West Virginia Secretary of State office — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
The West Virginia Secretary of State's Business and Licensing Division registers all business entities, accepts annual reports, and administers the public entity database out of the WV One Stop Business Center in Charleston, which relocated to 13 Kanawha Blvd. W. in 2025. West Virginia also has satellite business hubs in Clarksburg and Martinsburg. Online filing is available through the WV One Stop Business Portal.
Open Official West Virginia Business & Licensing Division Portal ↗Office contact
- Main office address (WV One Stop Business Center)
- 13 Kanawha Blvd. W., Suite 201, Charleston, WV 25302
- Phone
- (304) 558-8000
- Toll-free
- (866) 767-8683
- Fax
- (304) 558-8381
- Email (general inquiries)
- business@wvsos.gov
- Email (standard filings, 5–10 days)
- CorpFilings@wvsos.gov
- Email (expedite filings)
- eFilings@wvsos.gov
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time
- Clarksburg satellite (North Central WV Business Hub)
- 153 West Main Street, Suite G-Third Floor, Clarksburg, WV 26301 — (304) 367-2775, fax (304) 627-2243
- Martinsburg satellite (Eastern Panhandle Business Hub)
- 229 East Martin Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401 — (304) 356-2654, fax (304) 260-4360, hours 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Entity search
- apps.sos.wv.gov/business/corporations
- Business homepage
- sos.wv.gov/business
Entity formation and filing fees
West Virginia charges a flat $100 for LLC and for-profit corporation formations and a flat $25 for all annual reports regardless of entity type. A $1.00 online processing fee applies to all filings submitted through the WV One Stop Business Portal. The 24-hour expedited filing fee ($25) is among the lowest in the country. Qualifying veteran-owned businesses (and, since 2021, spouses of veterans or active military) have both the initial registration fee and the annual report fee waived for their first four years — a savings of up to $250. Verify current amounts at sos.wv.gov before filing.
Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization
- Fee
- $100
Domestic LLC — Annual Report (due Jan 1–Jun 30)
- Fee
- $25
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $100
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report
- Fee
- $25
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $25
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report
- Fee
- $25
Domestic Limited Liability Partnership — Registration
- Fee
- $250
Foreign LLC — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $150
Foreign Corporation (for-profit) — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $100
Foreign Corporation (nonprofit) — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $50
Foreign Limited Liability Partnership — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $500
Exemption from Certificate of Authority (corporation or LLC)
- Fee
- $25
Late Annual Report penalty (after June 30)
- Fee
- +$50
Name Reservation (120 days)
- Fee
- $15
Certificate of Existence/Authorization
- Fee
- $10
24-hour expedited processing
- Fee
- +$25
2-hour expedited processing
- Fee
- +$250
1-hour expedited processing
- Fee
- +$500
Dissolutions (domestic corporations, voluntary associations, business trusts) and foreign-entity withdrawals cannot be expedited regardless of fee paid — these filings are processed in standard order only.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
The Secretary of State also handles UCC filings, notary commissions, and document authentication:
- UCC search and filing — a $10 initial search fee plus $1 per page and a $3 portal fee; filings cost $20 plus the $3 portal fee.
- Notary public commissions — a $52 filing fee for a 5-year term (waived for government notaries with a qualifying letter).
- Apostilles and authentications — $10 for the first document, $5 for each additional document in the same request.
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State UCC, notary, and apostille pages (sos.wv.gov).
Key West Virginia state licensing agencies
West Virginia State Tax Department
- What it covers
- Sales and use tax, employer withholding, business registration, Business One Stop portal
- Website
- tax.wv.gov
WorkForce West Virginia
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, workforce programs
- Website
- workforcewv.org
West Virginia Division of Labor
- What it covers
- Contractor licensing, wage and hour, occupational safety, professional licensing referral
- Website
- labor.wv.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the West Virginia Secretary of State's business office located?
The WV One Stop Business Center relocated in 2025 to 13 Kanawha Blvd. W. in Charleston. West Virginia also operates satellite business hubs in Clarksburg and Martinsburg, plus 24/7 online filing through the WV One Stop Business Portal.
Do veteran-owned businesses get a filing fee discount in West Virginia?
Yes. Veteran-owned and active-duty-member-owned businesses that qualify have both their initial registration fee and annual report fee waived for the first four years after registration — a savings of up to $250. Since 2021, spouses of veterans or active military also qualify.
Can I pay to expedite a business dissolution filing in West Virginia?
No. Dissolutions for domestic corporations, voluntary associations, and business trusts, along with foreign-entity withdrawals, cannot be expedited regardless of fee paid — these are processed in standard order only.