Virginia calls the LLC founding paper Articles of Organization. The State Corporation Commission files it through its Clerk's Office. The same Clerk's Office keeps the LLC record afterwards, so everything from the first filing to the yearly fee sits in one portal.
This page describes the filing. It is a guide, not advice about which entity type suits you. The Virginia office guide covers the Commission as a whole, and our articles of organization guide explains the document across states.
Which Virginia form do you file for an LLC?
A general LLC uses Form LLC1011 and pays $100. That is the form for most small businesses. A professional LLC uses Form LLC1103, which is only for businesses that provide the qualifying services, and the fee is also $100. The Commission lists legal, accounting, architectural, design, engineering and medical services as examples. If your business offers legal or dental services, use the professional form, not the general one.
A business already registered in another state files a different paper, a certificate of registration to transact business in Virginia. Do not file Form LLC1011 for that.
The Virginia stock corporation form is SCC619 and its charter fee depends on the number of authorized shares. Our articles of incorporation guide covers that route.
| LLC form | Form LLC1011, Articles of Organization of a Virginia LLC (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Corporation form | Form SCC619, Virginia stock corporation (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Form page | scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/virginia-limited-liability-companies (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| State filing fee for an LLC | $100 (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Filing online | Online in the Clerk's Information System, or on paper with the form (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Faster processing | Next day $50 or $100 (submit by 2:00PM EST), same day $200 (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Processing time | Attaching your own articles online adds about five business days (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Worth knowing | The SCC does not keep a record of members or managers (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
| Where to file online | cis.scc.virginia.gov/Account/Login (scc.virginia.gov, checked ) |
Online or paper
You can file online in the Clerk's Information System or send the paper form. Online is the faster route, and the only one that allows expedited review. The Commission says paper submissions do not qualify.
Online filers get a receipt email and an acceptance email when the filing needs no manual review. A name with a restricted word, or an attached document, triggers a review. In that case you get an acknowledgment first and the acceptance email after approval. A paper filer waits for an acceptance letter by mail.
What to do about speed
The expedite options are next day and same day. Next day costs $50 or $100, and you submit by 2:00PM EST to get a response by 4:00PM EST the next business day. Same day costs $200, with a submit deadline of 10:00AM EST and a response by 4:00PM EST. Expedite fees are not refundable, and a resubmission after a rejection is not expedited automatically.
Typing the articles into the online form is quicker than attaching your own. The Commission says attaching adds a delay of about five business days. Attach only the articles, never an operating agreement or financial records.
Naming and the registered agent
An LLC name has to carry an ending such as LLC or limited liability company. The Commission also compares a core name, which drops the ending and ignores small words such as the, and, or, of and for. Your core name has to differ from the core names already on record. Run the Name Availability search first.
Reserving a name for 120 days costs $10. You need a Clerk's Information System account for the online route, which takes a few minutes to set up.
Every LLC also needs a registered agent and registered office in Virginia. An individual who lives in the state and is a member, manager or officer can serve. Changing the agent later has no state fee.
After the Commission accepts your articles
The Commission says you may need other approvals, such as an EIN from the IRS, and it does not issue those. For Virginia itself, the next regular cost is the annual registration fee of $50. The Commission assesses it about two months before the due date, and you cannot pay early. Our page on the Virginia annual report explains the date.
If you want help preparing the filing, you can ask our private filing service. State fees are separate, and you can file at the state yourself.
Sources
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/virginia-limited-liability-companies/: LLC filing fee. Checked .
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/business-faqs/cis-faq/: online filing. Checked .
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/virginia-limited-liability-companies/: llc form, form page, filing online. Checked .
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/forms-and-fees/virginia-stock-corporations/: corporation form. Checked .
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/about-the-clerks-office/expedited-services/: faster processing. Checked .
- www.scc.virginia.gov/businesses/business-faqs/llc-faqs/: processing time, worth knowing. Checked .