Short answer
Forming an LLC in West Virginia costs $100 in state fees[2]. After that the Annual Report costs $25 every year[3].
To have it handled in West Virginia, Mainstay Filing charges $199 a year plus the $100 state fee at cost[1].
- Formation fee
- $100
- Annual Report
- $25, every year
- Ongoing, per year (avg.)
- $25
- Late fee
- $50
- Change of agent
- $15
- Other states, ongoing fees
- 20 lower, 25 higher
Updated October 29, 2026. Fees from official sources; prices from providers' own pages.
Every West Virginia LLC state fee
| Filing | Fee | When | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation (Form LLD-1) | $100 | Once | [2] sos.wv.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Annual Report | $25 | Every year | [3] business4.wv.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Late filing penalty | $50 | If late | [4] code.wvlegislature.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
| Change of agent for service of process | $15 | When filed | [5] sos.wv.gov, updated October 29, 2026 |
Fees paid to West Virginia agencies only; card and portal charges and expedite options are not included.
In the formation year the state bill is $100. Each later year adds $25.
Paying someone to handle it
An owner who lives in West Virginia can be named as the agent, or the company can name none. Naming an agent for service of process is optional in West Virginia: the statute says an LLC "may" keep one.
Agent-only service from Mainstay Filing costs $149 a year in West Virginia[1]. Its $199-a-year package adds the formation filing, the EIN application and each Annual Report. Both prices stay the same at renewal.
We also read 8 other services' West Virginia prices on October 20, 2026. They started at $99 and went up to $249 for year one, with renewals of $125 to $249.
The Annual Report
The West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division handles the West Virginia Annual Report. Its timing, method and cost:
- Filing: Annual Report
- Filed with: West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
- Fee: $25, every year[3]
- Deadline: July 1 each year[4]
- How to file: online
- Late fee: $50
Filing after the deadline adds $50. Continued non-filing can lead to the West Virginia company being dissolved or its registration revoked[4].
West Virginia's small businesses
West Virginia had 25,765 employer firms and 93,669 nonemployer businesses in the Census Bureau's 2022 counts. Of the business locations that opened in West Virginia between April 2019 and March 2020, 53.6% were still open in March 2025.
Regional comparison
Spread over the years, a West Virginia LLC pays the state $25 a year. The 50-state median is $30, and 20 states charge less and 25 charge more. Next door, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania cost less per year.
| State | Formation | Report | Per year (avg.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 / yr | $25 |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 / yr | $15 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 / yr | $300 |
| Ohio | $99 | None | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 / yr | $7 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 / yr | $50 |
Each state's figures come from its own statute or fee schedule, verified August 12, 2026. "Per year" spreads a biennial fee over two years and excludes taxes billed by revenue departments.
Questions
How much is the West Virginia LLC Annual Report?
$25, every year[3]. It is due july 1 each year.
What happens if a West Virginia LLC misses the deadline?
West Virginia charges a $50 late fee. The LLC loses good standing with the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division, and continued non-filing can end in administrative dissolution or revocation.
Is there a service that keeps a West Virginia LLC filed?
Yes. For $199 a year, Mainstay Filing files the formation with the West Virginia Secretary of State, serves as agent for service of process and applies for the EIN[1]. The $25 Annual Report fee is passed through when it is filed.
Is West Virginia an expensive state for an LLC?
On the $100 it charges to form an LLC, 16 states charge less and 24 charge more. For ongoing fees ($25 a year on average), 20 states charge less and 25 charge more.
Sources
- Mainstay Filing pricing, registered agent and FAQ pages. Updated October 29, 2026.
- W. Va. Code § 31B-2-202 (Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, Organization); fee prescribed by W. Va. Code § 59-1-2. sos.wv.gov/media/282/download?inline=. Updated October 29, 2026.
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division: Annual Report rules and fee. business4.wv.gov/Documents/OneStopAnnRepInstr.pdf. Updated October 29, 2026.
- W. Va. Code § 31B-2-211 (LLC annual report contents); § 59-1-2a (fees, due date, late fee, dissolution). code.wvlegislature.gov/31B-2-211/. Updated October 29, 2026.
- Application to Appoint or Change Process, Officers, and/or Addresses fee. sos.wv.gov/agent-address-andor-officer-change. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Statistics of U.S. Businesses 2022 and Nonemployer Statistics 2022. www.census.gov/programs-surveys/susb.html. Updated October 29, 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics, Establishment Age and Survival, Table 7 (data through March 2025). www.bls.gov/bdm/bdmage.htm. Updated October 29, 2026.