LLC for Beginners

LLC for Beginners › West Virginia

Forming an LLC in West Virginia for the first time

The West 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 West Virginia checklist

  1. File the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1). $100 to the West Virginia Secretary of State.
  2. Registered agent. The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any". 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. Annual Report, every year, $25. Due: July 1 each year.
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

$747 with Mainstay Filing, state fees included. Others: Northwest Registered Agent $439; ZenBusiness $647; Bizee $448; LegalZoom $897 (these totals leave out any charge for filing the annual report).

Questions

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

Mainstay Filing. First year $299 including the $100 West Virginia filing fee; $224 in year 2.

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

Yes: file the West Virginia Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (LLD-1) with the West Virginia Secretary of State for $100. Optional registered agent: 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.

Sources