How Much Does An LLC Cost In Virginia? (Updated: Mar. 2026)

Your Virginia Articles of Organization require a one-time $100 filing fee. This must be submitted to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). Once completed, it officially registers your business as a separate legal entity in the state.

Alongside your initial filing fee, you must pay ongoing costs associated with operating in the state. These include your Annual Registration fee, business licenses, permits, and other local and state requirements.

I’ve written a table below outlining the potential costs associated with operating your LLC in Virginia:

To answer the question, “How much does an LLC cost in Virginia?” in this article, I will explain the possible fees associated with forming and maintaining your Virginia LLC. You’ll learn why each step is required and the different costs so you can accurately budget when growing your business.

Tip: Read my guide on the Best LLC Services In Virginia if you want to hire someone to do it all for you.

How Much Does An LLC Cost In Virginia: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Once you understand each required and optional cost, you’ll be able to accurately budget before forming your Virginia LLC and determine, “How much does it cost to start an LLC in Virginia?” based on your specific situation.

I’ve broken down each cost in the sections below to help you save money and better understand each cost.

1. Choose Your Virginia LLC Name ($0)

Under Virginia LLC Act § 13.1-1012, you need to choose a unique and compliant LLC name before filing your Articles of Organization with the state.

Use the Business Entity Search tool to look for any similar name that is registered with the state.

Once you have decided on a name, I advise using Virginia SCC’s Name Check Availability tool to check if your name is unique compared to existing state businesses.

Both of the tools are free to use and can be used easily once you’ve read my handy guide: Virginia LLC Name Search.

2. Appoint A Virginia Registered Agent ($0 To $199 Per Year)

Every LLC operating in the state must appoint and maintain a Virginia Registered Agent under the Virginia LLC Act § 13.1-1015.

When appointing a Registered Agent, you have three potential options:

1. Yourself.
2. A friend, family member, or another LLC member.
3. A professional third-party Registered Agent service.

You don’t need to pay anything if you appoint yourself as your LLC’s Registered Agent. However, you expose your personal address as it’s listed on the public record.

I strongly suggest using a professional third-party Registered Agent service to maintain your privacy. You can use their address instead, which keeps your personal details off the public record.

You can read my article on the Best Registered Agents In Virginia for a detailed comparison guide.

3. File Your Virginia Articles Of Organization ($100)

You must file your Articles of Organization with the Virginia SCC to officially form your LLC in Virginia, which is the primary cost when considering, “How much does it cost to register an LLC in Virginia?”

You can file your Articles of Organization using two main options:

1. File online through the SCC Clerk’s Information System (CIS).
2. File by mail by completing and submitting Form LLC1011.

The SCC will issue you a Certificate of Organization once your filing has been approved. Once issued, this officially confirms the existence of your LLC in Virginia.

You can read my article on How To File The Virginia LLC Articles Of Organization if you need a detailed step-by-step guide.

4. Create Your LLC Internal Operating Agreement ($0)

Your Virginia LLC Operating Agreement is an internal legal document that acts as a written contract between LLC members. It’s used to define management structure, ownership, and profit distribution between members.

Your Operating Agreement must reflect your LLC’s management structure:

• Member-managed LLCs: All LLC members can operate your business and legally bind your LLC.
• Manager-managed LLCs: Members appoint one or more designated managers to bind the business and control daily operations.

Use my free templates provided below to create your own LLC Operating Agreement at no cost. Also, read my article on the Virginia LLC Operating Agreement if you need more details.

5. Acquire Your Employer Identification Number ($0)

You must acquire an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to open a dedicated business bank account, file federal taxes, and hire LLC employees.

Make sure your Virginia LLC is approved by the state before applying for an EIN. You may face processing delays and potential rejection if you apply before obtaining the Certificate of Organization.

