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  2. Help for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Help for Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs

Small business development is vital to the Wisconsin economy and workforce. The Department of Workforce Development is available to assist you with learning about responsibilities and resources available to you as a new business startup, and as an emerging entrepreneur. DWD divisions, including Equal Rights, Employment & Training, Unemployment Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation and Worker's Compensation are here to help you find what is needed to help your business grow and connect you with other state agencies to ensure you have the information need.

How can we help?

The Downloadable Resource Packet for Wisconsin Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs compiles relevant services to increase the accessibility of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and Job Center of Wisconsin. The resources are listed individually and also available as a single download below.


Resources Packet
  • Business Services (Employment & Training)
    Contact Business Services at your local Job Center to access effective, low and no-cost talent development solutions available through the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development and local partners.

  • Employee or Independent Contractor: Why It Matters?
    Worker classification is important to employers because the correct classification determines whether the employer has legal obligations for Unemployment Insurance, Worker's Compensation and multiple other employment related topics.

  • Business Services (Vocational Rehabilitation)
    Employers connect to DVR's NO COST valued-added services to recruit qualified workers with disabilities, build staff diversity and a host of other services.

  • New Hire Reporting
    To help ensure the integrity of the Unemployment Insurance program and locate parents with Child Support obligations.

  • Worker's Compensation – Employer Facts
    Worker’s compensation is a system of no-fault insurance that pays benefits to employees for injuries or diseases related to the employee’s work. In return for prompt and certain payment of benefits to an employee, an employer's liability is limited.

  • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
    The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal income tax credit designed to help people gain on-the-job experience and achieve better employment outcomes. The WOTC program offers federal tax credits to employers as an incentive to hire people in several specific target groups.

Online Resources

Wisconsin eServices are available to businesses to manage unemployment requirements, apply for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, report new hires and navigate the next steps for business development.

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Required Wisconsin posters to be posted in your business. Download the Workplace Posters Packet
The Bureau of Tax and Accounting collects, controls, and maintains employer accounts. Employer Unemployment Resources
Online tool for an easy step-through process where Wisconsin's businesses can find the information and resources they need to start a business in Wisconsin. One-Stop Business Portal
BDGR, a bridge between small businesses, the Departments of Revenue and Workforce Development, and other state agencies. Business Development and Government Relations (BDGR)
Report newly hired and re-hired employees in the Wisconsin New Hire reporting Center.
Wisconsin Job Centers are available to help businesses in Wisconsin by aligning workforce resources to meet private sector labor needs. Employer Assistance (Provided by Wisconsin Job Centers)
The Corporation Section of the Division of Corporate & Consumer Services at the Department of Financial Institutions is the filing office for the organizational instruments to create corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, and limited liability companies, as well as documents to amend those charters in some respect or other. Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions - Corporation
Sign up now to receive information when exciting new grant funding opportunities become available. Wisconsin Fast Forward
Apply for The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), a Federal tax credit available to employers for hiring individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment. Electronic Filing for Work Opportunity Tax Credit

Contact Information

Questions and comments should be directed to:

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