West Virginia business entity search and name check

The West Virginia Secretary of State's Business & Licensing Division keeps the state's business records, searchable by name in its Business Organization Search, which also lists trade names (DBAs). This site doesn't search West Virginia; we send you to that official search. An LLC costs $100 to form, and its $25 annual report must be filed between January 1 and June 30 each year after the year it was registered.

Registry: West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official search: Business Organization Search
How we search West Virginia: Official site only (we hand you off). West Virginia's official search runs a bot-protection check on every search and returns no results without it, so we send you to the official site instead of searching it for you.
What a result can tell you: Searching the official site shows names on record. West Virginia decides acceptance when you file.
State fee to form an LLC: $100 (Articles of Organization)
Ongoing LLC filing: Annual Report, $25. File between January 1 and June 30 each year, starting the year after the LLC was registered

What the West Virginia search covers

The search covers for-profit and nonprofit corporations, LLCs (including professional and series LLCs), limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, business trusts, voluntary associations, out-of-state businesses registered in West Virginia, and trade names (DBAs) registered with the Secretary of State. The page shows the date and time its data is current as of, usually the previous midnight.

There is a single Organization Name box (up to 50 characters). We couldn't confirm whether it matches names that begin with or contain your words.

Each record has a Organization ID. Search by number on the Business Organization Search.

How to read West Virginia results

West Virginia does not publish definitions for its status labels in one place. We show the official wording exactly as the registry gives it.

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.

West Virginia business name rules

An LLC name must include one of: limited liability company, limited company, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., LC, Ltd. (for limited), Co. (for company).

An LLC name must be distinguishable in the Secretary of State's records from the names of corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships and LLCs formed or registered in West Virginia, from reserved and registered names, and from fictitious names approved for out-of-state companies. (W. Va. Code §31B-1-105) Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

West Virginia doesn’t publish a list of the differences it ignores, so our check treats only capitalization and punctuation as insignificant and flags other close names as similar for you to judge.

Professional LLCs

West Virginia recognizes professional LLCs (PLLCs) as a filing type. We couldn't confirm their specific naming rules.

Using a similar name with consent

Yes. The business that holds the name can consent in writing and agree to change its own name to one that is distinguishable, or you can file a certified copy of a court judgment establishing your right to the name. An LLC may also use another company's name if it merged with that company, was formed by reorganizing with it, or bought substantially all of its assets, including the name.

Reserving a name in West Virginia

West Virginia lets you reserve a name before you form the business for $15, held for 120 days. It can be renewed once for another 120 days, after which the same or associated people can't reserve it again for one calendar year.

File a name reservation application with the Secretary of State that gives your name and address and the name you want. The fee is $15. A reservation can be transferred to someone else with a signed notice.

West Virginia name reservation Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Searching on this site doesn’t reserve anything. Only WV Secretary of State can.

Forming an LLC in West Virginia

Document: Articles of Organization
State filing fee: $100
Set by W. Va. Code §59-1-2(a)(1)(C).
File online: WV Secretary of State filing
Processing: State law lets the Secretary of State charge up to $500 for expedited service. We couldn't confirm the current expedite options.
Out-of-state LLC registering here: $150 (Certificate of Authority (foreign LLC))

Fees change. Confirm them on the official West Virginia fee schedule before you file.

File it yourself or use a service

File directly with West 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 West Virginia street address; that can be you if you have one.

File with WV Secretary of State

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 West Virginia LLC in good standing

Annual Report: $25. File between January 1 and June 30 each year, starting the year after the LLC was registered. Source: sos.wv.gov

The annual report is required by W. Va. Code §59-1-2a. Medical cannabis organizations can't file or pay online. Reinstating an LLC after administrative dissolution costs $25.

Proof of status: Certificate of Existence (LLC) / Certificate of Good Standing (corporation) ($10). Source: code.wvlegislature.gov

Assumed names (DBAs)

Trade names (DBAs) are registered with the Secretary of State for $25, for both West Virginia and out-of-state businesses. Source: sos.wv.gov

Good to know about West Virginia

The annual report costs $25 and is filed between January 1 and June 30. Source: sos.wv.gov
An out-of-state LLC pays $150 to register, more than the $100 a West Virginia LLC pays to form. Source: code.wvlegislature.gov
A name reservation lasts 120 days and can be renewed only once; after that, the same people can't reserve the name again for a year. Source: code.wvlegislature.gov
Trade names (DBAs) are registered statewide with the Secretary of State and show up in its business search. Source: sos.wv.gov
Medical cannabis organizations can't use online filing or payment. Source: sos.wv.gov
The Secretary of State sells custom business lists for a $25 minimum plus 5 cents per record. Source: apps.wv.gov

Sources and accuracy

We checked this page against official West Virginia sources on October 30, 2026. 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 (5)

We couldn't confirm the late penalty for annual reports or how long before a business is dissolved for not filing.
We couldn't confirm the price of the state's bulk data subscription.
We couldn't find official definitions for West Virginia's status labels or the format of an Organization ID.
We couldn't confirm the restricted words, professional LLC naming rules or corporation name endings.
We couldn't confirm West Virginia's registered agent requirements or the division's phone number.

See something wrong? Tell us. We can fix how we present information, but only WV Secretary of State can change an official record.