5 Best Virginia LLC Services for 2024 (Formation & Help)


Steve Bennett
Steve Bennett
Business Formation Expert
Steve runs LLCBuddy, helping entrepreneurs set up their LLCs easily. He offers clear guides, articles, and FAQs to simplify the process. His team keeps everything accurate and current, focusing on state rules, registered agents, and compliance. Steve’s passion for helping businesses grow makes LLCBuddy a go-to resource for starting and managing an LLC.

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Planning to launch your business in Virginia? It is much easier if a professional lends a hand in the formation of your corporation or LLC in Virginia. When you look for the best LLC formation services, you probably get many names that are claimed to be the best.

The LLCBuddy team has made things easier for you. If you’re lost in so many services, here we are with a list of the best LLC formation services in Virginia. On this page, you will find their features, pricing, and other details that can be compared before you purchase the service. Check out the best LLC formation service in Virginia. If you’re not a reading type of person, you can watch this video before you make your purchase.

Best LLC Formation Services in Virginia

Here is the list of the best LLC services available in Virginia. The best thing about these services is starting your LLC for free. Some of the following services are offering LLC formation in Virginia at $0. Other than the state fees and charges, you do not have to pay any charges to the service provider. You will get the basic formation package for free. Now, let’s check out the list of best LLC formation service providers in Virginia-

LLC Service

Our Rating & Pricing

Top Features

Learn More

#1 TOP PICK

$0 + State Fees

  • 100% accuracy guarantee

  • Worry-free service

  • Great customer support

$0 + State Fees

  • Free LLC Formation

  • Extras are bit more expensive

  • Other business solutions

Below is the list of the best LLC formation services we picked for you in Virginia.

  1. ZenBusiness – Known for its affordable packages and efficient service, ZenBusiness has become a favorite among new entrepreneurs.
  2. TailorBrands – Beyond LLC services, TailorBrands stands out with its branding solutions, making it a one-stop shop for budding businesses.
  3. LegalZoom – With years of industry experience, LegalZoom offers comprehensive services and a vast array of legal resources.
  4. Northwest Registered Agent – Praised for its top-notch customer service, Northwest ensures personalized assistance and detailed compliance guidance.
  5. BetterLegal – Speed is BetterLegal’s forte, promising the fastest LLC formation process in the market.

Our Editorial Team selects these companies through thorough research and market study. It is recommended that you cross-check all the factors before choosing the right one for your business.

1. ZenBusiness

ZenBusiness is a Texas-based company that provides services from formation to annual compliance to an LLC. It offers three plans, Starter, Pro, and Premium. The Starter plan starts from $0. That means you can form your LLC for free in Virginia, though you must pay the state filing fee of $100 to the Virginia Secretary of State. But, the company charges nothing to form your business in the state.

ZenBusiness Plans

  1. Starter Plan at $0 + state filing fee
  2. Pro Plan at $199/year + state filing fee
  3. Premium Plan at $299/year + state filing fee

ZenBusiness Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get ZenBusinessWhy You Should Not Get ZenBusiness
100% accuracy rateDoes not form Virginia nonprofit
Free LLC formation in VirginiaAdditional cost for EIN
User friendly
Standalone Registered Agent services in Virginia

ZenBusiness Overview

ZenBusiness is one of those top-rated companies that provide business formation in Virginia at a minimum cost (currently at $0). There is no charge to be paid to the company for forming your LLC in Virginia. The state filing fee and other necessary fees must be paid, including the registered agent fee.

ZenBusiness offers three plans, among which the Pro plan is recommended. The Pro plan has everything you need to start an LLC in Virginia. Obtaining EIN, operating agreement drafting, name search, and all other services are available with the rush filing feature.

2. TailorBrands

Do you want to create a brand for your business in Virginia? Here is the LLC formation service provider, TailorBrands, for you. The company was established in 2015 in New York, and since then, it has offered several incredible services to set up your business. TailorBrands has a single LLC formation plan that starts at $49 a year. You can choose different other add-on services at an additional cost.

TailorBrands Services

TailorBrands offers a single plan for forming an LLC at $49. There are some basic services that TailorBrands offers, including starting an LLC, filing it, Virginia name availability search, priority support, and so on. You can use their add-on services as and when required. Add-ons are-

  • Registered Agent Service – $199/year
  • Employment ID Number (EIN) – $99 (one-time pay)
  • Annual Compliances – $299/year
  • Operating Agreement – $29
  • Expedited Filing – $49
  • Business bank account – Free

TailorBrands Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get TailorBrandsWhy You Shouldn’t Get TailorBrands
Low-cost LLC formationNot BBB Accredited
Free business bank accountsNo business domain packages
Hassle-free LLC formationAdditional charges to obtain EIN
Additional services like logo, website, domain

TailorBrands Overview

TailorBrands does not have vast LLC formation packages. Instead, it has a single package that includes the formation of LLCs. The name availability search is unlimited, and you don’t have to pay any additional fees. The state filing fee of $100 must be paid apart from the charges you pay for add-ons.

