West Virginia · Start a business

How to start a business in West Virginia

West Virginia makes every business, not just some, hold a State Tax Department business registration certificate.

As of 5 min readVermilion Vitez Team

See the checklist
STATE FILING FEE$130FILEDSECRETARY OF STATEEINJUNOPENWEST VIRGINIA · 10 STEPSFrom structure to open door

Short answer

To start a business in West Virginia, pick a structure and file with the Secretary of State: $130 for an LLC, $100 for a corporation's articles. Then name a registered agent, get an EIN and register for state taxes. West Virginia also requires a state-level business license or registration.

Last checked .

What do you file before you open in West Virginia?

  1. Pick a structure

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

  2. Check and register the name

    Search the Secretary of State records before you pick a name: state name search. The West Virginia Secretary of State registers trade names, with a filing fee of $25.00 for a corporation or limited liability company plus a $1.00 online processing fee. 1 See West Virginia name search guide.

  3. File with the state

    West Virginia charges the state filing fee once: an LLC costs $130 2 and a corporation's articles of incorporation cost $100 3. See LLC cost.

  4. Name a registered agent

    A West Virginia registered agent may be an individual who resides in the state whose business office is the registered office, or a domestic corporation with that same business office. 4 Our registered agent service runs through our partner Registered Agents Inc (RAI), the registered agent of record. See West Virginia registered agent rules.

Which accounts do you open after you file in West 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 West Virginia One Stop Business Portal lets a new business register online, and that single filing also completes registration with the State Tax Department and WorkForce West Virginia. 6 See Sales tax permit.

  3. Register as an employer

    WorkForce West Virginia administers Unemployment Compensation, and businesses employing one or more persons are liable for the Unemployment Compensation Tax. 7 West Virginia employers report each hire, rehire or return to work to the Bureau for Child Support Enforcement within fourteen days, under state code section 48-18-125. 8 West Virginia law requires all employers to carry workers' compensation insurance, and the Offices of the Insurance Commissioner Employer Coverage Unit reviews applications for exemption. 9

What keeps your West Virginia business in good standing?

  1. Check licenses and permits

    West Virginia requires every individual or business entity to obtain a business registration certificate from the State Tax Department before engaging in business activity. 10

  2. Calendar the yearly filings

    West Virginia annual report: $25, due June 30 every year. 11 See West Virginia annual report.

  3. Use free local help

    Small business advising in West Virginia runs through the West Virginia Small Business Development Center. 12 The West Virginia Secretary of State directs trade name filers to the One Stop Business Portal as the fastest, most convenient filing method. 13

What it costs to start a business in West Virginia

$130to file an LLC 2
$100to file a corporation's articles 3
$25for a trade name (DBA) 1
$25each year, annual report 11
16,462business applications filed in West Virginia in 2025 14

Do you need a business license in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia requires a state-level license or registration from businesses in general; the rule is in step 8. 10 Where to look up licenses: West Virginia One Stop Business Portal.

  • Contractor license. West Virginia requires a contractor license from the Division of Labor's Contractor Licensing Board for any business doing construction work with a total project cost of $2,500.00 or more. 15

How to register a business name in West Virginia

QuestionWest Virginia
Where it is filedWith the state 1
OfficeSecretary of State
What it is calledtrade name (DBA)
Fee$25

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

Also in West Virginia

  • Municipal sales and use tax. For 2027, the State Tax Department lists Danville, Farmington, Gilbert, Kenova, Keyser and Wellsburg as towns that will impose a municipal sales and use tax of 1% starting July 1. 16
  • Secretary of State expedite service. The West Virginia Secretary of State offers expedite service on most of its filings, with 1-hour, 2-hour and 24-hour processing times for an additional fee. 17

More for West Virginia

5.0 on Google 17 reviews Vinny and Ray (888) 419-0771 Filed right, or we fix it free
Ready to file?

Start your West Virginia business

We file it, and the state fee shows before you pay.

Start my LLC
ORDER YOUR FILING

Form your West Virginia LLC

We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee, with the total shown before you pay.

  1. 1State & name
  2. 2Ownership & agent
  3. 3Add-ons
  4. 4Review & pay

Where are you forming, and what is it called?

Your state and entity type set the filing fee. Your total updates the moment you pick them.

Entity type

No name yet? Generate a few, free, no email asked. · Compare what every state charges

Your total
Formation service fee$123.75
State filing feeSelect a state
Card processing fee—
TotalSelect a state to see your total

“Ray and Vinny explained LLC formation and asset protection in plain English. No pressure, just real guidance.”

James R. · January 2026

Founded 2023 · 5.0 on Google, 17 reviews · Stripe handles your card · If we make a filing error, we refile free

If we ever charge your card for something you did not choose, tell us within 60 days and we refund it in full.

Common questions

What are the steps to start a business in West Virginia?

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

What does it cost to register a business in West Virginia?

In West Virginia, an LLC filing is $130 and a corporation's articles of incorporation are $100. The annual report is $25 each year.

Can I start a business in West Virginia with no money?

West Virginia charges $130 to file an LLC, and the annual report is $25 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 West Virginia Small Business Development Center, a division of the West Virginia Division of Economic Development, offers confidential, no-cost technical assistance through one-on-one business coaches.

Are there small business grants in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Secretary of State lists organizations that offer funding, loans, grants and guidance for West Virginia businesses, including the SBA, the Jobs Investment Trust and county economic development authorities.

What is the West Virginia SBDC?

The West Virginia Small Business Development Center, a division of the West Virginia Division of Economic Development, offers confidential, no-cost technical assistance through one-on-one business coaches.

Sources 18 links, checked Nov 13, 2026
  1. DBA or trade name registration sos.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  2. Official state fee schedule for LLC filings sos.wv.gov, checked Oct 17, 2026
  3. Corporation filing code.wvlegislature.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  4. Registered agent rule code.wvlegislature.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
  5. IRS: employer identification number irs.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  6. State tax registration business4.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  7. Unemployment insurance registration business4.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  8. New hire reporting code.wvlegislature.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  9. Workers' compensation coverage wvinsurance.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  10. General business license tax.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  11. West Virginia annual report apps.sos.wv.gov, checked Sep 1, 2026
  12. Small Business Development Center wvsbdc.com, checked Nov 13, 2026
  13. State business portal sos.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  14. US Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (monthly file, 2025 added up) census.gov, checked Nov 12, 2026
  15. Contractor license business4.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  16. Municipal sales and use tax tax.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  17. Secretary of State expedite service business4.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026
  18. State small business funding sos.wv.gov, checked Nov 13, 2026

Last verified Nov 13, 2026.

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

Start my LLC