Virginia State Corporation Commission

How Much Does a Corporation Cost in Virginia?

Forming a corporation in Virginia means filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

First-year government fees — Virginia Corporation

$75

Official state fees

Articles of Incorporation (includes minimum charter fee)$75

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual registration fee (minimum)Due each year by the last day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation$100 / yr

≈ $100/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$475

Estimated total (5 yrs)$475

Varies by business — excluded from totals

Annual registration fee above the minimum. Scales with authorized shares, from $100 (up to 5,000 shares) to $1,700.

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for Virginia, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — Virginia Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Articles of Incorporation (includes minimum charter fee) $25 filing fee plus a $50 charter fee for up to 25,000 authorized shares; the charter fee scales with shares.	$75	One-time	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Recurring & conditional obligations — Virginia Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual registration fee (minimum) $100 for up to 5,000 authorized shares, scaling up to $1,700 for the largest authorizations. The annual report itself is free.	$100	AnnualDue each year by the last day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation	Official state fee
Annual registration fee above the minimum Scales with authorized shares, from $100 (up to 5,000 shares) to $1,700.	Varies	Conditional	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Filing process & processing times

File online through the Clerk's Information System (CIS) or by mail.

Processing options for Virginia Corporation filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing	0–3 business days	None	CIS online filings are typically processed in real time or within a few days

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Registered agent costs

Every Virginia Corporationmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about Virginia

Virginia corporations pay an annual registration fee that scales with authorized shares — authorizing more shares than you need has a real recurring cost here.

Virginia Corporation cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Virginia?

The Virginia State Corporation Commission charges $75 to file the Articles of Incorporation. That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of a corporation in Virginia?

Virginia corporations generally must pay the annual registration fee (minimum) of $100 per year (due each year by the last day of the incorporation anniversary month, beginning the year after incorporation). In addition, annual registration fee above the minimum may apply depending on your revenue, assets, or activity — these are variable, so they aren't included in fixed totals.

How long does it take to form a corporation in Virginia?

Online filings are often processed the same day. Virginia does not currently offer a paid expedited tier for this filing. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for a corporation in Virginia?

Yes. Every Virginia corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

How does the Virginia annual registration fee above the minimum work for corporations?

Scales with authorized shares, from $100 (up to 5,000 shares) to $1,700. Because the amount depends on factors like revenue or assets, it is shown separately and never folded into the fixed totals above. Consult a qualified tax professional about how it may apply to you.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether a corporation — or Virginia — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Virginia data last verified July 12, 2026.

Business Entity Forms and Fees— Virginia State Corporation CommissionOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026