Virginia LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
Forming an LLC in Virginia costs $100 to file Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission. See all fees, forms, and ongoing requirements in one place.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Virginia LLC filing fees at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1011)
Processing time: Online filings are typically processed within 1–2 business days; mail filings take longer
State agency: Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC)
Annual report due: $50 annual registration fee due by the last day of the LLC's anniversary month, starting the calendar year after formation
State tax rate: Virginia does not impose a separate LLC franchise tax; LLCs are subject to Virginia income tax based on their federal tax classification
Virginia LLC filing fees and requirements
Forming an LLC in Virginia requires filing Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1011) with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and paying a $100 state filing fee. After formation, you'll pay a $50 annual registration fee each year to keep your LLC in good standing. Those are the 2 core costs every Virginia LLC owner needs to plan for.
How to register an LLC in Virginia
You register a Virginia LLC by filing Form LLC-1011 — Articles of Organization — with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The state filing fee is $100 whether you file online or by mail. Online filing through the SCC's Clerk's Information System (CIS) at cis.scc.virginia.gov is the fastest option and accepts credit card payment. Mail filings require a check or money order payable to the State Corporation Commission.
Form LLC-1011 asks for 4 things: your LLC's name (which must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," or an approved abbreviation), your principal office street address, your registered agent's name, and your registered agent's Virginia street address. A P.O. Box is not accepted for either address.
- LLC name — must include "Limited Liability Company," "LLC," "L.L.C.," "Limited Company," "LC," or "L.C." and must be distinguishable from existing names on file with the SCC
- Principal office address — a physical street address in Virginia (no P.O. Boxes)
- Registered agent name and Virginia street address — the agent must be a Virginia resident who is a member or manager of the LLC, a Virginia State Bar member, or a business entity authorized to transact business in Virginia
- State filing fee — $100, paid online by credit card or by mail with a check or money order
Virginia annual registration fee
Every Virginia LLC pays a $50 annual registration fee to the State Corporation Commission to stay in good standing. The fee is due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month — the same month your LLC was originally approved — starting the calendar year after formation. If your LLC was approved in March, the $50 fee is due every year by March 31.
Virginia's annual registration is a fee payment, not a full information report like some states require. That said, not paying on time puts your LLC at risk of administrative dissolution by the SCC. You can pay online through the SCC's CIS portal.
Registered agent requirement
Virginia law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent and a registered office address in the Commonwealth at all times. The registered agent receives official legal and government correspondence on behalf of your LLC — things like service of process if your business is sued.
Your registered agent must be either an individual Virginia resident who is a member, manager, or Virginia State Bar member, or a business entity authorized to transact business in Virginia. The registered office address must be a physical Virginia street address — not a P.O. Box. You can serve as your own registered agent if you meet those requirements, or you can hire a commercial registered agent service.
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS — not the Virginia SCC. Applying for an EIN is free and takes minutes online at irs.gov/ein. You'll need an EIN to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal and Virginia state taxes.
To apply, you'll designate a responsible party — typically the person who owns or controls the LLC — and provide that person's name and Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number. The IRS issues the EIN immediately when you apply online.
Operating agreement
Virginia does not legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, and you don't file one with the SCC. That said, having one is worth the effort. An operating agreement sets out how your LLC is managed, how profits and losses are divided, how members can be added or removed, and what happens if the business dissolves.
Without an operating agreement, Virginia's default LLC statutes govern your business — which may not reflect what you and your co-owners actually agreed to. For single-member LLCs, an operating agreement also helps reinforce that your LLC is a separate legal entity, which matters if your liability protection is ever challenged.
Business licenses and permits
Forming your LLC with the SCC is separate from getting the licenses and permits you need to actually do business. Virginia doesn't issue a single statewide general business license — licensing requirements depend on your industry, your location, and the type of work you do.
Most Virginia businesses need a local business license from their city or county. Some industries — contractors, healthcare providers, financial services, food businesses — also require state-level professional or occupational licenses. Federal licenses apply to certain regulated industries like agriculture, firearms, and transportation. A tax professional or attorney familiar with your industry can help you figure out exactly which licenses apply to your business.
Foreign LLC registration in Virginia
If your LLC was formed in another state but does business in Virginia, you need to register as a foreign LLC with the Virginia SCC. You do this by filing Form LLC-1052 — Application for a Certificate of Registration — and paying a $100 state filing fee.
You can file Form LLC-1052 online through the SCC's CIS portal or by mail to the SCC Clerk's Office. Mail filings require a check or money order payable to the State Corporation Commission — no cash. Once registered, your foreign LLC is subject to the same $50 annual registration fee as a domestic Virginia LLC.
FAQ
The state filing fee to form a Virginia LLC is $100. You pay this once when you file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1011) with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The fee is the same whether you file online or by mail.
After formation, you'll also pay a $50 annual registration fee each year to keep your LLC in good standing with the SCC.
$50 per year. Virginia LLCs pay a $50 annual registration fee to the State Corporation Commission. It's due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month — the month your LLC was originally approved — starting the calendar year after formation.
Beyond the SCC fee, your annual costs may include a registered agent service, business licenses, and any professional fees for accounting or legal help. Those vary by business.
File Form LLC-1011 (Articles of Organization) with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and pay the $100 state filing fee. You can file online through the SCC's Clerk's Information System at cis.scc.virginia.gov or by mailing the completed form to the SCC Clerk's Office.
Your Articles of Organization need to include your LLC name, principal office address, and registered agent name and Virginia street address. Online filings are typically processed within 1–2 business days.
It depends on your location and industry. Virginia doesn't issue a single statewide general business license. Most businesses need a local business license from their city or county. Some industries also require state-level professional or occupational licenses on top of that.
A tax professional or attorney familiar with your industry can help you figure out which licenses apply to your specific business.
No. Virginia doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, and you don't file one with the SCC. But having one is worth the effort — it documents how your LLC is managed, how profits are split, and what happens if a member leaves or the business winds down.
Without an operating agreement, Virginia's default LLC statutes fill in the gaps — which may not match what you and your co-owners actually intended.
$50 per year, paid to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The fee is due by the last day of your LLC's anniversary month each year. Your first annual registration fee is due in the calendar year after your LLC is approved — not the same year you form it.
Apply online at irs.gov/ein — it's free and the IRS issues your EIN immediately after you complete the application. You'll need to name a responsible party (typically the LLC owner) and provide their Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number.
You'll use your EIN to open a business bank account, file taxes, and hire employees. The EIN comes from the IRS, not from the Virginia SCC.
It depends on your situation. Virginia's $100 formation fee and $50 annual registration fee are on the lower end compared to many states. The main trade-offs are the ongoing compliance requirements — you need to maintain a registered agent with a Virginia street address, pay the annual fee on time, and keep up with any local business license requirements.
If your business is based in another state, registering as a foreign LLC in Virginia adds a $100 filing fee and the same $50 annual registration requirement. A tax professional can help you figure out whether forming in Virginia or another state makes more sense for your business.
