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Register a business in Virginia
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in Virginia. Every line shows the official page it came from, and the day we read it.
The order to do it in
Choose a business type and get your EIN first. Then file with the state filing office below, and check your city and county before you start work.
Filing office
- Virginia entities are formed with the State Corporation Commission’s Clerk’s Office, which encourages online filing through its Clerk’s Information System. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
Forming an LLC
- A Virginia LLC is formed by Articles of Organization (form LLC1011), filed online or on paper with the SCC Clerk’s Office. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Articles of Organization filing fee: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
Forming a corporation
- A Virginia stock corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation (form SCC619), filed online or on paper with the SCC Clerk’s Office. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- A stock corporation pays a filing fee plus a charter fee for each block of authorized shares, so the total rises with the shares. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Filing fee: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Charter fee, added for each 25,000 authorized shares or fraction: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Minimum total for Articles of Incorporation: $75 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Charter fee for more than 1,000,000 authorized shares: $2,500 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
Annual or biennial report
- Virginia LLCs pay an annual registration fee by the last day of the formation month, and a late payment adds a penalty. Stock corporations pay an annual registration fee set by authorized shares, due the same way, and also file annual reports, which have no fee. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- A late corporation payment adds a penalty of 10 percent of the fee or the floor amount below, whichever is higher. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- LLC annual registration fee: $50 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- LLC late payment penalty, added: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Corporation annual registration fee, up to 5,000 authorized shares (SCC 02/26 schedule): $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Corporation late payment penalty, floor amount: $10 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Virginia assumed or fictitious name certificates are filed with the SCC Clerk’s Office (Code of Virginia 59.1-70). The Commission is the central filing office, for entities and for individuals such as sole proprietors. Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
- Fictitious name certificate filing fee: $10 (as of Oct 6, 2026) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, as of
State tax registration
- New Virginia businesses register with Virginia Tax online. On completion they receive a tax account number for each tax type, and a sales tax certificate if they registered for retail sales and use tax. Virginia Department of Taxation, as of
State rules for pool, lifeguard and contractor work
These lines point to the state’s own rules. Whether one applies to your work is for the state to say, so confirm with the agency named in each line.
- Virginia’s Board for Contractors (DPOR) defines a Swimming Pool Construction Contracting specialty (POL) for building, repairing, improving or removing in-ground swimming pools. It is a contractor-licence specialty for construction work, not routine pool service. Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, as of
City and county licences
City and county licences vary by place. Check with your city hall or county clerk before you start work.
Sources
- Forms and Fees: Virginia Limited Liability Companies Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Forms and Fees: Virginia Stock Corporations Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Charter Fee / Entrance Fee Schedule (02/26) Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Maintaining Your Business Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Annual Registration Fees Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Fictitious Names Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office. As of .
- Register a Business in Virginia Virginia Department of Taxation. As of .
- Virginia Contractors Classifications and Specialties (18 VAC 50-22-20) Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
Last checked