Initial Fees and Licenses in West Virginia

If you're going to operate your business in West Virginia, when you start up you're likely to incur filing fees and licensing fees depending on the type of business you run and your business form (corporation, sole proprietorship, partnership, or limited liability company (LLC)).

Corporations. If you're doing business as a domestic corporation (a corporation incorporated in West Virginia) or a foreign corporation (a corporation incorporated outside of West Virginia), you will be subject to various fees when you start up. The following are the filing requirements and payments by corporations to the West Virginia Secretary of State:

Whether your corporation is foreign or domestic, you will also be required to pay the first year's corporate license tax to the Secretary of State before a certificate of incorporation will be issued. The corporate license tax is based on the amount of authorized capital stock.

Limited liability companies (LLCs). If your company is either a domestic or foreign limited liability company (LLC), you must file documents with the West Virginia Secretary of State. If your company is a domestic LLC, you must file articles of organization along with a $100 fee to the Secretary of State. If your company is a foreign LLC, you must file a foreign LLC application for certificate of authority to do business along with a $150 fee to the Secretary of State.

Business licenses and fees. West Virginia requires that you obtain a license and pay a fee if you are operating certain types of businesses in the state. Be sure to check with the state to make sure you are complying with the license requirements for your particular profession.