The minimum LLC Cost in Virginia is $100, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation document (known as the Articles of Organization).

Having said that, the total cost of forming a Virginia LLC will depend on several factors, including your personal preferences and business needs.

In our How Much Does an LLC Cost in Virginia article, we’ve broken down everything you need to know about the different costs associated with launching and maintaining an LLC.

LLC Cost in Virginia

In the table below, you can find a summary of the main requirements of forming a Virginia limited liability company (LLC) and their associated fees.

                                                         

Requirement	Fee
Articles of Organization	$100
Registered Agent	$0-$150+
LLC Name	$0-$20
Operating Agreement	$0+

Virginia LLC Filing Fee ($50+)

If you want to register an LLC in Virginia, you will need to file the applicable formation documents with the State Corporation Commission.

For domestic LLCs, this is the Articles of Organization; foreign LLCs need to file an Application for Certificate of Authority instead.

The cost for filing is set at $100, regardless of whether you’re filing as a domestic or as a foreign LLC.

Keep in mind that, if you choose to use an LLC formation service, the cost will be a little higher as it will include a small service fee in addition to Wisconsin’s state filing fee.

The fees for an LLC formation service can range significantly, but can start from as low as $29, increasing if you decide to purchase any additional offerings.

Note: For more details on the formation process, you can check out our in-depth Virginia LLC Formation guide.

Virginia Registered Agent ($0+)

As part of the process of filling your Articles of Organization, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent.

This is a person or entity that you must assign to receive tax and other governmental correspondence on behalf of your Virginia LLC.

While you can act as your own registered agent at no cost, it’s often recommended to hire a professional service in order to avoid any potential penalties or legal issues caused by non-compliance with state regulations.

It can also be a great way of ensuring that your personal information is kept private (i.e., out of public records).

The exact cost of a registered agent service in Virginia will depend on the features you want and the provider you choose; having said that, it’s generally between $150 and $300 per annum.

Alternatively, you can find some of the top recommendations for professional RA services in our Best Registered Agent Services of 2024 article.

Naming Your Virginia LLC ($0-$20)

When forming your Virginia LLC, you’ll be required to pick a suitable name that’s available to use.

While registering a name in itself has no cost, there are two potential costs to be aware of when naming your LLC.

Reserving Name

If you have decided on a name for your LLC but aren’t ready to launch your business, you have the option to reserve that name in order to prevent others from taking it.

You can reserve a name by submitting Form SCC631 (either by mail or online) and paying a $10 filing fee.

Prior to proceeding with the reservation, you will need to verify the availability of your chosen LLC name by visiting the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s website.

When choosing a name for your LLC, it’s important to select one that corresponds to an available domain. This is because a matching domain ensures consistency between your LLC’s name and its online presence, which helps to strengthen its brand recognition and credibility.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you want to operate your Virginia business under a name other than the one it’s legally registered as, you’ll need to obtain a Doing Business As (DBA) — which is also known as an Fictitious Name in this state.

In order to obtain a fictitious name for your LLC, you’ll need to submit the Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name form to the Clerk’s Office of the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

This can be done online through the Clerk’s Information System (CIS) and incurs a $10 filing fee.

Keep in mind that fictitious names do not have to be unique, nor do they have any wording restrictions.

Note: A DBA name in Virginia has no expiration date and no renewal requirement, provided that you do not make any changes.

Virginia LLC Operating Agreement ($0+)

While not mandatory, it’s good practice for LLCs to have an operating agreement.

This document defines the roles and responsibilities of the members or managers in your LLC and will help prevent and solve any business disputes that may arise later on.

While you can opt to hire an online service or business attorney to draft this document for you (which typically costs at least a few hundred dollars), it’s actually quite straightforward to do it yourself at no extra cost.

It’s also important to note that this doesn’t actually need to be filed with the Virginia Secretary of State — it’s purely an internal document.

Additional Virginia LLC Formation Costs

On top of the more common fees outlined above, there are a number of potential additional formation costs that LLCs in Virginia may encounter depending on their circumstances.

We’ve summarized some of these additional costs below:

Expedited Virginia LLC Filing

The Office of the Virginia State Corporation Commission offers expedited services for those looking to speed up their LLC formation process.

This includes two expedited service options:

• Next Day Service: For a fee of $50 or $100 — which varies according to the form you are requesting — this expedited option guarantees that submissions received by 2:00pm EST will be processed by 4:00pm EST of the following business day
• Same Day Service: For the fastest processing available, a fee of $200 enables submissions by 10:00am EST to be processed and receive a response by 4:00pm EST on the same day

Note: These expedited processing options are exclusively available for filings made online through the Clerk’s Information System (CIS).

Local Business Licenses

In order to comply with the local-level regulations of your city and county, your business may be required to obtain one — or several — local business licenses.

For example, in the city of Alexandria, anyone aiming to start a business is required to secure a business license through the Multi-Agency Permit Center, which is located in Room 4200 of City Hall.

The cost of this license will vary based on the specific nature of your business, as well as on its projected revenue.

Certificate of Fact of Existence

A Virginia Certificate of Fact of Existence is a document often required to open a business bank account; it can also be requested by lenders in order to check that your LLC is properly registered and legally authorized to conduct business in the state.

To obtain a Certificate of Fact of Existence, you’ll have to make your way to the Clerk’s Information System (CIS) and pay a $6 processing fee.

Note: You can also request certified copies of business documents through the same platform for a fee of $6 per request.

Cost to Maintain an LLC in Virginia

In addition to the cost of forming an LLC in Virginia, there are also several ongoing costs you’ll be responsible for paying each year.

We’ve outlined these recurring costs associated with maintaining a Virginia LLC below.

Annual Registration Fee

Virginia requires most business entities to pay an annual registration fee.

For LLCs, this fee is $50 and is due on the last day of the month in which your business was originally registered.

You can submit your payment online via the Clerk’s Information System (CIS) or, if preferred, by mail to the SCC.

It’s important to note that payments not received by the SCC by the due date will incur a penalty of $25.

Note: Keep in mind that failure to pay the annual registration fee by the last day of the third month after the due date will lead to the cancellation of your entity.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to take advantage of a professional registered agent in order to handle your legal documents, you’ll be required to pay an annual fee in return for their services. This fee commonly ranges between $35 and $300 depending on the provider and features you select.

While you’re not required to use a professional registered agent service, it’s highly recommended for most small business owners.

Taxes

In addition to the federal taxes your LLC is required to pay regardless of the state it’s based in, there are a variety of state-specific taxes in Virginia you need to be aware of, including:

• Sales tax
• Employment taxes
• Business privilege taxes
• Property taxes

Additionally, there are various local taxes your LLC may need to pay depending on the municipality or county it’s based in, such as:

• Sales and use taxes
• Property tax

Virginia vs Other States

Compared to other states, Virginia stands out with its modest formation costs and balanced regulatory requirements, which foster a supportive environment for small businesses and startups.

Additionally, the absence of franchise taxes on LLCs significantly lowers ongoing operational costs, further cementing its position as a highly attractive option for entrepreneurs aiming to reduce expenses.

For example in Massachusetts the annual LLC fee is set at $500, which is 10 times higher than the annual cost of Virginia.

Even so, it should be noted that the best state to form your LLC will be one in which you plan to primarily operate your business from.

This is because this makes it far easier to stay legally compliant on a number of levels, including taxation, licensing, and filing requirements, as you’ll only need to deal with one state’s set of rules.