Virginia LLC Cost

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What an Virginia LLC really costs: the $100 filing, recurring report fees, optional services, and a five-year total.

The minimum state cost to start an LLC in Virginia is $100. Keeping it in good standing then costs $50 a year in report fees, plus any entity-level tax. Here is the full breakdown.

One-time formation costs

ItemCost
Formation document (Articles of Organization)$100
Name reservation (optional)Typically $10 to $50
Certified copy of the filing (optional)Typically $5 to $30
Expedited processing (optional)Varies widely by state and speed
EIN$0 directly from the IRS

Recurring costs

ItemCost
Annual or biennial report$50 per year
Franchise or entity taxNone
Registered agent (optional)$0 if you serve, or about $50 to $300 per year

Total over five years

Assuming you file every required report on time, act as your own registered agent, and exclude entity-level taxes and optional extras, five years of state fees in Virginia add up to about $350: $100 to form plus $250 in report fees. First-year state fees alone are about $150.

Optional professional services

  • Formation services: many charge $0 to $299 on top of the state fee, and some upsell items you can do free
  • Operating agreement: free to write yourself, or a few hundred dollars for an attorney-drafted version
  • Registered agent: about $50 to $300 per year if you do not serve yourself
  • Accounting and tax preparation: depends on complexity and is often the largest ongoing cost

How Virginia compares

Virginia's LLC filing fee is $100, right at the national median of $100. 16 of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC) charge less to file. Filing fees are only part of the picture, so the table below sets Virginia beside five states founders often consider.

StateLLC filing feeAnnual reportFranchise or entity tax
Virginia$100$50 yearlyNone
Delaware$110$300 yearlyFranchise tax $300 LLC / variable corp
Wyoming$100$60 yearlyNone
Nevada$425$350 yearlyCommerce Tax (revenue > $4M)
Texas$300No fee yearlyFranchise tax (no-tax-due < $1.23M)
Florida$125$138.75 yearlyNone

Forming outside the state where you live and work rarely saves money. A business operating in Virginia that forms elsewhere generally still has to register as a foreign LLC in Virginia and pay both states' fees. Our best states for an LLC guide explains when an out-of-state filing makes sense.

Virginia specific notes

Virginia is filed with the State Corporation Commission (not the Secretary of the Commonwealth). Annual Registration Fee is $50 due in the anniversary month.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Virginia?
File the formation document yourself with the State Corporation Commission for $100, act as your own registered agent, and get your EIN free from the IRS.
What does it cost to keep a Virginia LLC active?
$50 per year for the report, plus any entity-level tax and registered agent costs.
Is it cheaper to form in another state?
Usually not for a business that operates in Virginia. You would generally still register as a foreign LLC in Virginia and pay both states' fees.
Are there hidden costs to forming an LLC?
Common extras are expedited filing, certified copies, name reservation, registered agent service, local business licenses, and professional fees. State filing fees are only part of the total.

Sources & further reading

Disclaimer: Legal information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or CPA in your state. See our full disclaimer.