How to Form a Corporation in Virginia

To form a corporation in Virginia, you need to take the steps set forth below. To find out what's required to form a corporation in any other state, see Nolo's 50-State Guide to Forming a Corporation.

1. Choose a Corporate Name

Your corporation's name must contain the word "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Company" or "Limited," or the abbreviation "Corp.," "Inc.," "Co.," or "Ltd."

Your corporation's name must be distinguishable from the names of other business entities already on file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Office of the Clerk. Names may be checked for availability at the Virginia business name database.

You may reserve a name for 120 days by filing an Application for Reservation or Renewal of a Corporate Name with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The reservation must be filed by mail.

2. File Articles of Incorporation

Your corporation is legally created by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The articles must include the corporate name; the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue; the name and address of agent for service of process; the corporation's principal office address (optional to provide); the name and address of initial board of directors; and the signature of one or more incorporators.

The articles may be completed and filed online or submitted in PDF format to the Clerk's Office for review and filing. The filing fee is based on the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue. The minimum fee is $75 for up to 25,000 shares; the maximum is $2,525 for more than 1 million shares. See the Division of Corporation's fee schedule for more details.

3. Appoint a Registered Agent

Every Virginia corporation must have an agent for service of process in the state. This is an individual or corporation that agrees to accept legal papers on the corporation's behalf if it is sued. The registered agent may be a Virginia resident who is an initial director of the corporation or a member of the Virginia State Bar; or a corporation, limited liability company, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to do business in Virginia. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Virginia. The agent should agree to accept service of process on your corporation's behalf prior to designation.

4. Prepare Corporate Bylaws

Bylaws are an internal corporate document that set out the basic ground rules for operating your corporation. They are not filed with the state. Your corporation is not legally required to have corporate bylaws, but you should adopt them because they establish your corporation's operating rules, and help show banks, creditors, the IRS, and others that your corporation is legitimate. For corporate bylaw forms, see Nolo's website or Incorporate Your Business, by Anthony Mancuso (Nolo).

Keep your bylaws, meeting minutes, and other important corporate papers in a corporate records book. This can be a simple three ring binder or corporate records kit you order through a corporate kit supplier. Keep it at your corporation's principal office.

5. Appoint Directors and Hold Board Meeting

The incorporator—the person who signed the articles—must appoint the initial corporate directors who will serve on the board until the first annual meeting of shareholders (when the board members who will serve for the next term are elected by the shareholders). The incorporator must fill in an "Incorporator's Statement" showing the names and addresses of the initial directors. The incorporator must sign the statement and place a copy in the corporate records book. The statement need not be filed with the state.

The first meeting of the corporation's board of directors should be held at which the directors can appoint corporate officers, adopt bylaws, select a corporate bank, authorize issuance of shares of stock, set the corporation's fiscal year, and adopt an official stock certificate form and corporate seal. The directors' actions must be recorded in corporate minutes prepared by the incorporator or any of the directors. Additionally, if the corporation will be an S corporation, the directors should approve the election of S corporation status. It is usually necessary to prepare the minutes over one or two weeks, and then send them to all the directors for their signature. For corporate meeting minute forms, see Nolo's website or refer to Incorporate Your Business, by Anthony Mancuso (Nolo).

6. Issue Stock

Issue stock to each shareholder in return for their capital contributions of cash, property, services, or all three. Small corporations usually issue paper stock certificates. Enter each shareholder's name and contact information in the corporation's stock transfer ledger.

The default rule in Virginia is that corporate stock has no par value. Thus, the articles need not state whether the shares have a par value. Par value is a set amount below which the stock cannot be sold--it has nothing to do with the stock's actual value. See Nolo's article "What is Par Value Stock."

A share of stock in your corporation is classified as a security under state and federal securities laws that regulate the offer and sale of corporate stock. However, federal law exempts "private offerings:" a non-advertised sale to a limited number of people (generally 35 or fewer). See Nolo's Corporations FAQ for more details.

Virginia's exempts from registration unadvertised sales to up to 35 investors within or outside the state. No state filings or fees are required for this exemption. Most small corporations planning a small, private offering and sale of their initial shares in Virginia should qualify for this exemption from state registration. For more information, see the FAQs prepared by the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

7. Comply with Virginia Annual Report Requirements

Each Virginia corporation and each foreign corporation authorized to transact business in Virginia is required to file an annual report in the Office of the Clerk by the last day of the 12th month after it was incorporated or issued a certificate of authority, and this date in each year thereafter. The annual report can be filed online through SCC eFile or on a form furnished by the Corporation Commission. To obtain a preprinted annual report form to complete and file, provide the requested information on the Electronic Forms Request page

8. Obtain an EIN and Pay Business Taxes

EIN: Your corporation must obtain a federal employer identification number (EIN). You may obtain an EIN by completing an online application on the IRS website. There is no filing fee.

Department of Taxation: Virginia corporations need to register with the Virginia Department of Taxation and obtain a Virginia Tax account number, sales tax certificate of registration (if you need to collect retail sales or use tax). You also are automatically enrolled in a business online services account where you'll be able to file and pay taxes and manage your Virginia Tax account in the future. You can register either online (through the VATAX online service) or on paper (typically using Form R-1).