Virginia LLC cost

Last verified

A Virginia LLC costs $100 to file and $50 a year after that. The $50 is the annual registration fee, due by the last day of your anniversary month; Virginia has no annual report. The cost that swings your total is the registered agent. Virginia only lets you be your own agent if you're a Virginia resident who is a member or manager of the LLC, or a member of the Virginia State Bar. If you qualify, you pay $100 in year one and $50 a year after. If you don't, add $100 to $200 a year for a commercial agent.

To form
$100
Cheapest way to file
Year one total
$100
Articles of Organization, serving as your own agent
Every year after
$50/yr
Annual registration fee, plus any local BPOL license

Our recommendation

Budget $100 for year one and $50 for year two

File online for $100. Skip the expedite unless the SCC flags your filing for review; online filings without attachments are usually accepted at checkout. If you're a Virginia-resident member or manager with a Virginia street address, be your own registered agent and your state cost is $100, then $50 a year. If you aren't, a commercial agent isn't optional, so budget $200 to $300 for the first year.

Every Virginia LLC fee, line by line

What's required, what's optional, and where the total climbs past the filing fee.

Item Cost Required?
Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1011) $100 Yes
Name reservation $10 Optional
Assumed name / DBA filing $10 Optional
Registered agent service $100-$200/yr Optional
Expedited next-business-day filing +$50 or +$100 Optional
Expedited same-day filing +$200 Optional
EIN Free Recommended
Operating agreement Free if you draft it yourself Recommended
Certified copy of Articles $6 Optional
Certificate of Fact of Existence $6 Optional
Annual registration fee $50/yr Yes (recurring)
Annual registration late penalty $25 Only if late
Reinstatement after cancellation $100 + unpaid fees Only if canceled
Total (bare minimum DIY) $100 —
Total (typical with service) $200-$300 first year —

What you pay Virginia, and when

The recurring dates are the ones people miss. Put each one on your calendar the day the LLC is approved.

Articles of Organization
$100
When you form. Same fee online or by mail.
Annual registration fee
$50
By the last day of your anniversary month, every year.
Late penalty
+$25
Added if the annual fee is late. Unpaid 3 months past due, the SCC cancels the LLC.
Reinstatement
$100+
Only if canceled, plus every unpaid fee.
Local BPOL license
Varies
Set by your city or county, often based on gross receipts. Ask your Commissioner of the Revenue.

Virginia registered agent cost

Virginia's registered agent rule is narrower than most states'. You can serve yourself only if you're a Virginia resident and a member or manager of the LLC, or a member of the Virginia State Bar. If you don't qualify, live outside Virginia, or don't want your address on the public filing, use a professional registered agent, usually $100 to $200 a year. If you qualify and don't mind the address being public, you don't need one.

Virginia registered agent rules, and whether you can be your own

Virginia LLC cost vs nearby states

Cheaper elsewhere doesn't mean cheaper for you. If you live and work in Virginia, an out-of-state LLC still has to register here and pay Virginia's fees too.

State Upfront cost Ongoing state cost
Virginia $100 $50/yr annual registration fee
Ohio $99 $0 annual report fee
Michigan $50 $25/yr
Wyoming ~$100 $60+/yr
North Carolina $125 $200/yr if late report leads to reinstatement risk

FAQ

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Virginia?

$100 for the Articles of Organization, online or by mail. That's the whole state cost in year one if you can be your own registered agent. If you can't, a commercial agent adds about $100 to $200 a year, for a first-year total of $200 to $300.

What is the Virginia LLC annual fee?

$50 a year, called the annual registration fee, due by the last day of your anniversary month. A late payment adds a $25 penalty. If the fee is still unpaid 3 months after the due date, the SCC cancels the LLC, and reinstatement costs $100 plus the unpaid fees.

Does a Virginia LLC file an annual report?

No. Virginia LLCs pay the $50 annual registration fee instead. There is no report to fill in.

Do I have to pay for a registered agent in Virginia?

Only if you don't qualify to serve yourself. An individual agent must be a Virginia resident who is a member or manager of the LLC, or a member of the Virginia State Bar. Anyone else needs a business entity authorized in Virginia, which usually means a commercial registered agent at about $100 to $200 a year.

Do I need a local business license for a Virginia LLC?

Virginia has no statewide general business license, but many cities and counties require a BPOL license and charge a tax based on gross receipts. The rules and fees vary by locality, so check with your Commissioner of the Revenue before you start operating.