Deal alert! Northwest will form your LLC for $39 (60% discount). See details.
To start an LLC in Virginia, file Articles of Organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). This costs $100 and takes 5 days for approval.
There are 6 steps to follow:
- Choose an LLC Name
- Select a Registered Agent
- File Articles of Organization
- Create an Operating Agreement
- Get an EIN
- Register for a Tax Account
If you want to form your LLC yourself, follow our free guide below.
If you want someone to take care of it for you, we recommend hiring Northwest Registered Agent
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(We recommend Northwest. We've reviewed all the top companies in the industry. And Northwest is our #1 pick for prices, customer support, and address privacy. Check out Northwest vs LegalZoom to learn more.)
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Virginia?
It costs $100 to start an LLC. And then it costs $50 per year.
What are these fees for?
- The $100 is to file the Articles of Organization – the document that creates an LLC.
- The $50 per year is for your Annual Fee – a mandatory fee that keeps your LLC in good standing.
To learn more about LLC Costs, see LLC Costs in Virginia.
How long does it take to get an LLC in Virginia?
If you file by mail, your LLC will be approved in 2-5 business days (plus mail time).
But if you file online, your LLC will be approved in 2-5 business days.
Please see How long does it take to get an LLC in Virginia to check for any delays.
Here are the steps to forming an LLC
1. Search your LLC Name
Search your LLC Name to make sure it’s available in the state.
You need to do this because two businesses in the state can’t have the same name.
First, search your business name and compare it to existing businesses in the state.
You can make sure the LLC Name you want is unique from existing businesses using the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s Business Entity Search.
Second, familiarize yourself with the state’s business name rules (so your LLC gets approved).
We’ll explain both in more detail here: Virginia LLC Name.
2. Choose a Registered Agent
The next step is to choose a Registered Agent.
Who can be an LLC Registered Agent?
You have 3 options for who can be the Registered Agent:
- You
- A friend or family member
- A Registered Agent Service
The Registered Agent for your LLC must have a physical street address in Virginia. PO Boxes aren’t allowed.
And the Registered Agent’s name and address will be listed on public records.
If you don’t have an address in Virginia, or you want more privacy, you can hire a Registered Agent Service for your LLC.
We recommend Northwest Registered Agent
Our favorite feature about Northwest is they’ll let you use their registered office address throughout your LLC filing. This way, you can keep your address off public records.
They’ll also scan any mail sent to your LLC and upload it to your online account.
Northwest has excellent customer service, and they’re who we trust to be our own Registered Agent.
Special offer: Hire Northwest to form your LLC ($39 + state fee), and you'll get a free year of Registered Agent service.
(Why is Northwest the best? Read our Northwest Registered Agent review)
3. File LLC Articles of Organization
It costs $100 to file Virginia Articles of Organization online.
This is a one-time fee to create your LLC.
If you want to file this yourself, see our step-by-step guide: Virginia Articles of Organization.
Or, you can hire a company to do it for you.
Need to save time? Hire a company to form your LLC:
Northwest ($39 + state fee) or LegalZoom ($149 + state fee)
(We recommend Northwest. We've reviewed all the top companies in the industry. And Northwest is our #1 pick for prices, customer support, and address privacy. Check out Northwest vs LegalZoom to learn more.)
4. Create an Operating Agreement
The Articles of Organization creates your LLC, and the Operating Agreement shows who owns the LLC.
Additionally, some banks require an Operating Agreement when you open an LLC bank account.
And having an Operating Agreement will be very helpful if you ever end up in court. Reason being, it helps prove that your LLC is being run properly.
That’s why we recommend that all LLCs have an Operating Agreement – including Single-Member LLCs.
Furthermore, an Operating Agreement is an “internal document“. Meaning, you don’t need to file it with the state or the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). Just keep a copy with your business records.
You can download a free template below.
Then, learn how to fill it out by watching our step-by-step Virginia Operating Agreement video.
5. Get an EIN for your LLC
The next step is to get a Virginia EIN Number from the IRS for your LLC.
Note: An EIN Number is also called a Federal Tax ID Number or Federal Employer Identification Number.
- identify your LLC for tax purposes
- open a business bank account
- apply for business licenses and permits
How much does an EIN cost?
Getting an EIN Number from the IRS is completely free.
How long does it take to get an EIN?
If you apply online, it takes 15 minutes.
If you apply by mail or fax, it can take 1-3 months.
How can I get an EIN?
US Citizens/US Residents: If you have an SSN or ITIN, you can apply for an EIN online. Follow these instructions: Apply for an EIN online.
Non-US Residents: You can’t get an EIN online, but you can still get one by fax or by mail. Follow these instructions: How to get an EIN without an SSN or ITIN.
6. Register for a Tax Account & Business Licenses
Good news! Virginia doesn’t have a state general business license requirement.
However, you do have to register with the Department of Taxation and get a Virginia State Tax Account Number.
This state tax account number is required to do business in the state, and is different from your LLC’s federal EIN number.
Depending on where your LLC is located, you may also need a local business license or permit.
For example, if you want to start a daycare, you may need a business license from the city or county.
You can learn more on our Virginia Business License page.
What do I do after my LLC is approved?
After your LLC is approved, there are some additional steps.
LLC business bank account
You’ll want to open a business bank account for your LLC.
This makes accounting and record-keeping much easier for your business finances.
