How to Start an LLC in Virginia
Virginia keeps it simple and cheap: a flat $100 to file through the SCC's online system, no extra online fee, and a $50 annual registration fee that replaces the usual annual report entirely. There is no franchise tax. The one date to hold is the last day of your anniversary month, when that $50 falls due.
How much does an LLC cost in Virginia?
The mandatory state cost is $100 to file, plus a annual report of $50. Here is the full mandatory-fee picture over a five year horizon, from the same verified state data behind our LLC cost calculator:
| When | What | State fee |
|---|---|---|
| Year 0 | Formation filing | $100 |
| Year 1 | Report (annual) | $50 |
| Year 2 | Report (annual) | $50 |
| Year 3 | Report (annual) | $50 |
| Year 4 | Report (annual) | $50 |
| Year 5 | Report (annual) | $50 |
| 5-year total | mandatory state fees only | $350 |
Report timing: Annual registration fee due the last day of the anniversary month ($25 penalty if late; no separate report filing). Optional costs (a registered agent service, expedited handling, name reservation) come on top of these mandatory fees, and formation-service packages are separate from state fees entirely.
The steps, Virginia edition
Clear the name
Search the state's registry via SCC Clerk's Information System (CIS). The name needs a designator: Limited Liability Company, Limited Company, LLC, LC, L.L.C., or L.C.. Reservation, if you want it: $10, holds the name 120 days.
Line up the registered agent
An in-state street address that can receive legal papers during business hours; you can serve yourself or pay a service. The rules and tradeoffs are in our registered agent guide.
File the formation document
$100 (Articles of Organization; a flat $100 whether you file online or by mail, with no extra online processing fee). Processing: Filed through the State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Information System; online filings are typically processed promptly, often the same business day, as of mid-2026.
Get the EIN, free
Minutes at irs.gov, no charge, no service needed.
Adopt an operating agreement and open the bank account
Not filed with the state, but banks ask for the agreement, and the separate account is what keeps the liability protection real. The general playbook is in our six-step guide.
Calendar the recurring obligations
A $50 annual registration fee, due the last day of your anniversary month ($25 penalty if late). Virginia has no separate annual report form: paying the registration fee on time is the requirement.
Virginia taxes and recurring costs, straight
No franchise tax
Virginia charges no LLC franchise tax. The $50 annual registration fee is the only recurring cost with the State Corporation Commission.
Pass-through income
By default the LLC's profits pass through to the owners and are taxed on the Virginia individual return; the LLC files no separate state income tax.
For the raw fee lines next to every other state, see the 50-state cost table or run your numbers in the LLC cost calculator.
Thinking about using a formation service?
Every service pays Virginia's same state fees. We compare what they charge on top, and what the $0 tiers actually include.
See the comparisonVirginia LLC questions, answered
How much does an LLC cost in Virginia?
$100 to file the Articles of Organization, flat whether online or by mail, then a $50 annual registration fee each year. There is no franchise tax and no separate annual report form, so the $50 is the whole recurring state cost.
How long does a Virginia LLC take?
Virginia's Clerk's Information System processes online filings promptly, often the same business day as of mid-2026, and there is no extra fee to file online.
Does Virginia have an annual report?
Not a report form. Virginia charges a $50 annual registration fee due the last day of your anniversary month; paying it on time is the requirement, and a $25 penalty applies if it is late.
How do I file an LLC in Virginia?
Online through the State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Information System: create an account, complete the Articles of Organization on screen, and pay the flat $100 by card or eCheck. A name can be reserved first for $10 for 120 days, though that is optional.
Other states: Arizona · California · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Georgia · Illinois · Michigan · Nevada · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Pennsylvania · Texas · Washington · Wyoming
Sources
General educational information, not legal or tax advice. Fees, processing times, and rules change; the figures here were verified against official Virginia sources in July 2026, and processing times especially move. Confirm with the state before filing, and consult a professional about your situation.