TailorBrands offers other business services such as logo making, domain, website, business bank account, merchandise, and other business services. As a small or start-up business, you must go for TailorBrands.

3. LegalZoom

LegalZoom is one of the service providers in Virginia that offers free LLC formation services. If you want to avoid spending money to form your LLC, then LegalZoom is for you. It offers various formation packages that include all types of LLC services. Aside from LLC formation, LegalZoom offers C and S Corp formation. With over thousands of customers, the company offers basic LLC formation services at $0.

LegalZoom Plans

  • Basic Package- $0 + State Filing Fees (Tax deduction may be applicable)
  • Pro Package – $249 + State Filing Fees (Tax deductible may be applicable)
  • Premium Package – $279 + State Filing Fees (Tax deduction may be applicable)

Apart from these packages, LegalZoom offers a bunch of add-on services as well. Add-on services include the following-

  • Registered Agent – $299 per year. Available as an add-on and not included in any packages
  • Trademark registration: Assisting with the US trademark application process
  • Copyright registration: Guidance on registering copyrights for creative works
  • Patent services: Support in obtaining utility, design, and plant patents
  • Estate planning: Offering personalized wills, trusts, and power of attorney documents
  • Legal advice: Access to a network of lawyers for consultations and legal guidance
  • Expedited Filing: With an additional $99, you can speed up your filing process.

LegalZoom Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get LegalZoomWhy You Shouldn’t Get LegalZoom
Free LLC formationExpensive add-ons, such as Registered Agent
Trustworthy and established reputationHigher pricing compared to some competitors
Quick turnaround timeFewer add-on options
Access to legal professionalsSome additional fees not included in plan prices
Customer support is available through phone or chatMixed customer reviews

LegalZoom Overview

LegalZoom is one of the oldest companies in the USA. This company is a service provider offering LLC formation at $0. It offers three broad packages, Basic, Pro, and Premium. The Basic package costs $0. However, you must pay the Virginia filing fee while filing the Articles of Organization with the Virginia Secretary of State. The filing fee depends on which method, mail, online, or any other method you choose.

LegalZoom offers vast add-ones like others. Hence, the chances of getting diverse services are comparatively high. The best part about the company is that it has access to legal documents and legal consultations. The registered agent service is a bit expensive. If you want to hire a Registered Agent from LegalZoom, you must purchase that service separately; it does not come with any formation plans.

4. Northwest Registered Agent

Northwest Registered Agent is a family-owned business based in Spoken, Washington state. The company offers LLC formation, registered agent service, annual compliances, and other business-related services in all 50 states, including Virginia. It offers LLC formation at $39 + state fees and registered agent service at $125 yearly.

Northwest Plans

Northwest does not have conventional packages. It offers Core, Business maintenance, and business development services. Under these categories, various services are available at a flat rate. Some of the services offered by Northwest in Virginia are listed below-

  • LLC formation in Virginia at $39 + state filing fee
  • Registered Agent at $125 yearly
  • Annual report filing at $100 + state filing fee
  • Obtaining EIN at $50
  • Northwest offers National Agent Service. If you operate your LLC Registered Agent in 5 or more states, you can pay $100 + state fees (if applicable) to get a single agent for all states.

Northwest Registered Agent Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get NorthwestWhy You Should Not Get Northwest
DIY Packages for your LLC in VirginiaNot BBB accredited
No plans, flat rate for all servicesYou must form Virginia LLC to purchase only the service you need.
You must form Virginia LLC to purchase only the service you need.The operating agreement draft is not included in the Core services
Northwest offers a standalone Registered Agent service in Virginia

Northwest Registered Agent Overview

Northwest is one of those service providers that offer DIY packages. Northwest is not for you if you want a wholesome formation package in Virginia. It does not have conventional LLC formation packages. It is simply like a departmental store for you. You don’t need to buy everything, but the only thing you need.

Northwest has in-house corporate guides to guide you through the formation process. It offers LLC formation at $39 plus the state filing fee ($125). If you have already formed your LLC in Virginia and are willing to appoint a Registered Agent only, then Northwest can provide a standalone registered agent service at $125 per year.

Northwest offers single flat rates for all services in Virginia and other states. The best part about the company is it does not outsource any of its services. Northwest offers corporate guides to help you through the steps of LLC formation.

