Virginia (VA) Secretary of State (SOS) LLC & Business Search

Virginia Secretary of State provides a business entity search that enables users to search their database of businesses that have been registered in Virginia. The database can be searched in a variety of ways to find businesses and publicly available information about the businesses can be viewed.

You can search the Virginia business entity search database by:

• Entity name
• Entity ID
• Principal name
• Registered agent name
• Filing number

Search by entity name

The Virginia business entity search database offers different levels of searches. There is a basic search that enables you to search by entity name.

There is also an advanced search for entity name which allows you to select starts with, contains or exact match as well as choose a range of options to narrow down your search such as entity type, entity status, name type and industry code, plus more as shown in the image below.

The search results include information about the businesses which includes entity ID, entity name, name type, entity type, series LLC, principal office address, registered agent name and status.

The businesses listed can be viewed in more detail by clicking on the entity ID which is highlighted in blue. This opens the business record and includes:

• Entity name
• Entity ID
• Entity type
• Entity status
• Series LLC
• Reason for status
• Formation date
• Status date
• VA qualification date
• Period of duration
• Industry code
• Annual report due date
• Jurisdiction
• Charter fee
• Registration fee due date
• Filing history

Search by entity ID

The Virginia business entity search database can be searched by entity ID if you know this number.

The search results are unique to a single business but there may be more than one item in the list if the business has been in more than one status on the database, such as reserved name, legal name and fictitious name. More information about the business can be seen by clicking on the entity ID which shows additional information such as formation date, jurisdiction, key dates and filing history. A full list of the details available is listed above in search by entity name.

Search by principal name

The database can be searched by principal name as an individual name with separate first and last name fields or entity name with a single field. You can also add other advanced search options to narrow the search as shown below.

The search results are listed with all businesses that have a principal that matches your search criteria. The results display the entity ID, entity name, name type, entity type, series LLC, principal office address, registered agent name and status.

You can see more information on any of the businesses listed by clicking on the entity ID which opens the business record to show additional information such as key dates about the business, jurisdiction and filing history. A list of all the information you can see is detailed above in search by entity name.

Search by registered agent name

You can also search by registered agent name either as a person’s name with a first and last name or as an entity with a single search field, plus you can utilise additional advanced search options as shown below.

A list will be generated with businesses that have a registered agent with the name searched and the list will include details about these businesses which includes entity ID, entity name, name type, entity type, series LLC, principal office address, registered agent name and status.

Further details about the businesses can be viewed by clicking on the entity ID highlighted in blue which will display the business record. The additional business details include information such as key dates for the business, jurisdiction and filing history, plus more information as listed above in search by entity name.

Search by filing number

If you know the filing number of a document you can also search by this on the Vermont business entity search database.

The results of a filing number search can have more than one listing if you are searching on formation documents and the business has a reserved name and a legal name even though the filing number is unique to the business. Like other searches, you can view the business information by clicking on the entity ID to see other information such as formation date, other key dates, jurisdiction and filing history. Other information is available as listed above in search by entity name.

Contact details

Website: https://www.scc.virginia.gov/

Phone: (804) 371-9733

Address: Office of the Clerk, 1^st Floor, 1300 E Main Street, Richmond, Virginia (physical address) or Office of the Clerk, PO Box 1197, Richmond, Virginia, 23218 (mailing address)

Hours: Monday-Friday 8.15am-5.00pm

Email: sccinfo@scc.virginia.gov for general enquiries or sccefile@scc.virginia.gov for business filings

How to register a business in Virginia?

If you are setting up a business in Virginia then you will need to register it with the Virginia Secretary of State. These steps can help with this process:

1. You will need to decide what business type you are going to form under as this will impact your legal protections and how you operate.
2. You will also need to choose your business name and ensure that it is distinctive by doing a name check availability.
3. You will also need to select a person as the registered agent who will receive all official paperwork and annual registration fee notices. This can be yourself or another appointed person such as a third-party business.
4. Once you have decided the above three steps you are ready to register your business and you can do this online or paper but online filing is preferable and quicker. You will need to set up an online account to register your business through the State Corporate Commission. This online registration will take you through the process of registration and ensure that you complete the correct forms. There is a registration fee which varies depending on your business structure such as $100 for LLCs and LLPs and starts at $75 for corporations.
5. You may also need to register your business with Virginia Tax and get a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN).

How much does a Virginia business entity search cost?

There are no charges for doing a business entity search in Virginia.

How can I get a business license in Virginia?

In Virginia, there is no general statewide business license but there are other licenses and permits that will be required. There are federal, state and local licenses and permits that will be needed which are industry or profession-based or locality-based. You can search for business licenses on the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation. Fees for licenses and permits vary due to the variety of types and who administers them.