Updated 2026-04-30 · Verified against West Virginia Secretary of State
The registered agent designation in West Virginia is governed by W.Va. Code §31B-1-108, which applies to LLCs, corporations, and most other formal business entities. The agent’s address must be a physical street location inside West Virginia, staffed during normal business hours. The name and address are entered on the public record maintained by the West Virginia Secretary of State. The agent’s name and street address are filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State and become part of the public business record.
The registered agent is one component of a broader West Virginia compliance schedule that also includes the $100 Articles of Organization filing, an annual report of $25 annually between January 1 and July 1, and a $15 fee whenever the agent of record changes. West Virginia offers veteran-owned LLCs a four-year waiver of the $100 formation fee under W.Va. Code §59-1-2a.
| # | Service | Price/yr | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest Registered Agent | $125 | privacy-focused customers |
| 2 | ZenBusiness | $199 | new businesses bundling formation |
| 3 | LegalZoom | $249 | customers wanting brand-name support |
| 4 | Mainstay Filing | $99 | balanced value |
West Virginia-specific option: West Virginia Registered Agent.co operates exclusively in West Virginia and specializes in same-state filings. Best for businesses that want a state-focused provider with local-only operations.
| Physical address required | Yes — must be a street address in West Virginia |
|---|---|
| P.O. box allowed | No |
| Business hours availability | Required during normal business hours |
| Resident requirement | Must be a West Virginia resident OR a business entity authorized to do business in West Virginia |
| Listed in public record | Yes — name and address are publicly searchable via West Virginia Secretary of State |
| Statute reference | W.Va. Code §31B-1-108 |
| Filing Type | Fee | Renewal | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC formation (Articles of Organization) | $100 | annually between January 1 and July 1 | $25 |
| DBA / Fictitious Name | $25 | Every 5 years | $25 |
| Registered Agent change | $15 | — | — |
| Annual Report | $25 | annually between January 1 and July 1 | $25 |
Yes — if you are a West Virginia resident with a physical street address and are available during business hours.
Yes. West Virginia law requires every LLC to maintain a West Virginia-based registered agent regardless of where the owner lives.
The West Virginia Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your business after approximately 60 days of non-compliance.
Yes — file a Statement of Change of Registered Agent with the West Virginia Secretary of State for $15.
$50–$150 per year for commercial services; free if you self-serve.
Yes. The agent's name and address are searchable via the West Virginia Secretary of State business records.
Same-day with most commercial services; same-business-day filing if submitted online before the daily cutoff.
This page provides general information about West Virginia registered agent requirements, not legal advice. Filing fees and procedures may change; verify current details with the West Virginia Secretary of State before filing. We may receive compensation from services listed in our comparisons; this does not influence our editorial selections.