How to Start an LLC in Virginia
Form your Virginia LLC online with transparent pricing, registered agent service and real human support. Incofile prepares and files your Articles of Organization for you.
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Virginia LLC filing fee & timeline
To form an LLC in Virginia you file your Articles of Organization with the state and pay the state filing fee of $100. Incofile adds a flat, one-time service fee on top — no monthly charges — and your total is always shown before you pay.
Most Virginia LLC filings are prepared and submitted within one business day. State approval time depends on Virginia's current processing queue, typically ranging from a few business days to a few weeks, with expedited options available in many states.
Why form an LLC in Virginia
Virginia is quick and inexpensive: Articles filed online with the State Corporation Commission cost $100 and are often approved the same business day. Instead of an annual report, Virginia LLCs pay a $50 annual registration fee. Many cities and counties also charge a local BPOL business license tax.
Virginia LLC at a glance
| State filing fee | $100 |
|---|---|
| Document filed | Articles of Organization, filed with the SCC through Clerk's Information System (CIS) |
| Standard approval time | Often the same business day online |
| Annual registration fee | $50 a year, due by the last day of your formation anniversary month |
| Late penalty | $25; the LLC is automatically canceled if the fee stays unpaid |
| Annual report | None for LLCs — only the annual registration fee |
| State income tax | Graduated 2%–5.75%; the top rate applies above $17,000 |
| Local business license | BPOL tax set by each city or county |
| Registered agent | Required; a Virginia resident or authorized entity with a physical Virginia address |
State figures checked against the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), September 2026. State fees are set by Virginia and can change; the exact total is shown before you pay.
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Virginia?
| Cost | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (state filing fee) | $100 | Required, one time |
| Registered agent | $0 if you act as your own agent at a Virginia street address; otherwise a registered agent service | Required, ongoing |
| Annual registration fee | $50 per year | Required every year by the last day of your anniversary month |
| Late registration fee penalty | $25 | Only if late |
| EIN from the IRS | Free from the IRS | Needed for a bank account and taxes |
| Local business license (BPOL) | Set by your city or county | Required in most localities |
These are state, IRS and other outside costs — not Incofile fees. Your Incofile package price is shown separately at checkout, and your full total is always shown before you pay. Estimate every cost for your state with our LLC cost calculator.
How to form an LLC in Virginia — 4 steps
Choose your package
Pick the Incofile package that fits your goals. Your Virginia state filing fee is shown before you pay.
Tell us about your LLC
Complete our short form with your company name, address and ownership details — about ten minutes.
We check & file with Virginia
We confirm your name is available and file your Articles of Organization with the Virginia state office.
Get your documents
Your approved Virginia LLC documents land in your dashboard, with reminders for your annual report and other deadlines.
How to start an LLC in Virginia: step by step
Here is exactly what forming a Virginia LLC involves, whether you file it yourself or let Incofile handle the paperwork.
Choose and check your LLC name
Pick a name that includes “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” and is distinguishable from existing Virginia businesses. Check it with our free business name search.
Appoint a registered agent
Name a registered agent with a physical street address in Virginia (not a PO box) who can accept legal papers during business hours. The agent must be a Virginia resident or an authorized entity. If you live outside Virginia or want privacy, Incofile can act as your agent.
File the Articles of Organization
File with the State Corporation Commission through the Clerk’s Information System (CIS) and pay $100. Online filings are often approved the same business day.
Create an operating agreement
Virginia does not require you to file an operating agreement, but it records who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. Banks commonly ask for it, and it helps protect your limited liability.
Get an EIN
Apply to the IRS for your Employer Identification Number (EIN). You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file federal taxes. The IRS issues it free; non-US owners without an SSN apply by phone, fax or mail, and our Gold package handles it for you.
Register for taxes and local licenses
Register with Virginia Tax for sales tax and withholding if needed, and get your local BPOL business license from your city or county.
Pay your annual registration fee
Virginia LLCs file no annual report, but pay a $50 annual registration fee by the last day of the anniversary month every year. Paying late adds $25 and unpaid fees lead to cancellation.
