How to Start an LLC in Virginia (2026)

Before anything else, know who you are filing with. Virginia has no Secretary of State handling business formations; that office simply does not exist in this role here. Your LLC is created by the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) through its Office of the Clerk. The formation document is the Articles of Organization, SCC form LLC-1011, the filing fee is $100 (Va. Code § 13.1-1010 authorizes the filing; § 13.1-1005 sets the fee), and the preferred route is online through the Clerk's Information System (CIS) at cis.scc.virginia.gov, which processes most filings in real time. File online in the morning and your LLC often exists by the time you refresh the page.

Step by Step: Forming a Virginia LLC

1. Clear your name in CIS. The name must contain "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation such as "LLC" or "L.C.," and it must be distinguishable from every entity already on the Commission's records. Search CIS before you fall in love with a name.
2. Choose a registered agent who actually qualifies. Virginia's eligibility rules under Va. Code § 13.1-1015 are stricter than most states realize; an individual generally must be a member, manager, or designated officer of the LLC, or a member of the Virginia State Bar. The full list is on our Virginia registered agent page.
3. File Articles of Organization, Form LLC-1011. Submit through CIS and pay the $100 fee. Online submissions are typically processed in real time; a paper LLC-1011 can still be mailed to the Clerk's Office if you prefer to wait.
4. Put an operating agreement in writing. The SCC does not collect it, but it is the contract that governs ownership, distributions, management, and exits. Banks routinely ask for it, and without one the default provisions of Virginia's LLC Act decide questions you would rather decide yourself.
5. Obtain your EIN. Free directly from IRS.gov, usually issued immediately. No third party needs to be paid for this.
6. Understand the annual obligation before it surprises you. A Virginia LLC files no annual report. Instead the SCC assesses an annual registration fee of $50, due by the last day of your anniversary month each year after the year you form. Details in our annual requirements guide.

About Form LLC-1011

The Articles of Organization ask for less than most owners expect: the LLC's name, the registered agent and the qualification under which that agent serves, the registered office address (which must be identical to the agent's business office), the principal office address, and the organizer's signature. Virginia does not require member names in the Articles, which keeps ownership off the initial public filing.

The Fees Involved

Formation is a flat $100, one time. The recurring charge is the $50 annual registration fee. Changing your registered agent later is free, filed on Form LLC-1016 through CIS. We keep the complete table, including our own pricing, on the Virginia LLC fees page.

If You Would Rather Hand It Off

For $199 plus the $100 state fee, we prepare and submit the Articles of Organization and include your first year of registered agent service in the price; the agent service then renews at $99 per year. You get the filed record and a qualified agent from day one.

Form Your Virginia LLC