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Virginia · How-To Guide

How do I get a business license?

Virginia State Corporation Commission - SCC (entity formation) / Virginia Department of Taxation (tax registration) / Local Commissioner of the Revenue / County or City for local licenses (BPOL tax)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine your business structure: sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, LP, LLP, or professional entity
  2. Register your business entity with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) - file online at scc.virginia.gov (CIS - Clerk's Information System); Virginia offers online filing through the SCC portal
  3. Obtain an EIN from the IRS at irs.gov
  4. Register with the Virginia Department of Taxation for applicable state taxes at tax.virginia.gov (iFile or business one-stop portal):
  5. - Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax account (if selling taxable goods/services)
  6. - Virginia Withholding Tax account (if hiring employees)
  7. - Virginia income tax registration (Virginia has an individual income tax applicable to LLC/S-Corp income)
  8. Register at tax.virginia.gov or business.virginia.gov (Virginia Business One-Stop)
  9. BUSINESS LICENSE AND BPOL TAX - IMPORTANT VIRGINIA REQUIREMENT:
  10. Virginia localities levy a BUSINESS, PROFESSIONAL, AND OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE (BPOL) TAX; this is effectively a local gross receipts tax and license requirement; EVERY Virginia locality (county or independent city) where you operate requires a BPOL license annually; file with the LOCAL Commissioner of the Revenue in each jurisdiction where you do business; BPOL rates are set locally (typically 0.01-0.57% of gross receipts depending on business type); minimum taxes and exemptions vary by locality; this is an important and often overlooked requirement
  11. Check for industry-specific state licenses: contractors (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation - DPOR; dpor.virginia.gov); healthcare professionals, real estate, cosmetologists, engineers through DPOR; alcohol/beverage licenses through the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority (ABC)
  12. Renew entity annual report with SCC; renew BPOL license annually with each locality; renew professional licenses per DPOR schedule
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Business name and type of activity
  • Virginia business address and registered agent (must be in Virginia)
  • Entity formation documents
  • EIN or SSN
  • Industry-specific certifications
Fee
LLC formation: $100 (online); corporation: $75 (online); ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE: $50 (LLC); $100 (corporation - first year); BPOL: revenue-based (contact local Commissioner of Revenue for rates and minimums); Sales Tax: free; DPOR license: varies by profession RENEWAL: Annual registration fee due by April 30 each year; BPOL: annually by March 1 in most jurisdictions (varies); professional licenses: per DPOR board ONLINE OPTION: Yes - scc.virginia.gov (entity formation and annual registration); tax.virginia.gov (tax registration); business.virginia.gov (Virginia Business One-Stop) WHERE TO GO: SCC (entity formation); VA Department of Taxation (tax registration); Local Commissioner of the Revenue (BPOL license - varies by jurisdiction); DPOR (professional/contractor licenses)
Online Option
Yes - scc.virginia.gov (entity formation and annual registration); tax.virginia.gov (tax registration); business.virginia.gov (Virginia Business One-Stop)
Where to Go
SCC (entity formation); VA Department of Taxation (tax registration); Local Commissioner of the Revenue (BPOL license - varies by jurisdiction); DPOR (professional/contractor licenses)
Virginia Notes

Important state-specific details

  • VIRGINIA BPOL TAX: Local gross receipts tax/license; universal in Virginia; file with each locality's Commissioner of the Revenue; not to be confused with the state sales tax; important annual requirement.
  • SCC LLC FORMATION: $100 (online) - moderate nationally.
  • ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE: $50/year (LLCs) - moderate.
  • VIRGINIA INCOME TAX: Flat 5.75% top rate for individuals and pass-through income.
  • DPOR (Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation): handles contractor licenses, real estate, cosmetology, engineers; dpor.virginia.gov.
  • Virginia Business One-Stop (business.virginia.gov): integrated portal for business registration, licenses, and taxes.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Virginia SCC, Clerk's Office - scc.virginia.gov | (804) 371-9733; Virginia Department of Taxation - tax.virginia.gov | (804) 367-8037; Virginia Business One-Stop: business.virginia.gov; DPOR - dpor.virginia.gov | (804) 367-8500; Local Commissioner of the Revenue (BPOL - varies by jurisdiction)