How to Start an LLC in West Virginia (2026): 7 Steps and the 3 Best LLC Services
Mainstay Filing ($199), West Virginia Registered Agent.co ($199) and WV Registered Agent.org ($199) are our 2026 picks, in that order, for starting an LLC in West Virginia. Then the lesson: 7 steps, with a $100 state filing fee and the annual report every year.
Company prices as published on November 12, 2026. Add West Virginia's $100 fee to each row.
The steps
Step1
Step 1: Settle on a name
Before you file, look the name up in the business records at the West Virginia Secretary of State; a name already in use can send the filing back.
TipCheck the matching web domain at the same time.
Step2
Step 2: Choose who will be the agent for service of process
The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any". 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.
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.
TipEvery service in our picks can act as your agent for service of process.
Two routes: file yourself and pay only the $100 state fee, or let a service do it for $199 more. Our picks are above.
Step4
Step 4: File West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company
This filing creates the company: the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1), $100, sent to the West Virginia Secretary of State. The posted processing time is 5 to 10 business days, no extra cost.
Official source: Official: sos.wv.gov, October 2026
Step5
Step 5: Get the company's tax ID (EIN)
The EIN is the company's federal tax number. It comes from the IRS once the state has approved the LLC. This step is included with Mainstay Filing.
Step6
Step 6: Write an operating agreement
Even with one owner, a written operating agreement for the West Virginia LLC is worth having in your records.
Step7
Step 7: Stay in good standing with West Virginia
After year one the main job is the annual report ($25, every year, by July 1). The penalty for filing late is $50.
For the three-year state total we add the filing fee, the reports in years two and three and any minimum yearly tax.
How the grade worked out
The grade turned on lesson steps handled (35%), where Mainstay Filing came out ahead of West Virginia Registered Agent.co.
Because West Virginia wants the annual report every year, a price that files it scored above a lower price that leaves it to you.
Quick answers
What does it cost to form an LLC in West Virginia?
$100 to the state. Our picks charge $199 on top.
Which form creates the LLC?
The West Virginia Secretary of State takes the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1); that filing creates the LLC.
Is an agent for service of process required?
The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any".
How long does West Virginia take to process the filing?
Posted processing: 5 to 10 business days, no extra cost.
What does West Virginia require each year?
The annual report: $25, every year, due July 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Yes. File directly with the state and pay $100; you also need an agent for service of process.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
Mainstay Filing: $199 a year handles the filing, the agent for service of process and the annual report, and renewal stays at $199. After it, West Virginia Registered Agent.co and WV Registered Agent.org.