Best Virginia LLC Formation Service in 2026

Virginia is one of the more under-rated states for forming an LLC: $100 to file, only $50 per year ongoing, and — uniquely — members and managers don't have to be listed on the Articles of Organization. That last piece is rare and genuinely valuable for founders who care about privacy without paying Wyoming-tier service fees.

The service you pick still decides whether you spend 3 weeks or 3 months getting to a working US bank account, especially as a non-US founder. Here's the honest comparison.

Quick verdict

Service	Best for	Filing fee (VA)	Service fee	Reg. Agent	EIN included	Non-US friendly
Doola	Non-US founders, one-person company	$100	from $297 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	✅ (incl. SS-4 paper filing)	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Northwest	US residents wanting privacy	$100	$39 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$50)	⭐⭐⭐
ZenBusiness	US residents, low budget	$100	$0 (Starter)	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$99)	⭐⭐
LegalZoom	US residents wanting brand	$100	$0 (Basic)	$249/yr	❌ (+$79)	⭐⭐
Bizee (formerly IncFile)	US residents, free starter	$100	$0 + state	✅ 1 yr	❌ (+$70)	⭐⭐
DIY (Virginia SCC)	US founders with SSN	$100	$0	❌ (~$125/yr separately)	DIY (free with SSN)	⭐

Our recommendation for non-US founders: Doola — bundles LLC filing + EIN (with SS-4 paper for non-SSN founders) + Registered Agent + Mercury Bank introduction.

Disclosure: We have an affiliate relationship with Doola — code LLCCLASS10 gives 10% off and supports our work at no extra cost to you.

Virginia LLC basics

Filing fee: $100 for Articles of Organization (one-time)
Annual registration fee: $50 per year, due the last day of your LLC's anniversary month. Virginia calls this an "annual registration fee" — LLCs do NOT file the same Annual Report that corporations do.
Member privacy: Members and managers are not listed on Articles of Organization. They appear only in your internal Operating Agreement. This is a real privacy edge over most states.
State business license: No general state license required, though you do need a Virginia State Tax Account Number. Local BPOL (Business, Professional, Occupational License) tax may apply depending on the county/city.
Registered agent: The agent's name and address are public, but yours can stay off the record entirely.

Combined with the modest $50/year ongoing cost, this makes Virginia surprisingly competitive with Wyoming for privacy-focused founders — especially if you have any actual US east-coast nexus.

Service-by-service breakdown

1. Doola — best for non-US founders forming a Virginia LLC

Pricing: Starter $297/yr, Total Compliance $799/yr
What's included: LLC filing + EIN (SS-4 paper for non-SSN) + Registered Agent (1 year) + US business address + Mercury Bank introduction
Turnaround: 2–4 weeks for non-US founders, 3–7 days for US founders
Why we use it: The EIN piece. SS-4 paper filing from outside the US is a 6–12 week round trip and the most common point of failure for non-US founders going DIY.

→ Doola signup with LLCCLASS10 code (10% off)
→ Full Doola 2026 review

2. Northwest Registered Agent — US residents who value privacy

Pricing: $39 + $100 state + $125/yr after year 1
Includes: LLC filing + 1 yr registered agent + their name as agent on public filings
EIN: Not included, +$50 (US-only)
Why pick: Best customer support in the formation-service space, no upsell pressure

3. ZenBusiness — US residents on a budget

Pricing: Free Starter ($100 state only), Pro $199/yr, Premium $349/yr
EIN: Not included on Starter, +$99
Caveat: Renewal upsells in year 2

4. LegalZoom — brand recognition, expensive

Pricing: Basic $0 + state, Pro $249, Premium $349
Registered agent: Separate $249/yr
EIN: +$79
Why pick: Investor-facing brand
Why skip: Highest TCO; cancellation is hostile

5. Bizee (formerly IncFile) — US-residents free starter

Pricing: Free + state, Gold $199, Platinum $299
EIN: +$70
Caveat: Compliance reminders are spotty

6. DIY — for founders with US SSN and patience

Cost: $100 state filing + ~$125/yr registered agent + free EIN online (SSN required)
Why pick: Pure cost minimization
Why skip if non-US: SS-4 paper filing from abroad is the bottleneck

Step-by-step Virginia LLC formation

Choose a name — must include "LLC", "L.L.C.", or "Limited Liability Company". Verify availability via the Virginia SCC business entity search.
Designate a registered agent — physical Virginia street address required, no PO Boxes. The agent must be either a Virginia resident or a registered business authorized to act as agent.
File Articles of Organization — $100 to the Virginia State Corporation Commission. Online filings are typically approved in 2–5 business days.
Get an EIN from the IRS — free online for US residents with SSN; non-US founders file SS-4 paper (4–8 weeks).
Register for a Virginia State Tax Account Number — required even without a general business license.
Open a US business bank account — Mercury Bank, 3-hour approval if LLC and EIN are clean.
File the Annual Registration Fee — $50 every year, due by the last day of your anniversary month.
Local BPOL license if applicable — most Virginia counties/cities require BPOL registration for businesses physically operating in their jurisdiction.

FAQ

Are LLC members and managers really hidden in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia's Articles of Organization do not require listing members or managers. They appear only in your internal Operating Agreement, which is never filed publicly. The registered agent's name and address are public, but you can use a service to keep your home address off the record entirely. This is one of the strongest privacy profiles outside Wyoming.

Can a non-US resident form a Virginia LLC?
Yes. Virginia does not require US citizenship or residency. You need a Virginia-based registered agent with a physical street address (any formation service above) and a way to get an EIN without SSN (Doola handles SS-4 paper filing).

Does Virginia have an LLC annual report?
No — only corporations file Annual Reports in Virginia. LLCs pay a $50 annual registration fee, due the last day of your LLC's anniversary month. Miss it and your LLC falls into automatic cancellation status.

What's BPOL and do I need to pay it?
BPOL (Business, Professional, Occupational License) is a local tax in most Virginia counties and cities. If you have a physical Virginia presence or generate gross receipts in a Virginia locality, you'll likely need to register with that locality. If you're a fully remote non-US founder using only a registered agent address, BPOL usually doesn't apply — but confirm with a Virginia CPA.

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