Wisconsin
What is the good cause required to terminate for Wisconsin?
For Wisconsin, good cause required to terminate is Yes, for termination, cancellation, non-renewal or a substantial change in competitive circumstances; relationship the statute covers is Dealerships, as defined in Wis. Stat. § 135.02(3); notice period before termination is at least 90 days’ prior written notice; cure period is 60 days in which to rectify any claimed deficiency; statute is Wis. Stat. §§ 135.03 and 135.04 (Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law), recorded from its source on 2026-09-02.
Except as provided in this section, a grantor shall provide a dealer at least 90 days’ prior written notice of termination, cancellation, nonrenewal or substantial change in competitive circumstances. The notice shall state all the reasons for termination, cancellation, nonrenewal or substantial change in competitive circumstances and shall provide that the dealer has 60 days in which to rectify any claimed deficiency. If the deficiency is rectified within 60 days the notice shall be void. The notice provisions of this section shall not apply if the reason for termination, cancellation or nonrenewal is insolvency, the occurrence of an assignment for the benefit of creditors or bankruptcy. If the reason for termination, cancellation, nonrenewal or substantial change in competitive circumstances is nonpayment of sums due under the dealership, the dealer shall be entitled to written notice of such default, and shall have 10 days in which to remedy such default from the date of delivery or posting of such notice.
— docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, retrieved 2026-09-02
- State
- Wisconsin our reading
- Good cause required to terminate
- Yes, for termination, cancellation, non-renewal or a substantial change in competitive circumstances our reading
- Relationship the statute covers
- Dealerships, as defined in Wis. Stat. § 135.02(3) our reading
- Notice period before termination
- at least 90 days’ prior written notice verified
- Cure period
- 60 days in which to rectify any claimed deficiency verified
- Statute
- Wis. Stat. §§ 135.03 and 135.04 (Wisconsin Fair Dealership Law) our reading
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Good cause required to terminate
Cancellation and alteration of dealerships. No grantor, directly or through any officer, agent or employee, may terminate, cancel, fail to renew or substantially change the competitive circumstances of a dealership agreement without good cause. The burden of proving good cause is on the grantor.
Relationship the statute covers
“Dealership” means any of the following: 135.02(3)(a) (a) A contract or agreement, either expressed or implied, whether oral or written, between 2 or more persons, by which a person is granted the right to sell or distribute goods or services, or use a trade name, trademark, service mark, logotype, advertising or other commercial symbol, in which there is a community of interest in the business of offering, selling or distributing goods or services at wholesale, retail, by lease, agreement or otherwise.
— all from docs.legis.wisconsin.gov, retrieved 2026-09-02
Sources
- docs.legis.wisconsin.govhttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/135/04
- docs.legis.wisconsin.govhttps://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/135/02