Wisconsin Business Bill of Sale
Wisconsin does not require a bill of sale, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Wisconsin business bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Wisconsin Department of Transportation looks for, matching the fields on MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale). Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Business details
Price and terms
How to sell a business in Wisconsin
A business bill of sale transfers the tangible and intangible assets of a small business, such as equipment, inventory, furniture, the trade name, customer list and goodwill, from the seller to the buyer at closing. It is the document that goes with the purchase agreement and is what the buyer shows to banks, landlords and the state when the business changes hands.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear title. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the Wisconsin business bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the serial number.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Wisconsin does not require a notary.
- Hand over any registration papers, manuals, receipts or health records that go with the business.
- Hand over the business and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the description against the business itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Attach an inventory and equipment list as a schedule for anything beyond a one-line description.
- Say clearly whether the buyer assumes any debts, leases or contracts.
- Both parties sign in their capacity (owner, member, president) if an entity is involved.
- This is the bill of sale, not the purchase agreement. For a sale above a few thousand dollars, have a lawyer draft the purchase agreement and use this as the closing document.
Why a bill of sale matters for a business
- Transfers the assets at closing in one signed document.
- Lists exactly what is and is not included, which prevents post-sale fights.
- Needed to transfer the DBA, licenses, lease and utility accounts.
- Supports the buyer's asset basis for taxes and the seller's gain calculation.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
Wisconsin at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Not required, strongly recommended
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale)
- Where the buyer registers
- Wisconsin Department of Transportation (wisconsindot.gov)
- License plates
- Stay with seller
Wisconsin writes the selling price on the title and the Department of Revenue investigates suspiciously low prices; the DMV's MV2928 includes a bill of sale for convenience but says it is not a required form. Sellers complete the online seller notification after a private sale. Plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Wisconsin forms
- Wisconsin Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Boat Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Trailer Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Firearm Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin RV Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Equipment Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Tractor Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Horse Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Dog Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin Livestock Bill of Sale
- Wisconsin General Bill of Sale
Business Bill of Sale in other states
Wisconsin business bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a business in Wisconsin?+
Wisconsin does not require a bill of sale, but the Wisconsin Department of Transportation recommends one. Wisconsin writes the selling price on the title and the Department of Revenue investigates suspiciously low prices; the DMV's MV2928 includes a bill of sale for convenience but says it is not a required form. Sellers complete the online seller notification after a private sale. Plates stay with the seller. Wisconsin publishes MV2928 (instructions with sample bill of sale) for this; the PDF from this page carries the same information and is accepted alongside it.
Does a Wisconsin business bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Wisconsin does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a business bill of sale in Wisconsin?+
No. Businesses are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy.
Is a business bill of sale the same as a purchase agreement?+
No. The purchase agreement sets the deal: price, terms, representations, non-compete. The bill of sale is the closing document that actually transfers the assets. Small deals sometimes use the bill of sale alone; larger ones should have both.
Does it transfer the LLC or corporation?+
No. This transfers assets. Selling the entity itself is a membership-interest or stock sale and needs different documents. Most small-business sales are asset sales.
Do I need to notify the state?+
Usually the DBA (assumed name) and any licenses or permits have to be reassigned or re-filed, and some states have bulk-sale notice rules. Check with the secretary of state and your accountant.