How to search West Virginia records
- Search by organization name or ID on the corporations search.
- The detail page lists officers, members or managers, and the agent.
- Check "Annual Reports" on the record for the last year filed.
Open the official West Virginia search
West Virginia SOS, corporation and LLC search
West Virginia Secretary of State Business Search
The West Virginia Secretary of State business search is run by the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division through its Business Organization Detail search. Related queries such as "WV SOS business entity search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its organization ID so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
West Virginia Entity Search
An entity search of the West Virginia business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because West Virginia expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
West Virginia Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "WV corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
West Virginia LLC Search
Run the West Virginia LLC search with the exact name, then note the organization ID. Forming a West Virginia LLC costs $100 and the annual report is $25. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
WV Business Name Search
A WV business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. West Virginia lets you hold a name for 120 days for $15. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
WV Business License Search
A West Virginia entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
A long annual report window
West Virginia gives LLCs from January 1 to July 1 to file their $25 annual report. The One Stop Business Portal links the Secretary of State record with tax registration, so both are often created on the same day.
West Virginia filing facts
| Record number | Organization ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $100. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $25, yearly |
| Due | Between January 1 and July 1 |
| Name reservation | $15 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 304-558-8000 |
What a West Virginia LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $100 | $0 | $100 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
| Three-year state total | $150 | ||
Detailed records and costly bulk data
The detail page lists officers, members or managers and the agent, which helps any LLC lookup. West Virginia sells its database as nine CSV files for $12,000, plus $1,750 a month for updates, according to its 2026 request form; see data downloads by state.
Using the One Stop portal
Because West Virginia links entity and tax registration, a new business can complete both in one session. When checking a company, look at the officers listed on the record and confirm the annual report for the current year was filed by July 1.
How West Virginia compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 | Yearly | $15 |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $10 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | None | $39 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | Yearly | $70 |
Before you rely on a West Virginia result
- Entities that miss the annual report are administratively dissolved after notice.
- DBAs are filed with the Secretary of State.
Bulk West Virginia business data
Sold by the state. $12,000 full database; $1,750 per month for updates. Nine CSV files (corporations, officers, annual reports, DBAs and more); resale needs a separate contract. Official source
Searching beyond West Virginia
Registries next to West Virginia: Virginia business search, Ohio business search, Pennsylvania business search.
West Virginia business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in West Virginia?
The state filing fee is $100. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $25 a year in state fees.
When is the West Virginia annual report due?
West Virginia calls it the annual report. It costs $25, it is filed yearly, and it is due between January 1 and July 1.
Can I reserve a business name in West Virginia?
Yes. A name reservation costs $15 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the West Virginia annual report due?
Between January 1 and July 1. The fee is $25.
Is the West Virginia business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Organization Detail search costs nothing. The West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Secretary of State, Business and Licensing Division. Its business line is 304-558-8000, and its free search is the Business Organization Detail search.
What number identifies a business in West Virginia?
West Virginia assigns each entity an organization ID. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all West Virginia businesses?
Only by buying it. $12,000 full database; $1,750 per month for updates. Nine CSV files (corporations, officers, annual reports, DBAs and more); resale needs a separate contract.
Sources
- West Virginia Secretary of State, Business
- West Virginia business organization search
- West Virginia bulk data source
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