Module 1 · West Virginia
How to Start an LLC in West Virginia (2026): a 7-Step Lesson and the 3 Best LLC Services
Before you begin
What you will learn
- How formation works in West Virginia
- How to meet the agent for service of process rule
- How to stay in good standing
- How the graded picks compare
The West Virginia services we recommend
1. West Virginia Registered Agent.co: best for a budget formation
West Virginia Registered Agent.co earns the highest mark because $199 gets you started with a free first agent year, and $99 each year from year two.
A lower three-year cost than Mainstay Filing earns it first place; cost counts for 32% of the grade.
Its price leaves out the annual report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
What the price covers
- The filing is done for you
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- The first agent year is included
- $99 yearly from year two
- $199 and the state fee
Where it loses points
- It does not file the annual report
- The EIN application is not included ($99)
2. Mainstay Filing: best for skipping the annual report paperwork
For number 2 we picked Mainstay Filing: at $199 a year it files the LLC, serves as the agent for service of process and files the annual report, and the price stays at $199 when you renew.
West Virginia Registered Agent.co is $200 lower across three years, which keeps this one out of first.
You never file the annual report yourself; only the $25 state fee is added.
What the price covers
- Your formation filing is prepared and submitted
- Agent for service of process for twelve months
- Annual report prepared and filed
- The EIN application
- No markup on the state fee
Marks in its favor
- $199 per year for the whole bundle
- It files the EIN application for you
- The same $199 every year
Where it loses points
- $100 a year more than West Virginia Registered Agent.co's renewal
3. WV Registered Agent.org: best for another West Virginia choice
WV Registered Agent.org lands in third place, and the reason is clear: $199 gets you started with a free first agent year, and $99 each year from year two.
Its price leaves out the annual report, so plan to file that yourself every year.
It costs exactly what West Virginia Registered Agent.co does.
What the price covers
- The filing is done for you
- The first year of agent service
Marks in its favor
- $199 and the state fee
- $99 yearly from year two
- The first agent year is included
Where it loses points
- It does not file the annual report
- The EIN application is not included ($99)
Compare the picks
| # | Service | First year | From year two | Three-year total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia Registered Agent.co | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit West Virginia Registered Agent.coPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 2 | Mainstay Filing | $199 | $199/yr | $597 | Visit Mainstay FilingPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
| 3 | WV Registered Agent.org | $199 | $99/yr | $397 | Visit WV Registered Agent.orgPartner link. We may earn money if you buy. |
How to form your West Virginia LLC
-
Step
1Check that the name is available
Use the business search at the West Virginia Secretary of State to see whether another West Virginia company already holds your name; a clash can get the filing sent back.
Check whether the matching web domain is free while you are at it.
-
Step
2Appoint an 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.
Each of the picks above is able to act as your agent for service of process.
Where this comes from: The official page is code.wvlegislature.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
3Choose between DIY and a service
You can file on your own and pay the state $100, or let a service do it for $199 more; the grades are above.
-
Step
4Deliver the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company
To form the LLC, pay $100 and give the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1) to the West Virginia Secretary of State. Usually the state takes 5 to 10 business days, no extra cost.
Where this comes from: The official page is sos.wv.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
-
Step
5Ask the IRS for an EIN
Your EIN comes from the IRS rather than from West Virginia. Apply once the state has approved the filing, then give the number to your bank. Mainstay Filing includes the EIN application in its yearly price.
-
Step
6Put your operating agreement on paper
Even if you are the only owner, a written operating agreement kept with the company records is a good idea for a West Virginia LLC.
-
Step
7Keep the LLC active
Once a year the LLC files the annual report and pays $25; the due date is July 1. A late filing costs $50 more.
Where this comes from: The official page is onestop.wv.gov, last confirmed in October 2026
What each step costs in West Virginia
| What | Paid to | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| The formation step | The state | $100 |
| Annual report | The state | $25 every year |
| Late fee | The state | $50 |
| A service, if you use one | Your service | $199 for year one |
| Three-year state total | The state | $150 |
Why West Virginia Registered Agent.co comes first
Tuition over three years carries 32% of the report card, and that is where pulled ahead in West Virginia.
Over years one to three, West Virginia Registered Agent.co costs $397 and Mainstay Filing costs $200 more.
Short answers
How much does West Virginia charge to form an LLC?
The state's fee is $100. If you hire a service, add $199.
Which form creates the LLC?
Look for the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1); the West Virginia Secretary of State is where it gets filed.
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?
Processing takes 5 to 10 business days, no extra cost.
What does West Virginia require each year?
West Virginia asks for the annual report every year. The fee is $25, and the due date is July 1.
Can I form the LLC without a service?
Nothing stops you from doing it yourself: the state wants $100, and you must also name an agent for service of process.
Which LLC service should a first-time founder use?
We would pick West Virginia Registered Agent.co, because formation costs $199 beyond the state fee, and the agent renews at $99. After that, Mainstay Filing and WV Registered Agent.org.
Class references
- Want to see West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing for yourself? Open business4.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in August 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing for yourself? Open business4.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in August 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia yearly filing: Annual report: fee and for yourself? Open sos.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia yearly filing: Annual report: fee and for yourself? Open onestop.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia report due date for yourself? Open code.wvlegislature.gov. We confirmed that page in August 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see W for yourself? Open sos.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in August 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia formation fee: Filing fee, official source for yourself? Open sos.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia formation fee: Filing fee, official source for yourself? Open sos.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see West Virginia registered agent statute for yourself? Open code.wvlegislature.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Want to see Processing and expedite, official source for yourself? Open sos.wv.gov. We confirmed that page in October 2026 before writing the lesson.
- Prices taken from the pricing page of West Virginia Registered Agent.co on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the West Virginia service page of Mainstay Filing on November 13, 2026
- Prices taken from the pricing page of WV Registered Agent.org on November 13, 2026