Filed with
Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office
Document
Articles of Organization
Recurring filing
Yearly tax or charge
- 01
Choose a name for your Virginia LLC
Virginia LLC name checker →The name must include "limited company", "limited liability company", "L.C.", "LC", "L.L.C." or "LLC". It also has to be distinguishable from every business already on the Virginia register.
Check it against Virginia's naming rules with our name checker before you file.
- 02
Choose a registered agent
Every Virginia LLC needs a registered agent with a physical address in Virginia, available in business hours to accept legal papers and state notices.
You can be your own agent, but your address goes on the public record and you need to be there during business hours. A registered agent service keeps your home address off the filing.
- 03
File your Articles of Organization
Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office →The Articles of Organization is the document that creates your LLC. It is filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office, which accepts it online.
It names the LLC, its registered agent and address, and whether it is managed by its members or by managers.
- 04
Write an operating agreement
Virginia operating agreement rules and free generator →The operating agreement sets out who owns the LLC, how profits are shared and how decisions are made. It is not filed with the state, but banks often ask for it, and without one your state’s default rules decide disputes between members.
- 05
Get an EIN
An Employer Identification Number from the IRS is the LLC’s federal tax number. You need it to open a business bank account and to hire, and it is free from the IRS.
- 06
Open a business bank account
Keep the LLC’s money separate from yours from the first day. Mixing them is the most common reason courts set aside an LLC’s liability protection.
- 07
Get the licenses your business needs
Virginia business license lookup →Forming the LLC is not a business license. Check whether Virginia requires a state license, what your city or county requires, and whether your trade is licensed. If you sell taxable goods or services, register for Virginia sales tax too.
- 08
Keep your Virginia LLC in good standing
Compliance deadline tracker →Virginia has no annual report for LLCs; the yearly filing is the annual registration fee.
Virginia LLCs do not file an annual report, but must pay an annual registration fee to the State Corporation Commission each year after the year of formation, due by the last day of the month in which the LLC was formed. If it remains unpaid by the last day of the third month after the due date, the LLC is automatically canceled.
Worth knowing in Virginia
- There is no annual report for LLCs in Virginia, only the annual registration fee, which is still a hard deadline.
- Articles of Organization can be filed online through the SCC Clerk's Information System (CIS).
Or have it done for $399
We check your name, file your Articles of Organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office and pay the state fee, act as your Virginia registered agent for the first year, get your EIN and write your operating agreement. One price, nothing else to buy.
Sources
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Frequently asked questions
How do I start an LLC in Virginia?
Choose an available name, appoint a registered agent in Virginia, and file a Articles of Organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office. Then write an operating agreement, get an EIN from the IRS and open a business bank account.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Virginia?
Virginia charges a filing fee for the Articles of Organization. With StartGlobal the total is $399, with that fee included, plus your EIN, operating agreement and first-year registered agent service. See our Virginia LLC cost page for the yearly costs.
Does a Virginia LLC have to file an annual report?
Virginia has no annual report for LLCs; the yearly filing is the annual registration fee.
What is the Articles of Organization?
The document filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office that creates your LLC. It gives the LLC's name, its registered agent and registered office in Virginia, and how it is managed.
Can I be my own registered agent in Virginia?
Yes, if you have a physical address in Virginia and are there during business hours. That address becomes part of the public record.
