LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › Virginia

Forming an LLC in Virginia for the first time

The Virginia filing fee is $100. For a beginner the best service is Mainstay Filing: $199 a year covers the filing, agent, EIN application and the annual report, so year 1 comes to $299.

  • Official sources, checked October 20, 2026

Your Virginia checklist

  1. File the Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC-1011). $100 to the State Corporation Commission (SCC).
  2. Registered agent. Every LLC must name a registered agent with an in-state street address. Mainstay Filing includes it.
  3. EIN. Free from the IRS; included in the application Mainstay Filing prepares.
  4. Operating agreement. Write one even for a single owner. No upcharge at Mainstay Filing.
  5. Annual report. No annual report: a $50 annual registration fee, due by the end of the month the LLC was formed.. Due: Last day of the LLC's anniversary month.
Best for beginners

Mainstay Filing

Our rating: 4.9 out of 5

$199 / year + $100 state fee

  • LLC formation, prepared and filed
  • Registered agent, all year
  • EIN application (with an SSN or ITIN)
  • Annual report filed every year it is due where the state requires one
  • Compliance reminders and stored documents

Price from the Mainstay Filing pricing and FAQ pages, checked October 21, 2026. State fees are passed through at cost and shown before you pay.

Total for the first three years

$797 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $489; ZenBusiness $697; Bizee $498; LegalZoom $947 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

What is the best LLC service for a beginner in Virginia?

Mainstay Filing. First year $299 including the $100 Virginia filing fee; $249 in year 2.

Can a beginner file an LLC in Virginia without a service?

Yes: file the Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC-1011) with the State Corporation Commission (SCC) for $100. Required registered agent: A Virginia resident who is a member, manager or officer of the LLC (or of an entity that manages it) or a member of the Virginia State Bar, or a corporation, LLC or registered LLP authorized in Virginia.

Sources