People search for a “Virginia Secretary of State business search,” but Virginia’s business registry is actually kept by the State Corporation Commission (SCC). Its free Clerk’s Information System (CIS) lets you look up any LLC, corporation or partnership on file and run a name availability check before you form a company.
If no existing entity or reservation uses a name that is the same once endings like “LLC” are ignored, your name is likely available. Searching doesn’t hold it, though. A $10 reservation keeps a name for 120 days, and a $10 assumed name certificate covers any DBA.
Updated October 2026.
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Best LLC Formation Services in Virginia (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming your LLC once your name is clear in Virginia, ranked. Mainstay Filing comes first for its flat yearly price; the two Virginia registered agent services below it are options if you only need an agent.
| Rank | Provider | Best for | Price | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mainstay Filing | Forming an LLC with the agent, EIN and annual report included | $199/year + state fee at cost | LLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing |
| 2 | VA Registered Agent.org | Virginia registered agent service only | $99/year | $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online |
1. Mainstay Filing
Mainstay Filing is our top pick in Virginia. It costs $199/year + state fee at cost and covers lLC formation filing, registered agent for the year, EIN application, annual report preparation and filing. The price stays the same every year, with no add-on menu.
2. VA Registered Agent.org
VA Registered Agent.org is a Virginia registered agent service at $99/year. It provides $99 per year, flat; in-state street address for the registered office; legal documents served on the company are scanned and sent to the owner online. It’s a fit if you only need a registered agent rather than full formation help.
Virginia business name search at a glance
| Item | Virginia details (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Filing office | State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office (Richmond) |
| Search tool | Clerk’s Information System (CIS): business entity search and name availability check (free) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100 (Va. Code § 13.1-1005) |
| Name reservation | $10; 120 days; renewable in 120-day periods (§ 13.1-1013) |
| Articles of amendment (name change) | $25 |
| Assumed name (DBA) | Certificate of assumed or fictitious name filed with the SCC Clerk; $10 |
| Annual registration fee | $50 per year for a domestic LLC, due by the last day of the anniversary month ($25 late penalty) |
Fees are set by statute in Title 13.1 and Title 59.1 of the Code of Virginia. For a full picture of formation costs, see Mainstay Filing’s Virginia LLC cost guide.
How to run a Virginia business entity search in CIS
The SCC’s Clerk’s Information System is the single official source for Virginia business entity records. Searching it is free.
Step 1: Go to CIS
Open the Clerk’s Information System. A basic business entity search doesn’t require an account, though you’ll need one later to file online.
Step 2: Search by name, not by full legal title
Enter the distinctive words of your proposed name. The SCC ignores entity designators such as “LLC” or “Inc.” when it compares names, so searching “Blue Ridge Cider” is more useful than “Blue Ridge Cider LLC.” Try the contains-style match as well as exact match, and check plurals and alternate spellings.
Step 3: Look at status and type
Results show each entity’s name, SCC ID, type and status. Active corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and business trusts all count against your name, and so do current name reservations.
Step 4: Run the name availability check
CIS also has a dedicated name availability feature. It gives a preliminary answer based on the SCC’s records. The Clerk’s Office makes the final decision when it reviews your reservation or Articles of Organization.
Still brainstorming? Namechk’s business name generator can give you a shortlist to test in CIS.
What Virginia requires in a business name
Virginia’s LLC Act sets the naming rules in Va. Code § 13.1-1012. Corporations follow parallel rules in the Stock Corporation Act.
- LLC designator: the name must contain “limited company” or “limited liability company,” or one of the abbreviations L.C., LC, L.L.C. or LLC.
- No misleading entity type: an LLC name can’t say or imply that the business is a corporation, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership or a protected series.
- Distinguishable on the SCC’s records: the name must differ from existing LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, business trusts and reserved names. Required or permitted designators are disregarded in that comparison.
- Consent exception: a domestic LLC can use a name that isn’t distinguishable if the other entity gives written consent and agrees to change its own name.
- Prohibited words: any word or phrase another law bars the company from using is off-limits. Regulated terms, such as those tied to banking or insurance, generally need approval from the relevant regulator.
