How Much Does an LLC Cost in Virginia? Your 2025 Guide

Starting an LLC in Virginia? You probably want to know exactly what it’ll cost up front. Nobody likes surprise fees—especially when you’re banking every dollar to get your business off the ground.

Here’s the deal: The state fee to file your Articles of Organization is $100. That’s your main entry ticket. If you go through the Virginia State Corporation Commission website, it’s fast and digital—no driving across town, no waiting in line. But that $100 isn’t the end of the story.

People usually think forming an LLC is a one-and-done payment. The reality? There are yearly costs and optional extras that catch new business owners off guard. I’m talking about the annual registration fee—Virginia wants $50 from you every year to keep your LLC in good standing. Miss it, and they’ll slap you with late fees, or even worse, dissolve your company if you forget too long.

• Breaking Down the State Filing Fees
• Recurring Costs to Keep Your LLC Active
• Hidden or Extra Expenses Most Folks Miss
• Smart Ways to Cut the Costs
• What Happens After You Register

Breaking Down the State Filing Fees

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts. If you want to start an LLC in Virginia, the state asks for a $100 filing fee for your Articles of Organization. That’s not some hidden charge—it’s the main cost and you can’t start your company without paying it. This fee goes straight to the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), which handles all the official paperwork.

You’ve got two ways to file: online or by snail mail. Online is faster and a lot of people use the SCC’s CIS portal (it stands for Clerk’s Information System) because you can do it anytime and track your filing status easily. The price stays the same no matter which route you take, no extra fees for filing online.

Here’s a quick breakdown if you’re comparing different filings at a glance:

You don’t have to get a certified copy or a certificate of fact, but some banks or partners might ask for one. If you do, the extra costs are pretty minor. This is usually for businesses wanting a backup of their formation papers or proof to show someone officially.

One thing people ask a lot: Do you have to pay anything more just to reserve a name for your LLC in Virginia? If you want to lock in your business name before filing, there’s a $10 reservation fee. But honestly, most folks skip this and just jump straight into filing—the $100 covers naming your business at filing anyway.

“The online system makes it easy to form a new LLC in Virginia, with articles of organization processed usually within one business day.”—Virginia State Corporation Commission

Keep this in mind: Once you send in your $100 and your Articles of Organization info, you’re officially in business as far as the state is concerned. No sneaky hidden startup fee—just the $100 up front unless you opt for extras.

Recurring Costs to Keep Your LLC Active

So, you paid the upfront state filing fee—what now? Keeping your LLC active in Virginia isn’t totally hands-off. There are a couple of regular costs you can't dodge if you want your business to stay in good standing.

The most important recurring bill is the Virginia annual registration fee. It's $50 every year. Skip this, and your business could get suspended or even shut down. The state sends out an email or a letter as a heads-up, but don’t rely on reminders—put the date in your phone right away.

Virginia doesn’t require an annual report for LLCs, which saves you some paperwork. But you do need a registered agent with a physical address in the state. If you use a professional service for this, budget about $100–$150 a year. Some folks just list themselves or a friend to save the cash, but if you don’t want your home address floating around the internet, a pro service is worth thinking about.

If your business registration in Virginia puts you in the world of retail or another regulated field, you might need extra licenses or permits. Fees and renewal dates depend on your county and industry. Double-check so nothing sneaks up on you later.

Don’t forget: federal taxes don’t change just because you have an LLC in Virginia, but you may owe state income taxes depending on your setup. Setup time with a CPA can save you big headaches (and maybe a few dollars) down the line.

Hidden or Extra Expenses Most Folks Miss

The sticker price to start an LLC in Virginia sounds pretty reasonable, but there are small (and sometimes sneaky) costs that people constantly overlook. You want to know what’s coming before you get hit with a surprise bill.

First up, the Registered Agent. Virginia requires every LLC to have a Registered Agent with a street address in the state. If you use a professional service—and most new business owners do to keep their address off the public record—you’re looking at anywhere from $50 to $150 a year. A lot of DIY-ers try to list themselves, but be careful: that address shows up online for anyone to see.

If you want a certified copy of your business registration for the bank or a potential partner, that’s another $6 per copy. Need a Certificate of Good Standing? Add $6. It doesn’t sound like much, but it piles up if you’re applying for bank accounts, merchant services, or certain types of business insurance that want your paperwork in hand.

Some folks ignore business licenses or local permits, thinking the LLC fee covers everything. Nope! Depending on your location and what you do, you might owe your city or county for a business license, usually $30-$100, sometimes more if you’re in a big metro area.

