 15, 2026 · 12 min read
Formation

Benefit Corporation vs. Nonprofit Public-Benefit Corporation: Mission-Driven Structures Compared

Two structures, similar names, very different goals. Compare Wisconsin benefit corporations (Wis. Stat. ch. 204, the 2017 Act 77 statute), Delaware PBCs (Patagonia, Allbirds, Kickstarter), and 501(c)(3) nonprofits side-by-side.

May 8, 2026 · 10 min read
Taxes & EIN

LLC vs. S-Corp Taxes: Reasonable Salary, Savings & How to Convert

The S-Corp election can save thousands in self-employment tax. But only if you do it right. The math, the reasonable-salary rule, and how to file Form 2553.

May 8, 2026 · 12 min read
Compliance

BOI in 2026: Why Wisconsin Businesses No Longer Need to File

FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule exempted every U.S.-formed entity from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Here's what changed, who still has to file, and what to do if you previously filed.

May 3, 2026 · 8 min read
Registered Agent

How to Change Your Registered Agent in Wisconsin (Step-by-Step)

Switching your Wisconsin LLC's registered agent is a one-form, $10 filing. But missing a step can leave you in legal limbo. Here's exactly how to switch without disruption.

May 3, 2026 · 6 min read
Formation

LLC vs. Sole Proprietorship: Which Business Structure Is Right for You?

A side-by-side breakdown of liability protection, taxes, costs, and credibility. So you can make the right call for your business without the legalese.

April 30, 2026 · 9 min read
Registered Agent

What Is a Registered Agent? (And Do You Really Need One?)

The registered agent requirement confuses a lot of new business owners. Here's what it actually means, who qualifies, and why a service is usually worth it.

April 30, 2026 · 7 min read
Taxes & EIN

How to Get an EIN for Your LLC (IRS Free vs. Paid Filing Service)

Your Employer Identification Number is required for banking, hiring, and taxes. Here's exactly how to get one. Free from the IRS or through a filing service.

April 30, 2026 · 6 min read
Compliance

Wisconsin Annual Report: Deadlines, Costs, and How to Stay Compliant

Miss your annual report and your LLC could be administratively dissolved. Here's what you need to file, when to file it, and how to avoid costly mistakes.

April 30, 2026 · 7 min read

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