To start a business in Virginia, file Articles of Organization (LLC) or Articles of Incorporation with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) through its Clerk’s Information System, appoint a registered agent, get an EIN, register with Virginia Tax, and get a local business license from your city or county. As of October 2026, forming a Virginia LLC costs $100, and the LLC pays a $50 annual registration fee each year after that.
Virginia’s business filings run through the SCC rather than the Secretary of State, and most business licensing happens at the local level through the Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) system.
Updated October 2026.
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Best Business Formation Services in Virginia (2026)
Here are our top picks for forming a business 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 at a glance (October 2026)
| Item | Virginia detail |
|---|---|
| Filing office | State Corporation Commission (SCC), Office of the Clerk |
| Online filing | Clerk’s Information System (CIS) |
| LLC Articles of Organization | $100 |
| Stock corporation Articles of Incorporation | $25 filing fee plus charter fee ($75 total for up to 25,000 shares) |
| LLC annual registration fee | $50, due by the end of the anniversary month |
| Name reservation | $10 for 120 days, renewable |
| Fictitious name (DBA) | $10 with the SCC |
| Registered agent change | No fee |
| Sales tax | 5.3% general; 6% to 7% in some regions |
| Minimum wage | $12.77 per hour in 2026; $13.75 from January 1, 2027 |
Fees come from the Code of Virginia, including section 13.1-1005 for LLCs. Mainstay Filing also details Virginia LLC costs.
Picking a structure for your Virginia business
- Sole proprietorship. No SCC formation filing, but you file a fictitious name certificate if you use a business name, and you are personally liable.
- General partnership. Shared liability among partners, with the same fictitious name requirement.
- LLC. $100 to form and $50 a year. The most popular choice for small businesses. Our guide to starting an LLC in Virginia covers the filing step by step.
- Corporation. A $25 filing fee plus a charter fee tied to authorized shares, and an annual registration fee also based on shares. C corporations pay Virginia’s 6% corporate income tax, according to Virginia Tax.
Choosing a name in Virginia
An LLC name must include “limited liability company”, “limited company”, “LLC”, “L.L.C.”, “LC” or “L.C.”, under Va. Code 13.1-1012. Corporations need “corporation”, “incorporated”, “company” or “limited”, or an abbreviation, and cannot suggest they do regulated business such as banking or insurance unless they do. Every name must be distinguishable on the SCC’s records.
Check your name in three places:
- The SCC’s business entity search in CIS, or our Virginia business name search guide.
- Domains and social handles, all at once, with Namechk.
- The USPTO trademark database.
The business name generator helps if you need options. A name reservation costs $10 for 120 days and can be renewed for another $10 during the 45 days before it expires.
Fictitious names
Virginia calls a DBA a certificate of assumed or fictitious name. Anyone doing business under a name other than their legal name files it with the Clerk of the SCC, not the circuit court, for $10 under Va. Code 59.1-70. You can file online in CIS. The certificate stays on file until you release it.
Who can be a registered agent in Virginia?
Virginia’s rules are stricter than most states’. Under Va. Code 13.1-1015, an LLC’s registered agent must be one of:
- A Virginia resident who is a member or manager of the LLC (or an officer, director, partner or trustee of an entity that is a member or manager).
- A member of the Virginia State Bar.
- A Virginia-resident officer (designated employee) of the LLC.
- A corporation, LLC or registered LLP authorized in Virginia, other than the LLC itself.
The agent’s business office must be the registered office. Changing your agent carries no SCC fee. Because non-owners generally cannot serve unless they are Virginia lawyers or a business entity, many owners use a commercial registered agent. Mainstay Filing includes a Virginia registered agent for the first year with its formation package.
Filing your Articles of Organization
File online through the SCC’s Clerk’s Information System, or on paper with Form LLC1011. You will provide:
- The LLC name.
- The registered agent, the agent’s qualification and the registered office address (including the county or independent city).
- The principal office address.
- The organizer’s signature.
The fee is $100 online or on paper, and Virginia has no publication requirement. After approval, sign an operating agreement for your records.
Get an EIN
Request a free Employer Identification Number from the IRS. You need it to register with Virginia Tax, hire employees and open a business account.
Register with Virginia Tax
New businesses register online with Virginia Tax, which is moving its services to a new online platform. One registration covers:
- Retail sales and use tax. You receive a Sales Tax Certificate of Registration. The general rate is 5.3%. It is 6% in Central Virginia, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia, 6.3% in Charlotte, Henry, Northampton, Patrick and Pittsylvania counties, and 7% in James City and York counties. Groceries and personal hygiene items are taxed at 1%, according to Virginia Tax.