• Operating Agreement: Not required by law but strongly recommended, especially if you have partners. Getting a lawyer to draft one? Expect $200-$500, sometimes more if your setup is complex.
• DBA (Doing Business As): If you want your LLC to use a brand name different from the official name, filing a DBA in Virginia will run you $10, but don’t forget: every tweak you make is paperwork and a tiny fee.
• Expedited Service: In a rush? You can pay the state $200 for same-day processing or $100 for next-day, instead of waiting several days for the regular process.

The bottom line? There are add-ons galore. None totally break the bank, but if you only plan for the state’s $100, you’ll be caught flat-footed. Mark down these extras, and you won’t get blindsided once you start working through the details of registering your LLC in Virginia.

Smart Ways to Cut the Costs

If you’re looking to keep your LLC cost in Virginia lean, you’ve got a few solid moves. Too many first-time business owners pay for stuff they don’t actually need, so let’s talk about what’s truly optional and where you can actually trim.

• Skip the fancy packages. Online incorporation websites love to upsell with packages that throw in things like personalized binders or unnecessary meeting minutes. In Virginia, these aren’t required for your business registration to be legit. Stick to just the state’s $100 filing fee if you’re comfortable filling out basic info yourself.
• Act as your own registered agent. Virginia lets you or a responsible person with a physical address serve as your registered agent. Professional services typically cost $100 to $300 a year, but you can pocket that extra cash if you or someone you trust takes the job seriously. Just remember, the agent needs to be available during regular business hours and be reliable with important mail.
• Handle your own annual registration. Don’t fall for overpriced “annual report services.” You can complete the required $50 annual fee yourself directly on the State Corporation Commission’s website in under ten minutes. Forget fancy reminders—just set a calendar alert each year, or ask a family member to nag you (my daughter Matilda takes that job seriously for me).
• Bundle and compare business insurance. Even though it’s not part of your core LLC fees, insurance is something almost every legitimate business will eventually need. In a 2024 survey, new Virginia business owners who compared insurance quotes from at least three providers ended up saving an average of $225 annually. That’s more money you can put back into the business.

If you’re a do-it-yourself type, the entire process, from filing to annual maintenance, can be handled for as little as $150 in your first year—no bells, no whistles. Just be sure what you skip isn’t something you’ll actually need later. If you do want extra help, look for companies that let you pick services a la carte instead of bundling you into bundles full of stuff you’ll never open.

Stick to what’s required, don’t pay for unnecessary extras, and set your own reminders to avoid late fees. That’s money saved you can invest right back into your business—or in more snacks for your office, which in my house means a never-ending supply of goldfish crackers for Silas.

What Happens After You Register

You’ve paid that LLC cost in Virginia and your paperwork’s gone through—now what? You’ve got a legally recognized business, but there’s still a list of stuff to handle so you don’t trip up early on.

First up, you’ll get a certificate from the Virginia State Corporation Commission that proves your LLC is official. Hang onto this—banks and a lot of partners will want to see it. You should also grab a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS, even if you don’t plan to hire anyone right away. The EIN is free and takes five minutes online. You’ll need it for opening a business bank account and filing taxes.

Don’t forget about local licenses and permits. Virginia doesn’t hand you a master license just because you filed your business registration Virginia paperwork. Depending on what you do, your county or city could want you registered with them too, or need proof of zoning, health permissions, or specific industry licenses.

Next, it’s smart to make an Operating Agreement. The state won’t require it, but having one can save a boatload of drama if you’re starting an LLC with friends or family. This agreement spells out who owns what, who’s in charge of what, and how you’ll split profits or handle disputes. Don’t skip it—trust me, I’ve seen arguments flare up even between siblings.

Remember that annual $50 registration fee to keep your LLC in Virginia active. I set a calendar reminder and honestly, that tiny step has saved me a headache more than once. If you miss it, Virginia charges a $25 late fee.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Certificate of Organization—keep it safe
• Apply for your free EIN
• Check local licensing rules
• Draft an Operating Agreement
• Open a separate business bank account (most banks need your certificate and EIN)
• Schedule your annual registration fee payment

Pro tip: If you want extra protection or need to prove your business is up-to-date, you can snag a Certificate of Good Standing from the state for $10. Some investors or partners might ask for it.

Staying on top of these steps helps avoid penalties, keeps your Virginia LLC running smoothly, and shows everyone you run a legit operation.