West Virginia LLC Cost

The minimum West Virginia LLC Cost is $100, which covers the processing fee for filing your LLC formation document (known as the Articles of Organization).

However, the total cost of forming a West Virginia LLC can vary depending on your specific needs and business preferences.

In our West Virginia LLC Cost article, we break down everything you need to know about the costs associated with starting and maintaining an LLC in West Virginia.

More than 84% of our readers form their LLC through a professional service to save time and avoid mistakes.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

How Much Does a West Virginia LLC Cost

Below is a summary of the primary requirements and associated fees for forming a West Virginia LLC.

	LLC Cost Summary
Requirement	Fee
Articles of Organization	$100-$151+
Registered Agent	$0-$130+
LLC Name	$0-$40
State Business License	$30

West Virginia LLC Filing Fee ($100-$151+)

To register your LLC in West Virginia, you'll need to file specific formation documents with the Secretary of State's Business Licensing Division. 

If you’re forming a domestic LLC (i.e., if you’ll be operating within the state) you’ll need to file the Articles of Organization. Foreign LLCs, on the other hand, must file a Certificate of Authority. 

Both documents can be submitted either electronically through West Virginia’s One Stop Business Portal or by mail and incur the following fees:

• Domestic LLCs: $100 filing fee
• Foreign LLCs: $150 filing fee
• Electronic Submission: An additional $1 fee applies

If you opt to use an LLC formation service, the overall cost will be slightly higher as it will include a small service fee on top of the state filing fees. This can be as low as $29, but can be higher or lower depending on the provider in question.

Have a look at our in-depth review of the best and most affordable LLC Formation Services in 2024. 

West Virginia Registered Agent ($0-$130+)

As part of filing your West Virginia LLC Articles of Organization or Certificate of Authority, you’ll need to appoint a registered agent. This individual or entity in West Virginia will be responsible for accepting legal documents, tax notifications, and other official government correspondence on behalf of your LLC.

You can act as your own registered agent at no cost, but many business owners prefer to hire a professional service to ensure compliance with state regulations and keep their personal information private.

The cost for a registered agent service can be anywhere between $125 and $300 per year, with many premium services offered the first year free of charge with LLC formation. 

West Virginia LLC Name ($0-$40)

While the process of naming your West Virginia LLC doesn’t incur a direct cost, there are two potential expenses to be aware of.

Reserving a Name

If you’re not ready to form your LLC immediately but want to reserve a specific name, you can file an Application for Name Reservation with the West Virginia Secretary of State. 

This reserves the name for 120 days and costs $15. After this period, you can renew the reservation by paying another $15 fee.

Note: Before reserving a name, you should confirm its availability by using the Business Organization Search on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website. 

You should also check that its corresponding domain is available (for your business’s website). 

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you plan to operate under a name different from your LLC’s legal name, you’ll need to register a Doing Business As (DBA) name, which is also known as a Trade Name in West Virginia. 

The cost for registering a DBA is $25, which you can file by mail using Form NR-3 or online via the WV One Stop Business Portal.

Note: Trade names in West Virginia do not expire, so you won’t need to renew your registration once it’s been completed.

West Virginia State Business License ($30)

To legally operate your LLC in West Virginia, you must apply for a Business Registration Certificate with the State Tax Department. 

This costs $30 and can be done online through the WV One Stop Business Portal or by mailing a WV BUS-APP form to the West Virginia State Tax Department.

Keep in mind that you’ll need to pay for a separate certificate for each business location you operate in.

Optional West Virginia LLC Formation Costs

Your LLC may be subject to a few additional costs beyond the “standard” ones depending on its individual needs and circumstances.

We’ve explored a few of the most common ones below. 

West Virginia LLC Operating Agreement 

While not mandatory, it’s highly recommended that West Virginia LLCs have an operating agreement. This document outlines the roles and responsibilities of LLC members and/or managers and helps avert potential disputes in the future.

You can draft this document yourself at no cost, hire a service, or use a business attorney (which typically costs several hundred dollars).

This document is internal and does not need to be filed with the state.

Expedited West Virginia LLC Filing

The West Virginia Secretary of State typically processes LLC formation documents within five to ten business days. 

For those that require even faster processing, one of the following expedited services can be chosen:

• 24-Hour Processing: $25
• 2-Hour Processing: $250
• 1-Hour Processing: $500

Note: These expedited services are available for both domestic and foreign LLC filings.

Local Business Licenses

Depending on your LLC’s location and activities, you may need to obtain a local business license. The cost of these licenses varies widely depending on the municipality in question, as well as on your industry and/or niche. 

For example, to operate in the City of Huntington, your LLC will need a Huntington Business License, which costs $20 and must be renewed annually by July 1.

Generally, local business license fees in West Virginia range from $75 to several hundred dollars, but we recommend getting in contact with your local county clerk’s office for more specific costs.

You can find the contact information for local municipalities on the WV Secretary of State’s Municipal Contacts page.

Certificate of Existence

A Certificate of Existence, which is often required to open a business bank account or secure loans, can be obtained from the West Virginia Secretary of State for $10. 

You can request this certificate online or by mailing a completed Customer Order Request.

Insufficient Check Fee

If a check used for payment bounces due to insufficient funds, West Virginia law mandates a $25 Insufficient Check Fee to be imposed.

This fee can apply to various business filings, including:

• Articles of Incorporation
• Certificate of Authority
• Name Reservation
• Trade Name Registration
• Annual Report
• Certificate of Existence
• Certified Copy of Organizing Document

For a full list of the services subject to the Insufficient Check Fee, you can refer to the Secretary of State’s Fee Schedule.

Ongoing Costs to Maintain a West Virginia LLC

There are a few ongoing costs that can be associated with maintaining your LLC in West Virginia. 

Annual Report

Your West Virginia LLC must file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State by July 1 each year. 

The filing fee is $25 by mail or $26 online. 

Keep in mind that failure to meet this deadline incurs a $75 late fee.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you choose to use a professional registered agent to handle your legal documents, you’ll need to pay an annual fee for their services. 

The cost of this service varies, typically ranging from $125 to $300 per year, depending on the provider and the features you select. 

While not mandatory, using a professional registered agent service is often recommended for small business owners as it offers increased privacy and flexibility. 

Ready to Get Started?

Have a look at our LLC West Virginia LLC Guide (DIY Approach)

Let Northwest Registered Agent handle it for you ($29 + State Fees) 

West Virginia LLC vs Other States

With an average startup cost of $100 and ongoing annual fees of $25, West Virginia offers a moderate cost environment for forming an LLC. 

However, states like Texas, Delaware, and Florida may offer more favorable long-term costs due to their lower tax burdens and other economic incentives.

Regardless, the best state to form your LLC in is (generally speaking) where you plan to operate your business from. This simplifies compliance with local regulations and tax requirements, and ensures that you will not have to pay registration and maintenance fees twice.