- Employer withholding, once you have employees.
- Corporate income tax, for C corporations.
Hiring employees in Virginia
Virginia’s minimum wage is $12.77 per hour in 2026. Under 2026 legislation, it rises to $13.75 on January 1, 2027 and $15.00 on January 1, 2028, then adjusts for inflation, according to Va. Code 40.1-28.10.
Employers also register with the Virginia Employment Commission for unemployment insurance, report new hires through the Virginia New Hire Reporting Center, and carry workers’ compensation once they regularly employ three or more people, under Va. Code 65.2-101.
BPOL and other licenses
Virginia has no statewide general business license, but most cities, counties and towns require a local BPOL license from the Commissioner of the Revenue. Under Va. Code 58.1-3703, the license fee is capped at $50 in localities with more than 25,000 people and $30 in smaller ones. Larger businesses pay a BPOL tax on gross receipts instead, at rates set locally within state caps. Some localities exempt new businesses for up to two years.
Beyond BPOL:
- The Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) licenses contractors, cosmetologists, real estate agents and many other occupations.
- Alcohol sales need a license from Virginia ABC.
- Zoning, building and health permits come from your locality.
Virginia Business One Stop and the Virginia SBDC offer free help.
Banking and insurance
Open a business bank account with your Articles, EIN and operating agreement, and keep business funds separate. Insurance worth comparing includes general liability, professional liability, commercial auto and property coverage, plus workers’ compensation when you reach three employees.
Virginia’s annual registration fee
Virginia LLCs do not file an informational annual report. Instead, they pay a $50 annual registration fee each year by the last day of the month in which they were formed, starting the year after formation, under Va. Code 13.1-1062. A late payment adds a $25 penalty. If the fee is still unpaid at the end of the third month after the due date, the SCC cancels the LLC.
Paying the fee does not update your company’s information. To change your registered agent or office, file a separate statement of change. Corporations pay an annual registration fee based on authorized shares and file an annual report on the same anniversary-month schedule.
A website for your Virginia business
Register a domain that matches your business name and set up a simple website. These builders are a good start:
FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Virginia?
As of October 2026, filing Articles of Organization for a Virginia LLC costs $100 with the State Corporation Commission. Starting the year after formation, the LLC pays a $50 annual registration fee by the end of its anniversary month. Optional costs include a $10 name reservation and a $10 fictitious name certificate.
When is the Virginia LLC annual fee due?
Virginia LLCs pay a $50 annual registration fee by the last day of the month in which they were formed, starting the year after formation. A late payment adds a $25 penalty, and an LLC that has still not paid by the end of the third month after the due date is canceled by the State Corporation Commission.
Who can be a registered agent in Virginia?
A Virginia LLC’s registered agent must be a Virginia resident who is a member, manager or designated officer of the LLC, a member of the Virginia State Bar, or a business entity authorized in Virginia other than the LLC itself. The agent’s business office must be the registered office. Changing agents has no SCC fee.
How do I register a DBA in Virginia?
File a certificate of assumed or fictitious name with the Clerk of the State Corporation Commission for $10, online through the Clerk’s Information System or on paper. It applies to individuals, partnerships, LLCs and corporations doing business under another name. The certificate has no renewal period and stays on file until released.
Do I need a business license in Virginia?
Virginia has no statewide general business license, but most cities, counties and towns require a local Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL) from the Commissioner of the Revenue. The license fee is capped at $50 or $30 depending on population, and larger businesses pay a BPOL tax on gross receipts. Regulated occupations also need a DPOR license.
What is the sales tax rate in Virginia?
Virginia’s general sales and use tax rate is 5.3%. Central Virginia, Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia charge 6%, five southside counties charge 6.3%, and James City and York counties charge 7%. Groceries and personal hygiene items are taxed at 1% statewide. Sellers register with Virginia Tax and receive a Sales Tax Certificate of Registration.
What is the minimum wage in Virginia in 2026?
Virginia’s minimum wage is $12.77 per hour in 2026. Under legislation passed in 2026, it increases to $13.75 on January 1, 2027 and to $15.00 on January 1, 2028, after which it will be adjusted each year for inflation. If the federal minimum is ever higher, the federal rate applies.
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