How to search West Virginia business entities online

West Virginia business entity records are searchable at apps.sos.wv.gov/business/corporations, operated by the West Virginia Secretary of State's Business and Licensing Division. The older SharePoint-based URL path no longer resolves; the current system is at apps.sos.wv.gov. Searching is public without an account; Certificates of Existence can be purchased directly from search results for active entities.

What the search covers

The database covers all entities registered with the Secretary of State: domestic and foreign LLCs, profit corporations, nonprofit corporations, limited partnerships, LLPs, trade names (DBAs) registered at the state level, and fictitious business names. The search also surfaces licensing registrations (private investigator agencies, scrap metal dealers) that are filed with the SOS Business and Licensing Division.

Search options

Two primary search modes are available:

• Organization Name — the "%" character can be used as a wildcard anywhere in the search string; for example, "Blue%Group" returns any entity with "Blue" and "Group" separated by any text
• Agent / Officer Name — searches by individual or organization name across all registered entities

An advanced search link provides additional filters. Certificates of Existence ($10, payable by credit card) can be ordered for active entities directly from the search results without navigating away.

Annual report window — January through June

West Virginia annual reports are due between January 1 and June 30 each year. All entity types follow this same window — there is no anniversary-based deadline. A $50 late fee applies after June 30 to entities that have not filed. This fixed window means all entities in the state file their annual reports within the same six-month period each year.

Veteran-owned businesses that qualify under the SOS's veteran-owned business program have their $25 annual report fee waived for the first four years.

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office. Verify current procedures at sos.wv.gov/business. Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, verified May 2026.