Vendor setup
Register a business in West Virginia
The filing office, forms, steps and next stops for registering a business in West 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
- West Virginia entities are registered with the Secretary of State, mainly online through the One Stop Business Portal, which also covers registration with other state agencies. Paper forms are also available. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
Forming an LLC
- A West Virginia LLC is formed by Articles of Organization, filed online through the One Stop Business Portal or on paper with the Secretary of State. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- The initial registration fee may be waived for veteran-owned or young-entrepreneur (age 18 to 29) businesses. The waiver covers the Secretary of State fee only. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Organization filing fee: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Online processing fee, added: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Optional 24-hour expedite, added: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Optional two-hour expedite, added: $250 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Optional one-hour expedite, added: $500 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Division, one time: $30 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia State Tax Division, as of
Forming a corporation
- A West Virginia for-profit corporation is formed by Articles of Incorporation, filed online or on paper with the Secretary of State. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Articles of Incorporation filing fee, for-profit corporation: $100 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Online processing fee, added: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Division, one time: $30 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia State Tax Division, as of
Annual or biennial report
- West Virginia requires annual reports, filed between January 1 and June 30 of each year after the year of registration (WV Code 59-1-2a). Late filing can bring penalties and administrative dissolution. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Annual report filing fee: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
Assumed name (DBA)
- Trade names (DBAs) are registered with the Secretary of State by a corporation, LLC, LP, LLP, voluntary association or business trust. An individual, sole proprietor or general partnership pays no filing fee. West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Trade name registration, entities: $25 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
- Online processing fee, added: $1 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia Secretary of State, as of
State tax registration
- West Virginia businesses register with the State Tax Division for a Business Registration Certificate, available through the One Stop Business Portal. The certificate is permanent until the name, location or ownership changes or the business closes. West Virginia State Tax Division, as of
Statewide business licence
- West Virginia requires every person engaging in business activity to obtain a Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Division, unless an exemption applies (for example, qualifying nonprofits). Local business licences are separate and not covered here. West Virginia State Tax Division, as of
- Business Registration fee: $30 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia State Tax Division, as of
- Reissuing the certificate after a change of name, location or ownership: $30 (as of Oct 6, 2026) West Virginia State Tax Division, 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.
- West Virginia’s Contractor Licensing Board (Division of Labor) lists swimming pools, meaning public swimming pools, among the project types in its contractor classifications. West Virginia Division of Labor, 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
- Register a New WV Business (Filing Fees) West Virginia Secretary of State. As of .
- Expedite Service West Virginia Secretary of State. As of .
- Business Registration Frequently Asked Questions West Virginia State Tax Division. As of .
- Annual Reports West Virginia Secretary of State. As of .
- Register a Trade Name (DBA) West Virginia Secretary of State. As of .
- West Virginia Contractor Licensing Board Candidate Information Bulletin West Virginia Division of Labor. As of .
Official pages change. Each line shows the day we last read it.
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