Having a separate business bank account also maintains your personal liability protection. This is because it keeps your business entity finances separate from your personal finances.
File your LLC Annual Registration Fee
All Virginia LLCs must pay an Annual Fee every year.
The Annual Fee keeps your LLC in good standing with the state.
Note: In Virginia, the Annual Registration Fee is also called the Annual Fee. You may also see this called an Annual Report, but that is incorrect.
In Virginia, only Corporations file an Annual Report. LLCs don’t file an Annual Report. LLCs only need to pay the Annual Registration Fee.
How much does a Virginia Annual Fee cost?
The LLC Annual Fee costs $50 per year.
When is the Annual Fee due?
Your LLC’s Annual Fee is due by the last day of your LLC’s anniversary month, every year.
For example, if your LLC was approved on March 15, your Annual Fee is due by March 31 every year.
When is my first Annual Fee due?
Your first Annual Fee is due the year after your LLC was approved.
For example, if your LLC was approved on March 15, 2026, your first Annual Fee is due by March 31, 2027.
How do I file my LLC Annual Fee?
You can pay your LLC’s Annual Fee online or by mail. We recommend paying online because it’s easier to complete.
We have step-by-step instructions for the mail and online filings here: Virginia LLC Annual Report.
File and pay taxes
LLCs don’t pay federal taxes. Instead, the LLC Members pay the taxes for the LLC.
Said another way, the owners pay taxes for the LLC as a part of their personal tax return.
How will my LLC be taxed?
By default, an LLC is taxed by the IRS based on the number of owners your LLC has:
- A Single-Member LLC is taxed like a Sole Proprietorship.
- A Multi-Member LLC is taxed like a Partnership.
Alternatively, you can ask the IRS to tax your LLC like a C-Corporation or S-Corporation.
Besides federal taxes, there are also state and local income taxes – and sales tax. Learn more in Virginia LLC Taxes.
How to Start an LLC in Virginia FAQs
Can I start an LLC online in Virginia?
Yes, you can file your LLC online. The Articles of Organization filing fee is $100.
When you start your LLC online, it will be approved in 2-5 business days.
What are the benefits of an LLC?
The first benefit of an LLC is protecting your personal assets. Meaning, if your business is sued, your personal assets – like your home, cars, and bank accounts – are protected.
This protection applies to all LLC owners (called LLC Members). It doesn’t matter if you have a Single-Member LLC or Multi-Member LLC. All of the LLC owners are protected from the business debts and liabilities.
This type of protection wouldn’t apply if you operate as a Sole Proprietorship or Partnership. With these types of informal business structures, the owners aren’t protected in the event of a lawsuit. For that reason, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are a much more popular business structure.
And Virginia state income taxes are very similar, since the state honors the federal tax treatment of your LLC.
To learn more, please see How are LLCs taxed.
Is Virginia a good state to start an LLC?
Whether Virginia is a good state to start an LLC depends on where you live – and where you’re doing business.
Meaning, if you live in or do business in Virginia, then you should start your LLC there. While many websites talk about tax rates and advantages of certain states, none of that applies if it’s not the state where you live and do business.
For example, if you form an LLC in Delaware, but live in and conduct business in Virginia, you’ll also need to register your Delaware LLC in Virginia (and pay extra fees). And you’ll end up paying Virginia taxes anyway. This ends up leading to more costs and more headaches with no advantages.
In summary, if you live in and conduct business in Virginia, then yes, it’s a good state to start a business. If you don’t live in and do business in Virginia, then no, it isn’t a good state to start a business.
Real estate exception: If you’re purchasing real estate outside of Virginia, you should form your LLC in the state where the property is located.
For more information, please see Best State to Form an LLC.
What is the difference between a Domestic LLC, a Foreign LLC, and a PLLC?
The main differences between Domestic LLCs, Foreign LLCs, and Professional LLCs are where they are formed and their business purpose.
A Domestic Limited Liability Company is an LLC that is formed in its “home state”, meaning, where the business owner lives and does business.
For example, if you live in and do business in Georgia, you would form your Domestic LLC in Georgia.
A Foreign Limited Liability Company is an LLC that is formed in a state that isn’t its home state. In this case, the term “foreign” simply means that the LLC is foreign to its “home state”.
For example, if you live in and do business in Georgia, you would form your Domestic LLC in Georgia. If you later expand into Florida, you would register your existing Georgia LLC as a Foreign LLC in Florida.
Said another way, LLCs are created at the state-level.
So if you want your LLC to do business in two separate states, you have to form or register an LLC in both states.
This works by forming a Domestic LLC in your home state, and a Foreign LLC in the other state.
What is a PLLC?
A Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC) is a type of LLC formed for the purpose of providing “professional services”.
In this case, “professional” refers to business types that require special permissions (like a license, registration, or certification from the state) in order to do business legally.
For example, architects, attorneys, and social work counselors, doctors, and veterinarians often form their business practices as PLLCs.
You can read more about PLLCs, their availability, and their stricter requirements in: What’s a Professional LLC?
And for more information on Foreign and Domestic LLCs, please see:
References
Virginia LLC Act
Virginia.gov: Licenses
Virginia SCC: New Entity Fees
Virginia SCC: LLC Forms and Fees
Virginia SCC: Business Filing FAQs
Virginia SCC: Annual Registration Fees
Virginia SCC: Entity Types and Categories
Virginia State Corporation Commission: LLC FAQ
Information verified on October 27, 2026
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.