West Virginia lesson 3 of 6
File the Articles of Organization
The document that creates a West Virginia LLC is the Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company, Form LLD-1, filed with the Secretary of State's Business & Licensing Division for a $100 fee.
What the form asks for
Form LLD-1 covers the LLC's name and required name ending, its registered agent and registered office address, whether the LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed, and the organizer's information. A general purpose clause is normally sufficient without listing every planned activity.
- The organizer filing the document does not need to be an owner of the LLC
- The $100 fee is waived for a veteran-owned organization
- You can file one original, or two if you want a filed-stamped copy returned to you
Fee and filing route
The standard filing fee is $100. The fastest route is filing online through the One Stop Business Portal, which the Secretary of State recommends because it validates required information before submission. You can also file by mailing or delivering a paper Form LLD-1 to the Secretary of State's office. If you need faster turnaround, expedited service is available for an added fee: $25 for 24-hour service, $250 for 2-hour service, or $500 for 1-hour service, each on top of the regular filing fee.
After approval
West Virginia does not require an operating agreement to be filed with the state, but adopting one internally is what actually governs ownership, voting and distributions rather than relying on the default rules in the West Virginia Uniform Limited Liability Company Act. Keep your filed Articles and control number on hand, since the State Tax Department and your bank will both reference it.
Key takeaways
- Form LLD-1 costs $100, filed with the Secretary of State's Business & Licensing Division.
- Expedited tiers run from $25 for 24-hour service up to $500 for 1-hour service.
- An operating agreement is not filed with the state but is worth adopting internally.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in West Virginia to form a West Virginia LLC?
No. There is no residency requirement for members or managers. Only the registered agent must meet West Virginia's residency or authorization rules.
Is the West Virginia LLC filing fee ever waived?
Yes. The $100 Articles of Organization fee is waived for a veteran-owned organization, as stated directly on Form LLD-1.
Official sources
Or let us file your West Virginia LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization of Limited Liability Company (Form LLD-1), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team