Virginia · Start a business

How to start a business in Virginia

Virginia files fictitious names centrally with the State Corporation Commission clerk, even for sole proprietorships.

As of 4 min readVermilion Vitez Team

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STATE FILING FEE$100FILEDVIRGINIA STATE CORPORATIONEINANNIVOPENVIRGINIA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in Virginia, pick a structure and file with Virginia State Corporation: $100 for an LLC, $75 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes.

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What do you file before you open in Virginia?

  1. Pick a structure

    Most owners choose an LLC or a corporation; the S corp or C corp tax choice comes later. See Virginia LLC guide, Virginia corporation guide, S corp or C corp in Virginia. By trade: cleaning business, handyman.

  2. Check and register the name

    Search Virginia State Corporation records before you pick a name: state name search. The State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Office is Virginia's central filing office for fictitious names, including those of sole proprietorships, and the filing fee is $10. 1 See Virginia name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    Virginia charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $100 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $75 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A Virginia corporation's registered agent can be a Virginia-resident officer or director of the corporation. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See Virginia registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in Virginia?

  1. Get an EIN

    An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. 5

  2. Open your state tax accounts

    The Virginia Department of Taxation requires new businesses to register with it online, and issues a Virginia Tax account number for each tax type. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    The Virginia Employment Commission treats a general employer as liable for state unemployment tax with a quarterly payroll of $1,500 or more, or by employing someone for at least 20 weeks in a calendar year. 7 Virginia employers report newly hired and re-hired employees to a state directory within 20 days of the start date, through the Virginia New Hire Reporting Center. 8 The Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission says an employer who regularly employs more than two part-time or full-time employees must carry coverage, while a sole proprietor with no employees need not. 9

What keeps your Virginia business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    Virginia law lets its counties, cities and towns impose local license taxes and fees on businesses, trades, professions and occupations. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    Virginia annual report: $50, due the last day of your formation anniversary month. 11 See Virginia annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in Virginia runs through the Virginia SBDC Network. 12 Virginia Business One Stop is a state portal that helps owners find information and complete the steps to establish, plan, develop and expand a business. 13

What it costs to start a business in Virginia

$100to file an LLC 2
$75to file a corporation's articles 3
$10for a fictitious name 1
$50each year, annual report 11
139,302business applications filed in Virginia in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in Virginia?

It depends on the trade and the place. The U.S. Small Business Administration says most small businesses need a combination of licenses and permits from federal and state agencies, and that requirements and fees depend on the business activity and the issuing agency. 16 Virginia's own rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: Virginia Business One Stop.

  • Local business license. Under Virginia's license tax statute, a business not licensed in a locality the prior year applies for its local license before it begins business, and a business already licensed applies by March 1. 15

How to register a business name in Virginia

QuestionVirginia
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeOffice of the Clerk
What it is calledfictitious name
Fee$10

Check that the name is free first: state name search.

Also in Virginia

  • Paid family and medical leave. The Virginia Employment Commission will run paid family and medical leave, with payroll contributions starting April 1, 2028 and benefits available from December 1, 2028. 17
  • Business One Stop registration fee. Virginia Business One Stop charges a one-time registration fee of $20, and other agencies may charge additional fees. 18

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Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in Virginia?

Pick a structure, file with Virginia State Corporation, name a registered agent, get an EIN, register for state taxes with the Virginia Department of Taxation, then handle hiring, licenses, yearly filings and local help.

What does it cost to register a business in Virginia?

In Virginia, an LLC filing is $100 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $75. The annual report is $50 each year.

Can I start a business in Virginia with no money?

Virginia charges $100 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $50 each year. An EIN is the business's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it online, for free, and warns about websites that charge for one. The Virginia Small Business Development Center network offers no-cost individualized advising and is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Commonwealth and George Mason University.

Are there small business grants in Virginia?

The Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity says its Small Business Investment Grants go to eligible investors, not directly to the small business that received the investment.

What is the Virginia SBDC?

The Virginia Small Business Development Center network offers no-cost individualized advising and is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Commonwealth and George Mason University.

Sources 19 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration scc.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings scc.virginia.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing scc.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule law.lis.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration tax.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration vec.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting dss.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage workcomp.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license law.lis.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. Virginia annual report cis.scc.virginia.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center virginiasbdc.org, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal sbsd.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Local business license law.lis.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  16. SBA: licenses and permits sba.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  17. Paid family and medical leave vec.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  18. Business One Stop registration fee bos.sbsd.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  19. State small business funding sbsd.virginia.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.

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