5. BetterLegal

BetterLegal is a comparatively new company compared to other competitors. However, this company has successfully grabbed a large portion of the market in the United States. Serving in 51 states, BetterLegal has been in business since 2016. Unlike other experienced companies, it does not have a list of packages and plans for LLC formation.

BetterLegal Plans

BetterLegal offers one single plan at a flat $299 + state filing fees. It has a list of add-on services as well. BetterLegal is an online service that started off with a very small team. However, even after being in the business for so long, they didn’t increase their team size much. They have transparent pricing, and no hidden charge exists for any services they provide.

BetterLegal offers a list of add-on services. Following are the additional services they offer-

  • Registered Agent service – $10/month or $90/year
  • State Annual compliance services – $10/month or $90/year
  • Permit & License Search Service – $125
  • Amendment & document research – Free with the core formation service package

BetterLegal Pros and Cons

Why You Must Get BetterLegalWhy You Shouldn’t Get BetterLegal
No refund; all sales are finalThe basic package does not include a registered agent service
Quick Turnaround timeAdditional charge for EIN
A+ BBB AccreditedThe basic package does not include a registered agent service
Single plan for all incorporation

BetterLegal Overview

Even though the company is called BetterLegal, no attorneys or legal services are available. The company offers a single plan for all types of business formation. Hence, if you are planning to form a corporation, you can pay $299 + incorporation fee ($100 for online and by mail filing or in person filing in Virginia). It offers comparatively better turnaround time at a reasonable price than other companies. You can file your LLC within 10 minutes with BetterLegal.

It offers a resource center for new entrepreneurs. They provide guidance to make things easier when it comes to filing your business. Their small team sometimes fails to cater to their customers on time. Reaching out to their customer support team is very difficult. Another disadvantage is it does not have a refund policy. All sales with BetterLegal are final, and at any stage, no refund is made upon cancelation. However, basic LLC formation and registered agent services are much cheaper in BetterLegal than in other close competitors.

How to Form an LLC in Virginia

Forming an LLC in Virginia takes a few steps. The first step is to get a clear idea about doing business in Virginia. Before jumping into the pool of paperwork, make sure you have a thorough knowledge of taxes and the costs of starting any business in Virginia.

In general, Virginia, popularly known as The Old Dominion, is a business-friendly state with a population of 8,820,504. The state has the nominal GDP is 654,573 (in millions). Hence, you can start any small or medium-sized business in Virginia based on your budget. Forming an LLC in Virginia can be a good option as it is less complicated than other forms of business. If you choose the state capital, Richmond, to start your LLC, you might get more tax and other benefits.

There are five most important steps to follow when you establish an LLC in Virginia:

Now, these steps seem to be easy. But unfortunately, it is not that simple. Each business has to file different documents based on local licenses and permits. From January 1, 2024, all the LLCs and Corporations have to file the BOI Report with the FinCEN. If you start an LLC, you must file the BOI Report in Virginia.

You can do that on your own. However, getting a professional on board is always recommended to guide you through the process. These steps are crucial and sensitive. You must complete everything to avoid canceling your formation process. Hence, having a professional LLC formation service for your LLC is better.

How to Choose the Best LLC Formation Service in Florida

It is important to choose the best service for your business carefully. Before you select the best one, make sure you thoroughly research the following points-

  1. Reputation: Look for a company with a good reputation. Check reviews and ratings from previous clients to see how they feel about the services offered.
  2. Experience: Choose a company with years of LLC formation experience. This ensures that they have knowledge of the process and can provide quality services.
  3. Cost: Compare prices between different companies. Choose a company that offers affordable pricing for the services you need.
  4. Customer Service: Ensure that the company has good customer service. They should be responsive, helpful, and willing to answer any questions.
  5. Services Offered: Look for a company that offers a range of services, including entity formation, registered agent services, and ongoing compliance support to ensure your LLC remains in good standing.
  6. Ease of Use: Choose a company with a user-friendly website and easy-to-use online platform. This makes the process of forming an LLC simple and straightforward.
  7. Guarantees: Check if the company offers a satisfaction guarantee or a refund policy. This gives you peace of mind that you are getting the best possible service.

