LLC Filing Guide

LLC Filing Guide › West Virginia

How to file an LLC in West Virginia (2026)

File the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1) with the West Virginia Secretary of State to create a West Virginia LLC. The filing fee is $100. West Virginia LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due July 1, for $25. The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any".

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026
  • Prices verified October 2026

How to form an LLC in West Virginia

  1. Pick a name with “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company” in it, and check that it’s free on the West Virginia Secretary of State business records.
  2. Decide on an agent or office. The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any".
  3. File the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1) with the West Virginia Secretary of State and pay $100.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and comes after the LLC is formed.
  5. Sign an operating agreement among the members. It sets ownership and voting rules and stays with your records.
  6. File the yearly report. West Virginia LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due July 1, for $25.

Mainstay Filing takes care of the agent, the filing, the EIN application and each annual report for $199 a year plus West Virginia’s fees.

West Virginia LLC fees and rules

State filing fee
$100
Formation document
West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1)
Yearly filing
Annual Report, every year, $25
Due
July 1 each year
Registered agent
Optional. If one is named: a West Virginia resident, a West Virginia corporation, another LLC, or a corporation or company from another state authorized to do business in West Virginia.
Agent address
The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent, and the Articles of Organization ask for one "if any." If an agent is named, its West Virginia address goes on the state record.
Filing fee rank
17th lowest of 50 (16 states charge less, 24 charge more)

West Virginia compared with neighboring states

StateFiling feeYearly filing
West Virginia$100$25 / yr
Kentucky$40$15 / yr
Maryland$100$300 / yr
Ohio$99None
Pennsylvania$125$7 / yr
Virginia$100$50 fee

All 50 states

Best overall for a West Virginia LLC

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year, all-in, plus state fees

$199 a year plus West Virginia’s $100 filing fee, which is passed through at cost.

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report, prepared and filed every year it’s due
  • Compliance reminders

The same $199 at renewal. Already have an LLC and only need an agent? Mainstay Filing’s registered agent service alone is $149 a year.

Prices verified October 21, 2026 on Mainstay Filing’s pricing and FAQ pages.

West Virginia LLC questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in West Virginia?

$100 to the state to file. West Virginia LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due July 1, for $25. With Mainstay Filing, the formation filing, registered agent, EIN application and annual reports are $199 a year on top of the state fees.

Does West Virginia require an annual report for LLCs?

Yes. West Virginia LLCs file an Annual Report every year, due July 1, for $25.

Do I need a registered agent in West Virginia?

Optional. The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any".

Can I form a West Virginia LLC myself?

Yes. You can file the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1) directly with the West Virginia Secretary of State and pay the $100 fee. A service such as Mainstay Filing files it for you and adds the registered agent, EIN application and annual reports for $199 a year.

Other formation services

  • Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee, with its registered agent service included the first year, then $125 a year; annual report filing is an extra $100 plus the state fee.
  • ZenBusiness: Starter package $0 plus the state fee; Pro is $199 a year with the EIN and annual-report filing, and its registered agent is a separate $199 a year that no package includes.
  • Bizee: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Standard $199, Premium $299), with one free year of its registered agent, which is $149 a year after that.
  • LegalZoom: Basic package $0 plus the state fee (Pro $249, Premium $299); its registered agent is $249 a year for first-time agent customers.

Prices from each company’s own pages, checked October 20, 2026. Plus the state fee in every case.

Sources