Virginia business entity search and name check
Search business records
In Virginia, businesses register with the State Corporation Commission (SCC), not the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and the Clerk's Office search is called the Clerk's Information System (CIS). We don't search CIS from this site; we send you to it. A Virginia LLC costs $100 to form and $50 a year after that, and a name can be held for 120 days for just $10.
- Official search
- Clerk's Information System (CIS)
- How we search Virginia
- Official site only (we hand you off). Virginia's CIS search didn't respond to our servers when we tested it, and the SCC's main website asks automated tools not to access any of its pages. We send you to the official search instead.
- What a result can tell you
- Searching the official site shows names on record. Virginia decides acceptance when you file.
- State fee to form an LLC
- $100 (Articles of Organization)
- Ongoing LLC filing
- Annual Registration Fee, $50. Due by the last day of the month in which you formed or registered, starting the following year, and on that date every year after
What the Virginia search covers
CIS holds the SCC's records for stock and nonstock corporations, LLCs (including series LLCs and protected series), limited partnerships, business trusts, statements filed by general partnerships, and out-of-state entities registered in Virginia. The SCC's downloadable data files include inactive businesses as well as active ones.
Each record has a SCC ID / Entity ID (for example 00601153). Search by number on the Clerk's Information System (CIS).
How to read Virginia results
Virginia uses its own status labels. We always show the official wording; here is what the common ones mean according to the state:
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| ACTIVE / Active and In Good Standing | The business exists and is in good standing with the SCC. We couldn't find the SCC's own definition of this status. Source: data.virginia.gov |
| INACTIVE (e.g. reason Rejected, Cancelled) | The business no longer exists or is no longer authorized in Virginia. A second field gives the reason, such as a rejected filing or a cancellation. Source: data.virginia.gov |
A status describes the registry filing only. It isn’t evidence of a license, tax compliance or reputation, and a record with the same name as a company you know may be a different business. More on statuses.
Virginia business name rules
An LLC name must include one of: limited company
, limited liability company
, L.C.
, LC
, L.L.C.
, LLC
.
Your LLC name must be distinguishable on the SCC's records from other LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships and business trusts, and from names that are reserved or registered for use. (Va. Code §13.1-1012 C, F) Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
When comparing names, Virginia disregards: business-type endings such as LLC, Inc. or LP. Our name check applies these same rules.
Words that need approval or are restricted
| Words | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Any word suggesting the business is a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or protected series | Not allowed in an LLC name. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov |
Using a similar name with consent
Yes, for Virginia LLCs. The business with the similar name must agree in writing and promise to change its own name to one that is distinguishable (Va. Code §13.1-1012 D).
Reserving a name in Virginia
Virginia lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $10, held for 120 days. Yes, for further 120-day periods. File the renewal during the 45 days before the reservation expires.
Apply to the SCC, online through CIS or on paper.
Virginia name reservation Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only SCC Clerk's Office can.
Forming an LLC in Virginia
- Document
- Articles of Organization
- State filing fee
- $100
Set by Virginia Code §13.1-1005(1)(a). - File online
- SCC Clerk's Office filing
- Out-of-state LLC registering here
- $100 (Application for Registration as a Foreign Limited Liability Company)
Fees change. Confirm them on the official Virginia fee schedule before you file.
File it yourself or use a service
File directly with Virginia
$100 state fee
You fill in the Articles of Organization yourself and pay only the state. You’ll need a registered agent with a Virginia street address; that can be you if you have one.
Use a formation service
A service prepares and files the paperwork, and most can act as your registered agent and send compliance reminders. You still pay the state fee on top of their price, and the state still decides whether to accept your name.
- Bizee: $0 plus the state fee (Basic); Standard $199, Premium $299, plus state fee
- LegalZoom: $0 plus state fees (Basic); Managed Service $249 plus state fees
- Northwest Registered Agent: $39 plus the state fee
- ZenBusiness: $0 plus the state fee (Starter); Pro $199 plus state fee, renews $199/yr
We don’t currently earn commissions from these providers. Prices from each provider’s site on Oct 30, 2026. We never send them your proposed name. Compare what each includes · Disclosure
An EIN (federal tax ID) is free from the IRS; you don’t need to pay anyone for one.
Keeping a Virginia LLC in good standing
Annual Registration Fee: $50. Due by the last day of the month in which you formed or registered, starting the following year, and on that date every year after. Late fee: $25. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
A corporation pays $75 to form: a $25 filing fee (Va. Code §13.1-616) plus a $50 charter fee covering up to 25,000 authorized shares. The charter fee rises by $50 for each additional 25,000 shares, up to $2,500 (§13.1-615.1).
Proof of status: Certificate of Good Standing / Fact of Existence. Source: cis.scc.virginia.gov
Assumed names (DBAs)
Assumed and fictitious names are governed by Title 59.1, chapter 5 of the Virginia Code. Filings can involve the SCC and the circuit court (Va. Code §59.1-69). We couldn't confirm where an LLC or corporation files its assumed name. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
Good to know about Virginia
- Business entities register with the State Corporation Commission, not the Secretary of the Commonwealth. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
- Instead of an annual report, an LLC pays a $50 annual registration fee by the end of its anniversary month. Paying late adds a $25 penalty. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
- A corporation's charter fee depends on how many shares it authorizes: $50 per 25,000 shares, capped at $2,500. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
- Reserving a name costs $10 and holds it for 120 days, and you can keep renewing it in 120-day blocks. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
- The SCC publishes free downloadable files of entities, officers, name history and amendments on data.virginia.gov, but the LLC file was last refreshed in December 2024. Source: data.virginia.gov
- An out-of-state LLC pays the same $100 to register in Virginia as a Virginia LLC pays to form. Source: law.lis.virginia.gov
Sources and accuracy
We checked this page against official Virginia sources on . Our monitor rechecks the official search, filing portal and fee pages daily and flags changes for review.
Items we couldn’t confirm on an official page (10)
- We couldn't confirm whether CIS offers free downloads of current business data.
- We couldn't confirm the price of the SCC's paid weekly data extract (it has been reported as $1,000 a month).
- We couldn't confirm the format of an SCC ID.
- We couldn't confirm the required endings for corporation names.
- We couldn't confirm the annual registration fee for corporations, which depends on the number of shares.
- We couldn't confirm the fee for a certificate of good standing.
- We couldn't confirm the registered agent rules on an official page.
- We couldn't confirm where an LLC or corporation files an assumed name.
- We couldn't confirm Virginia tax obligations for LLCs on an official tax page.
- We couldn't confirm a phone number for the SCC Clerk's Office.
See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only SCC Clerk's Office can change an official record.