Virginia LLC filing requirements: what you need
- A business name that is available and meets Virginia's naming rules (it must include “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company”).
- A registered agent with a physical address in Virginia — Incofile can be your agent.
- Articles of Organization filed with the Virginia state office — we prepare and submit these for you.
- An operating agreement and EIN to open a business bank account (included in our Gold and Platinum packages).
- Ongoing compliance — Virginia's reports, taxes and registered agent rules (see below). We track the deadlines and remind you.
Operating agreement
An operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are split, how decisions are made and what happens if a member leaves. Virginia does not ask you to file it with the state, but banks usually want to see it, and without one the state's default rules apply. Incofile includes a customised operating agreement in the Gold and Platinum packages.
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your EIN is the federal tax ID for your LLC. You need it to open a business bank account, hire staff and file taxes. The IRS issues it free — online in minutes if you have a Social Security number, or by fax or mail (one to eight weeks) if you don't. Our Gold and Platinum packages include it, and it is also available as a separate service.
This is general information, not legal advice. If you're unsure which structure is right, compare LLC vs S-Corp vs C-Corp.
Virginia LLC naming rules
The name must contain "limited company", "limited liability company", "L.C.", "LC", "L.L.C." or "LLC" and must be distinguishable from every entity on the SCC register. Check availability with our free business name search.
Keeping your Virginia LLC compliant
Annual registration fee
Virginia LLCs do not file an annual report. Instead they pay a $50 annual registration fee to the SCC by the last day of their anniversary month. Paying late adds a $25 penalty, and if the fee remains unpaid the LLC's existence is automatically canceled.
Registered agent
Virginia's registered agent must be a Virginia resident (a member, manager, lawyer or other listed person) or a business entity authorized in Virginia, with a physical Virginia address. Professional agents such as Incofile qualify.
Taxes
Owners pay Virginia income tax on their share of profit at graduated rates from 2% up to 5.75%, and the top rate starts at $17,001. Sellers of taxable goods register for sales and use tax with Virginia Tax.
Local BPOL license
Most Virginia localities require a Business, Professional and Occupational License (BPOL). Fees and rates vary by city and county and are often based on gross receipts.
Incofile clients get every Virginia deadline tracked in their dashboard with email reminders — see registered agent service.
Official Virginia resources
Virginia LLC — frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Virginia?
Incofile charges a flat, one-time formation fee (Silver, Gold or Platinum) plus the Virginia state filing fee of $100. There are no monthly charges, and the total is shown before you pay.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Virginia?
We prepare and submit your Virginia Articles of Organization within one business day. State approval times vary from a few business days to a few weeks; expedited filing is available in many states.
Do I need a registered agent in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia requires every LLC to have a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and state mail. Incofile can serve as your Virginia registered agent so you stay compliant and keep your address private.
Can I start an LLC in Virginia if I live in another state or country?
Yes. You do not need to live in Virginia to form an LLC there. Incofile can act as your registered agent and provide a business address, so you can form and run your Virginia LLC from anywhere.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Virginia?
The SCC fee for the Articles of Organization is $100. After that, you pay a $50 annual registration fee each year.
Does Virginia require an annual report for LLCs?
No. Virginia LLCs do not file an annual report. They pay a $50 annual registration fee by the last day of their anniversary month.
What happens if I do not pay the Virginia annual registration fee?
A $25 penalty is added after the due date, and if the fee stays unpaid the SCC automatically cancels the LLC. Reinstatement then requires paying the back fees and penalties.
Who can be a registered agent in Virginia?
A Virginia resident who is a member, manager or a Virginia-licensed lawyer, or a business entity authorized to do business in Virginia — such as a professional registered agent service.
How much does a Virginia LLC cost per year?
The state annual registration fee is $50, due by the last day of your anniversary month. Add a registered agent service if you use one and your local BPOL license.
Ready to launch your Virginia LLC?
Most orders are prepared and submitted within one business day.
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