Many California entrepreneurs choose to form a limited liability company (LLC) because of the many benefits of this business entity type. An LLCprov ...
The fee is $100, and your LLC should be approved and formed in 5-10 business days.
Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young has over 25 years of experience in business in various roles, including bank management, marketing management, and business education.
Reviewed by: Sarah Ruddle
For over 15 years, Sarah Ruddle has been a noteworthy leader in the business and nonprofit world.
Updated on August 14, 2023
Many West Virginia entrepreneurs choose to form a limited liability company (LLC) because of the many benefits of this business entity type. An LLC provides liability protection, for instance, so your assets are not at risk if your business is sued or cannot pay debts.
An LLC is a “pass-through entity” for tax purposes, meaning that the LLC itself is not taxed. Instead, income passes through the business to the LLC owners or members, who report it on their tax returns. LLCs also offer flexibility in terms of management and taxation.
Creating an LLC is relatively straightforward, but ensuring it’s done correctly is crucial to getting your West Virginia business on the right foot. The most critical step is filing articles of organization.
The articles of organization is a legal document filed with West Virginia’s Secretary of State to form an LLC officially. It will include your business name, address, registered agent information, and more, as detailed below.
West Virginia requires LLCs to appoint a registered agent, a person or company authorized to accept and respond to official business correspondence, such as legal, tax, or financial documents.
The registered agent ensures all required notices and documents are received. In West Virginia, the registered agent can be an LLC member, individual, or entity that meets state requirements. In West Virginia, a registered agent must:
Many business owners hire a registered agent service to ensure their LLC stays fully compliant and for convenience.
If you choose to be your registered agent, you must be at your registered agent’s address for all business hours. A registered agent service allows you to be wherever you need to be to run and grow your business.
To start, visit the Secretary of State’s website and create an account to access the articles of organization online.
In West Virginia, the articles of organization require the following information:
After creating an account, click on “New Business Registration.” You will be prompted to enter information about your business’s nature and input a business description.
Next, choose your management structure or whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed.
The following screens will allow you to enter all the information outlined above. After entering all the required information, review your entries to ensure they are correct. Then confirm and head to the payment page.
You can also complete and submit a paper form if you wish to file by mail.
The fee is $100, and your LLC should be approved and formed in 5-10 business days.
Some entrepreneurs hire an LLC formation service like ZenBusiness to handle this step, saving time and ensuring the process is done correctly.
West Virginia does not require an operating agreement, but it’s a crucial document that defines members’ ownership percentages and profit allocations. Those are the two key elements, but it should also include the following:
You can find operating agreement templates online, but it’s best to have them drawn up or reviewed by an attorney. The language of an operating agreement is crucial and can often help determine how member disputes will be resolved. Here you can obtain a free operating agreement template for your West Virginia LLC.
West Virginia Secretary of State Department Website
Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-6000
WV One Stop Business Center
1615 East Washington Street
Charleston, WV 25311-2126
(304) 558-8000
There’s only one way to create an LLC in West Virginia: successfully filing articles of organization. If you make any mistakes, you’ll likely have to refile, so be sure to do it right the first time and set your business up for serious success!
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