Virginia keeps LLC costs refreshingly simple: $100 for your Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission, plus a $50 annual registration fee due every anniversary year. No sneaky franchise taxes or hidden forms to worry about.

File online through the state's portal or mail paper forms, as both options cost $100. Online filings typically process within a few business days, though timelines vary; check the SCC portal for current estimates. Need it faster? Virginia offers expedited and next-day processing for additional fees; check the SCC's current fee schedule for the latest amounts.

Current Virginia LLC filing fees

Virginia maintains its straightforward approach with transparent filing fees. The State Corporation Commission (SCC) charges a flat $100 for your Articles of Organization, whether online or paper, and you won't pay anything else until your annual registration fee comes due a year later.

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Cut-off times apply; filings received after the daily SCC deadline will be rolled over to the following business day.

That $100 filing fee creates your LLC's legal existence. The price stays the same whether you're forming a Virginia LLC or registering an out-of-state company.

Your LLC remains in good standing with a $50 annual registration fee due each year on the anniversary date of your formation, per Va. Code § 13.1-1062. There's no separate annual report filing to submit; only the fee is required. The SCC's annual registration FAQ confirms that the annual report obligation applies to corporations, not LLCs.

How do Virginia's LLC filing fees compare to other states?

Looking at where to start your company? The numbers tell an interesting story. Virginia's $100 formation fee and $50 annual registration fee have been stable in recent years, providing the predictability that makes planning easy.

Compare that with neighboring states (fees are approximate and subject to change; check each state's filing office for current rates):

• Maryland matches the $100 startup cost but wants $300 every year, six times Virginia's annual fee.

• North Carolina starts higher at $125 and charges about $200 annually (slightly more for online filings).

• Tennessee gets expensive quickly: at least $300 upfront based on a per-member fee structure that scales up to $3,000 for larger LLCs, with the same per-member structure applying each year.

• Kentucky offers the bargain option at $40 to start and $15 yearly, as confirmed by the KY SOS fee schedule, while West Virginia sits in the middle with $100 to file and $25 annually.

Across the country, Virginia holds an attractive middle ground.

• Massachusetts charges $500 to form an LLC by mail (or $520 online and by fax, due to an automatic $20 expedited fee), plus a $500 annual report fee, per M.G.L. Chapter 156C.

• California's low initial filing fees are offset by significant annual franchise taxes.

• Virginia avoids both problems; it does not impose a separate entity-level franchise tax on LLCs like some states do, no surprise fees, and no separate annual report paperwork. Simply pay your $50, and you're all set.

Virginia's online filing system works efficiently, with next-day service available for an extra fee. You get predictable costs without the headaches of budget states or the sticker shock of premium ones. For business owners who want straightforward compliance and stable fees, Virginia delivers exactly that.

Additional filing fees to consider for Virginia LLCs

While Virginia's $100 Articles of Organization and $50 annual registration cover the basics, several smaller costs might pop up during your LLC's life. Knowing these upfront helps you build a realistic budget for your first year.

• Name reservation costs $10 if you want to hold your LLC name for 120 days while finalizing paperwork, per Va. Code § 13.1-1005.

• Registered agent service options vary widely based on your approach. Being your own agent costs nothing if you have a reliable Virginia street address during business hours. If privacy matters to you, commercial services typically charge an estimated $100 to $300 annually (this range is market-set and not regulated by the SCC).

• Certified copies of formation paperwork run $6.00 per request through the SCC Clerk's Office. Note that Virginia issues a "Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration" for LLCs rather than a "certificate of good standing," which applies only to corporations. Out-of-state LLCs need a Certificate of Registration for $100 to operate in Virginia, as confirmed by the SCC foreign LLC forms page.

• Local governments add another layer. Many Virginia localities require business licenses under the BPOL (Business, Professional and Occupational License) tax regime, per Va. Code § 58.1-3700.1. In many localities, small business BPOL license fees start around $30 to $100, with higher amounts or tax-rate-based charges for larger businesses or certain industries; check your locality's schedule for exact amounts.

Let Discern handle your Virginia LLC filings

Discern processes your Virginia LLC filings in minutes and then handles ongoing compliance from there. No more tracking anniversary-date deadlines or worrying about registered agent responsibilities. Our system automatically processes your annual registration fees, maintains real-time compliance dashboards, and displays the exact standing of every entity you own.

For businesses managing multiple entities across states, Discern eliminates the manual tracking that drains time and creates compliance risk. Our platform handles the SOS compliance layer so you can focus on running your business.

Book a demo today and see how Discern handles Virginia LLC compliance with ease.

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