There are two ways to obtain your EIN in Virginia, depending on your U.S residency status:

• Online application: Apply directly through the IRS website and get your EIN in approximately 15 minutes. You need a Social Security Number (SSN) or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to use this method. Once approved, you can download your EIN Confirmation Letter immediately. Read my guide on How To Get EIN Online for further details.
• Mail/Fax: If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN, complete Form SS-4 and mail or fax it to the IRS. This method is significantly slower and may take up to 4 weeks plus mailing time. You can read my comprehensive guide if you need further help: How To Get EIN Without SSN Or ITIN.

For more information, check out this article: How To Get An EIN For Virginia LLC.

6. Get Your Applicable Virginia Business Licenses & Permits (Varies)

Your operating location and business activities determine your Virginia LLC licensing requirements.

With each regulatory and local agency setting its own fee schedule and rules, the cost to obtain your required licenses and permits varies. Because of this, you should contact your appropriate regulatory agency and local office to confirm your specific requirements.

Many permits and licenses include renewal fees. Therefore, plan for these ongoing costs when setting your LLC’s operating budget.

My article on the Virginia Business Licenses & Permits provides some helpful resources on identifying your licensing obligations.

7. Pay Your Virginia Annual Registration Fee ($50 Per Year)

Your Annual Registration fee is due by the last day of the month in which your LLC was formed. Your first payment is due one year after your LLC was officially formed. However, you can pay your required fee up to two months before your due date.

For example: Your LLC was formed on May 10, 2025.

• Your first Annual Registration fee is due on May 31, 2026.
• Your fee will be due on May 31 every year thereafter.
• You can submit your payment as early as March 1 (Two months before your due date).

You will be charged a $25 late penalty if you fail to pay your fee before the due date. Your LLC will then be administratively dissolved if your annual fee and penalty are not paid within 90 days of your original due date.

For step-by-step instructions on paying this fee, check out my article on the Virginia LLC Annual Registration Fee.

8. Obtain Your Virginia Sales Tax Certificate ($0)

Your LLC must obtain a Sales Tax Certificate from the Virginia Department of Taxation if you’re required to collect and remit Sales Tax. This is stated under the Virginia LLC Act § 58.1-613(A).

This is free of charge when registering your LLC with the Virginia Department of Taxation. Furthermore, you do NOT need to pay a renewal fee to keep your Sales Tax Certificate active.

You will get a Virginia Tax account number for each applicable tax type once you’ve completed your registration process. This includes your Sales Tax Certificate if you registered to collect Retail Sales or Use Tax.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, read my article on the Virginia Sales Tax Certificate.

9. Pay Your Necessary Taxes

With LLC owners needing to pay several types of taxes, the total Annual Tax cost varies significantly.

Your specific tax requirements depend on your income, business structure, operating location, and business activities.

These are some of the common taxes that Virginia LLC owners may need to pay:

• State income tax.
• Local income tax.
• Federal taxes.
• Self-employment taxes.
• Business taxes.
• Sales and use tax.
• Payroll taxes (if you have employees).
• Property taxes (if your LLC owns property).

I strongly advise working with a professional accountant to stay compliant and efficiently manage your tax obligations.

Virginia State Agency Contact Information

You can contact the following state agencies for direct assistance if you need guidance on your LLC formation costs and ongoing compliance requirements.

I’ve provided the key contact information below so you can reach the necessary office.

1. Virginia SCC

Contact the Virginia SCC, specifically the Clerk of the Commission, if you have questions regarding your Virginia LLC formation costs.

You can reach the SCC Contact Center by phone at 804-371-9733 or 1-866-722-2551.

You can email [email protected] for assistance. Their in-person service hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M.

Alternatively, visit the SCC in person at the following address:

State Corporation Commission.
1300 E. Main St.
Richmond, Virginia 23219.

2. Virginia Department Of Taxation

Contact the Virginia Department of Taxation if you have questions concerning your tax obligations. Their phone service hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.

You can reach the department by phone at 804-367-8037 for business-related enquiries.

Alternatively, send your documents by fax to 804-254-6111.

Frequently Asked Questions