How to reserve a business name in Virginia
A reservation is optional in Virginia, but it’s inexpensive and useful if you need a few months before filing.
- Confirm the name is available in CIS.
- File an application to reserve the name with the SCC Clerk’s Office, online through CIS or on paper. The fee is $10.
- The name is held for your exclusive use for 120 days (§ 13.1-1013).
- To keep it longer, renew for another 120 days during the 45-day window before the reservation expires. Each renewal is also $10.
- A reserved name can be transferred to another person by filing a notice of transfer, also $10.
Check trademarks, domains and social handles
CIS covers only entities registered with the SCC. It won’t show federally registered trademarks or businesses that operate under a brand without forming a Virginia entity. Search the USPTO trademark database before you commit, especially if you plan to sell outside Virginia.
Then make sure your online identity is free. Namechk checks domains and social media usernames together, and the domain name generator helps when your first-choice .com is registered.
We created a tool that makes it easy.
Filing a DBA (assumed name) in Virginia
Virginia uses the term assumed or fictitious name. Under Va. Code §§ 59.1-69 and 59.1-70, anyone who does business in Virginia under a name other than their legal name must file a certificate of assumed or fictitious name with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission.
- Where: the SCC Clerk’s Office, online through CIS or on the Commission’s form. Sole proprietors now file with the SCC as well; circuit court clerks mainly handle older certificates that were recorded with them.
- Fee: $10, set by § 59.1-70.
- Who signs: the individual doing business under the name, or an authorized representative for an entity.
- Duration: the certificate stays on file until you stop using the name and file a release.
An LLC trading under its exact registered name doesn’t need an assumed name certificate. If you add a brand or shorten the name on signs, invoices or a website, file one.
After the search: forming your Virginia business
Once the name is clear, you can file. Our Virginia LLC guide has the full walkthrough.
- File Articles of Organization with the SCC through CIS. The state fee is $100 (§ 13.1-1005).
- Name a registered agent with a physical Virginia office address who meets the SCC’s eligibility rules. Mainstay Filing includes registered agent service in its formation package (see Virginia costs). Our Virginia registered agent guide explains who qualifies.
- Apply for an EIN free from the IRS.
- Budget for the $50 annual registration fee and register for state taxes and local licenses. The Virginia start-a-business guide lists what to expect.
FAQs
Does Virginia have a Secretary of State business search?
Not in the usual sense. Virginia’s business entities are registered with the State Corporation Commission, not the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The SCC’s Clerk’s Information System (CIS) is the official business search. It’s free, shows each entity’s SCC ID, type and status, and includes a name availability check.
How much does it cost to reserve a business name in Virginia?
Reserving a name with the Virginia SCC costs $10 under Va. Code § 13.1-1005. The reservation lasts 120 days. You can renew it for successive 120-day periods by filing during the 45 days before it expires, and each renewal is another $10. Reservations are optional; you can file Articles of Organization directly instead.
What makes a Virginia LLC name distinguishable?
The name must be distinguishable on the SCC’s records from other LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, business trusts and reserved names. The SCC disregards designators such as LLC or Inc. when comparing, so changing only the ending won’t work. Adding or changing a meaningful word usually does. The Clerk’s Office makes the final call.
Where do I file a DBA in Virginia?
File a certificate of assumed or fictitious name with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission. Va. Code § 59.1-69 requires it for anyone doing business under a name other than their legal name, including sole proprietors, LLCs and corporations. The filing fee is $10, and the certificate stays in effect until you file a release.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Virginia?
The SCC charges $100 to file Articles of Organization for a Virginia LLC. After that, the LLC owes a $50 annual registration fee each year, due by the last day of the month in which it was formed. A name reservation ($10) and an assumed name certificate ($10) are optional extra filings.
Does a CIS search guarantee my name is available?
No. A clean result in the SCC’s Clerk’s Information System is a good sign, but the Clerk’s Office decides availability when it examines your reservation or Articles of Organization. The search also won’t reveal federal trademarks, so check the USPTO database and confirm domains and social handles before you print anything.
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