FAQs

Why should I use an LLC formation service in Virginia?
Using an LLC formation service in Virginia can help ensure that all necessary paperwork is filed correctly and efficiently.
Can a non-resident form an LLC in Virginia?
Yes, non-residents can form an LLC in Virginia, but they must appoint a registered agent with a physical address in the state.
What is the cost of forming an LLC in Virginia with a formation service?
The cost of forming an LLC in Virginia with a formation service can vary depending on the company you choose, but it typically ranges from $50 to $500.
What is the processing time for forming an LLC in Virginia?
The processing time for forming an LLC in Virginia can vary, but it typically takes 1 to 2 weeks.
Do I need an attorney to form an LLC in Virginia?
While it is not required to have an attorney to form an LLC in Virginia, it can be helpful to consult with one to ensure all legal requirements are met.
Can I form an LLC online in Virginia?
Yes, you can form an LLC online in Virginia through the Virginia State Corporation Commission website.
What information do I need to provide to form an LLC in Virginia?
To form an LLC in Virginia, you will need to provide information such as the name of your company, the purpose of your company, and the names and addresses of the members.
Can I change the name of my LLC in Virginia after it is formed?
Yes, you can change the name of your LLC in Virginia after it is formed by filing a name change amendment with the State Corporation Commission.
Do I need a business license to operate an LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you will need to obtain a business license to operate an LLC in Virginia. The requirements for a business license vary depending on the locality.
What is a registered agent in Virginia?
A registered agent in Virginia is a person or company that agrees to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC and ensure they are delivered in a timely manner.
Can I act as my own registered agent in Virginia?
Yes, you can act as your own registered agent in Virginia, but you must have a physical address in the state where legal documents can be served.
Are there any annual compliance requirements for LLCs in Virginia?
Yes, LLCs in Virginia are required to file an annual report with the State Corporation Commission and pay an annual registration fee.
Can I add members to my LLC in Virginia after it is formed?
Yes, you can add members to your LLC in Virginia after it is formed by amending the operating agreement and filing a Statement of Change with the State Corporation Commission.
Can I dissolve my LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you can dissolve your LLC in Virginia by filing Articles of Dissolution with the State Corporation Commission.
What is an operating agreement for an LLC in Virginia?
An operating agreement for an LLC in Virginia is a legal document that outlines the ownership and operating procedures of the company.
Do I need an EIN for my Virginia LLC?
Yes, you will need to obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for tax purposes when forming an LLC in Virginia.
Can I form a professional LLC (PLLC) in Virginia?
Yes, you can form a professional LLC (PLLC) in Virginia if you provide professional services that require a state license.
Are there any special tax requirements for LLCs in Virginia?
LLCs in Virginia may be subject to state taxes such as the Virginia Business Income Tax.
Can I transfer my LLC to Virginia from another state?
Yes, you can transfer your LLC to Virginia from another state by filing a Foreign LLC Conversion with the State Corporation Commission.
What is a Certificate of Good Standing in Virginia?
A Certificate of Good Standing in Virginia is a document that proves your LLC is in compliance with all state requirements and is authorized to do business.
Do I need a business bank account for my LLC in Virginia?
Yes, it is recommended to have a separate business bank account for your LLC in Virginia to keep personal and business finances separate.
Can I convert my existing business to an LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you can convert your existing business to an LLC in Virginia by filing Articles of Conversion with the State Corporation Commission.
Can I operate multiple businesses under one LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you can operate multiple businesses under one LLC in Virginia, as long as they are related to the primary business purpose stated in the Articles of Organization.
Are there any restrictions on company names for LLCs in Virginia?
Yes, there are restrictions on company names for LLCs in Virginia, such as not misleadingly similar to existing company names.
Can I change the registered agent for my LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you can change the registered agent for your LLC in Virginia by filing a Statement of Change of Registered Office/Agent with the State Corporation Commission.
What are the ongoing maintenance requirements for LLCs in Virginia?
Ongoing maintenance requirements for LLCs in Virginia include annual reports, registration fees, and compliance with state laws and regulations.
Can I add an online store to my LLC in Virginia?
Yes, you can add an online store to your LLC in Virginia as long as it is related to the business activities stated in the Articles of Organization.
Can I form an LLC for real estate investments in Virginia?
Yes, you can form an LLC for real estate investments in Virginia to protect your personal assets and manage your rental properties more efficiently.
Can I form an LLC for a restaurant or food business in Virginia?
Yes, you can form an LLC for a restaurant or food business in Virginia to protect your personal assets and separate liability from your business operations.
What are the best LLC formation services in Virginia?
Some of the top LLC formation services in Virginia include Northwest Registered Agent, Incfile, and Rocket Lawyer.

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Conclusion

Starting a business in Florida is a big step. It’s really helpful to have experts on your side. When you use a professional LLC service, you’re making sure everything is done right without any headaches. We’ve given you a list of the top choices in this article. Take your time to look at each one. Check their prices, see what they offer, and think about what’s best for your business.

Remember, picking the right Florida LLC service can make things smoother and better for your business as it grows. If you want the best for your business, check out ZenBusiness. They’re our number one recommendation for their compelling offer of $0 + state fee for LLC formation, combined with an impressive array of 5-star Trustpilot reviews. Seize this exceptional opportunity for your business!

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