West Virginia LLC Filing Fees and Requirements
Forming an LLC in West Virginia costs $100 for the Articles of Organization plus a $30 Business Registration Certificate. See all state fees, annual report deadlines, and requirements.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
West Virginia LLC key facts
Filing fee: $100 (paper) / $101 (online)
Processing time: Standard processing time varies; expedited options available (24-hour for $25, 2-hour for $250, 1-hour for $500)
State agency: West Virginia Secretary of State
Annual report due: January 1 – June 30 each year; $25 filing fee
State tax rate: No state-level LLC franchise tax; Business Registration Certificate required ($30)
West Virginia LLC filing fees and requirements overview
Forming an LLC in West Virginia requires filing Articles of Organization with the West Virginia Secretary of State and paying a $100 state fee. You'll also need a Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Division ($30), a registered agent with a physical West Virginia address, and an annual report filed each year between January 1 and June 30.
West Virginia keeps its formation costs relatively low compared to many states, but the Business Registration Certificate requirement catches a lot of new business owners off guard — it's a separate step from the Secretary of State filing.
- Articles of Organization: $100 (paper) or $101 (online)
- Business Registration Certificate: $30
- Annual report: $25 per year, due by June 30
- Registered agent: required, must have a physical West Virginia address
- Employer Identification Number (EIN): free from the IRS
- DBA trade name registration: $25 (optional)
- Foreign LLC Certificate of Authority: $150 (paper) or $151 (online)
Articles of Organization
The Articles of Organization is the primary formation document you file with the West Virginia Secretary of State to officially create your LLC. The state fee is $100 for paper filings and $101 for online filings — the extra dollar is an online processing fee.
You can file online through the West Virginia One Stop Business Portal or by mailing a paper form to the Secretary of State's office. Online filing is faster and the portal walks you through each required field.
Business Registration Certificate
Before your West Virginia LLC can legally operate, you need a Business Registration Certificate from the West Virginia State Tax Division. This $30 certificate functions as the state's basic business license and is required for most LLCs doing business in the state.
You can apply through the One Stop Business Portal, which coordinates registration with the State Tax Division, Secretary of State, and WorkForce West Virginia in a single process. Alternatively, file Form WV/BUS-APP directly with the State Tax Division.
Depending on your industry, you may also need additional local or professional licenses on top of the state certificate. A landscaping business, cleaning business, or money services business, for example, may face industry-specific licensing requirements at the state or local level. Check with your county or municipality and any relevant state licensing board for your specific business type.
Registered agent requirement
Every West Virginia LLC must designate a registered agent — a person or entity authorized to receive legal notices and official state correspondence on behalf of the business. The registered agent must maintain a physical street address in West Virginia; a P.O. box is not enough.
West Virginia law allows the registered agent to be a member, manager, employee, or a professional registered agent service. There's no separate state fee for appointing a registered agent — the information is included in your Articles of Organization filing.
Annual report requirement
West Virginia requires every registered LLC to file an annual report and pay a $25 fee each year. The filing window opens January 1 and closes June 30. If you miss the June 30 deadline, the Secretary of State can assess penalties and eventually begin administrative dissolution of your LLC.
Annual reports can be filed online through the One Stop Business Portal. The report confirms your LLC's current registered agent, principal office address, and member or manager information.
Employer Identification Number
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS. You'll need one to open a business bank account, file federal taxes, and hire employees. The IRS issues EINs at no cost — you can apply at irs.gov.
DBA trade name registration
If your West Virginia LLC wants to do business under a name other than its legal name, you need to register a trade name — also called a DBA — with the West Virginia Secretary of State. The filing fee is $25. LLCs use a separate Application for Trade Name form from the one used by sole proprietorships and general partnerships.
Foreign LLC registration
If your LLC was formed in another state but wants to do business in West Virginia, you need to register as a foreign LLC with the West Virginia Secretary of State. The filing fee is $150 for paper filings and $151 online. This is separate from the $100 domestic formation fee.
Operating agreement
West Virginia does not require an LLC to have an operating agreement, and there's no state filing fee associated with one. That said, having a written operating agreement is worth doing — it defines how your LLC is managed, how profits are split, and how decisions get made, which matters most when disputes come up.
Expedited processing options
The West Virginia Secretary of State offers 3 tiers of expedited processing for LLC formation filings, each charged on top of the standard $100 filing fee.
- 24-hour processing: +$25
- 2-hour processing: +$250
- 1-hour processing: +$500
FAQ
The minimum cost to form a West Virginia LLC is $130 — $100 for the Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State, plus $30 for the Business Registration Certificate from the State Tax Division. Online filings add a $1 processing fee, bringing the Articles of Organization total to $101.
Ongoing costs include a $25 annual report fee due each year by June 30. Optional costs include a registered agent service, DBA registration ($25), and expedited processing fees.
Yes. West Virginia requires every registered LLC to file an annual report and pay a $25 fee each year. The filing window is January 1 through June 30. If you miss the deadline, the Secretary of State can assess penalties and begin administrative dissolution of your LLC.
It's the state-level business license issued by the West Virginia State Tax Division. Most LLCs doing business in West Virginia need one before they start operating. The fee is $30. You can apply through the One Stop Business Portal or by filing Form WV/BUS-APP with the State Tax Division.
The standard Business Registration Certificate — West Virginia's basic state business license — costs $30. Some industries require additional licenses at the state or local level, and those fees vary. A landscaping business, cleaning business, or money services business may face separate licensing requirements beyond the $30 certificate.
File an Application for Trade Name with the West Virginia Secretary of State. LLCs use a different form than sole proprietorships and general partnerships, so make sure you're using the right one. The filing fee is $25. You can file online, by mail, or in person.
If your West Virginia LLC doesn't file its annual report and pay the $25 fee by June 30, the Secretary of State can assess monetary penalties and start the process of administratively dissolving your LLC. That means your business loses its good standing and, eventually, its legal status in the state.
Yes. Every West Virginia LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. The agent can be a member, manager, employee, or a professional registered agent service. There's no separate state fee for the appointment — it's included in your Articles of Organization filing.
