West Virginia Corporation Formation, 2026
How to form a corporation in West Virginia for $0 service fee.
West Virginia state filing fee is $100. Standard processing 5 to 7 business days. We file Articles of Incorporation with the West Virginia Secretary of State, issue 10M authorized shares (QSBS-eligible), prepare West Virginia corporate bylaws, issue founder common stock with vesting and 83(b) templates, obtain your EIN, and file your BOI report.
$0 service fee
QSBS preserved
60-day money-back
SOC 2 Type II secure
4.9 rating · 8,200+ reviews
Filed directly with the state
10,000,000 shares authorizedQSBS
Founder stock · 83(b) · EIN
Cap table ready on day one
Is a West Virginia corporation right for you
When the corporation structure fits.
FORM A CORPORATION IN WEST VIRGINIA IF
- You plan to raise venture capital (institutional investors require C-Corp)
- You want to issue stock options to employees (ISOs)
- You want QSBS eligibility for capital gains tax exclusion
- You expect significant retained earnings (C-Corp can retain at 21% federal rate)
- You want clear separation between operators and shareholders
FORM AN LLC INSTEAD IF
- You are a solo operator or small business not raising outside capital
- You want pass-through taxation with no corporate formalities
- You prefer minimal annual compliance burden
- You will own real estate (LLCs are standard for property holding)
- You want simpler ownership transfer without share certificates
The West Virginia business environment
Why West Virginia for your corporation.
Coal and natural gas economy. Marcellus shale formation provides significant natural gas. State income tax 2.36-5.12% (phasing down). WV Eastern Panhandle (Martinsburg, Charles Town) growing as DC suburbs.
State GDP$95BTotal state output
Population1.8MCensus estimate
Small businesses~115,000Per SBA
Notable#1 coal productionEconomic distinction
Top industries in West Virginia
Coal miningNatural gas (Marcellus shale)ManufacturingTourismHealthcare
Top cities
Where West Virginia corporations are headquartered.
Charleston
State capital. Government, energy, healthcare.Huntington
Manufacturing, healthcare, education.Morgantown
WVU, growing tech, healthcare.Parkersburg
Manufacturing, chemicals.Wheeling
Manufacturing, healthcare.Martinsburg
Suburb of DC metro, growing residential.
What we'll set up for you
A clean handoff, in four steps.
You give us the basics. We handle the state, the IRS, and the compliance clock so you can focus on the business.
01 · Name + Brand
A name that's actually available.
Real-time check against the state register, USPTO trademark database, and matching domains.
02 · State filing
Filed with the Secretary of State.
We submit your Articles, pay the state fee on your behalf, and return the stamped certificate.
03 · Federal IDs
EIN + the right tax setup.
Federal Employer ID with the IRS, plus state tax accounts when your business needs them.
04 · Stay compliant
Registered Agent + deadline tracking.
Your agent on file in every state, with every renewal and annual report tracked in one calendar.
Filing timeline
From form to filed in West Virginia.
1
Day 0
Tell us about your businessEntity name, incorporators, share structure, founder allocations2
Day 1
We file with West VirginiaArticles submitted to the West Virginia Secretary of State3
Day 2-5
EIN + governance docsEIN issued. Bylaws, board minutes, founder stock prepared4
Day 5-30
83(b) + cap table83(b) mailed (30-day deadline). Cap table populated. Ready to operate
Compare to alternatives
West Virginia corp vs other formation states.
Delaware (default for VC-backed)$89+Required by most VCs. Foreign qualification in West Virginia still needed.
Virginia$100Fast processing, similar economy partly
Pennsylvania$125Larger economy, similar natural gas
Ohio$99No annual report, similar costs
West Virginia Corp$100Form here if you operate in West Virginia.
Local resources
West Virginia corporate resources.
WV Department of CommerceState business support
WV SBDCStatewide network
Charleston Area AllianceCapital region EDC
West Virginia Manufacturers AssociationIndustry advocacy
FAQ
West Virginia Corporation questions.
Should I form my West Virginia corporation as a C-Corp or S-Corp?
Most West Virginia corporations start as C-Corps (default federal tax treatment). S-Corp is a federal election (Form 2553) you file later, typically when net profit crosses $60-80k. For venture-backed startups, C-Corp is required: S-Corp cannot have institutional investors, non-US shareholders, or multiple share classes. We file the West Virginia corporation; you can elect S-Corp anytime by filing Form 2553.
What is the difference between forming an LLC and a corporation in West Virginia?
LLCs are simpler (no shares, fewer formalities, pass-through tax by default). West Virginia corporations have shareholders, a board of directors, officers, bylaws, board minutes, and double taxation by default. Corporations are the standard structure for raising venture capital because investors require preferred stock, ESOPs, and other corporate-specific instruments LLCs cannot provide.
Do I need bylaws for my West Virginia corporation?
Yes. West Virginia corporations are governed internally by bylaws (board structure, officer roles, meeting requirements, voting rules) plus the Articles of Incorporation filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State. We include West Virginia-appropriate bylaws with every formation, along with initial board minutes and a corporate governance binder.
How many shares should my West Virginia corporation authorize?
Standard for a new C-Corp: 10,000,000 authorized shares of common stock with a small percentage actually issued to founders. The 10M structure leaves room for an option pool (typically 10-20%) and future preferred stock issuances in financing rounds. We file the 10M authorized share structure by default; you can specify a different number.
What is QSBS and does my West Virginia corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (IRC Section 1202) lets shareholders exclude up to $10M (or 10x basis) of capital gains on qualifying C-Corp stock held more than 5 years. West Virginia C-Corps qualify if they meet the active business test (80% of assets used in qualified trade) and the gross asset test (under $50M at issuance). We preserve QSBS eligibility from day one.
Do I need to issue founder stock with vesting?
Highly recommended. West Virginia founder stock without vesting means a co-founder who leaves after 6 months keeps 100% of their shares. With standard 4-year/1-year-cliff vesting, the company can reclaim unvested shares. We issue founder stock with vesting and prepare Section 83(b) election forms (due to IRS within 30 days of issuance).
When should my West Virginia corporation elect S-Corp status?
S-Corp election (IRS Form 2553) can save self-employment tax when net profit crosses ~$60-80k. Restrictions: 100 shareholders max, US individuals only (no entities, no non-resident aliens), single class of stock. If you plan to raise venture capital, stay C-Corp. Our service fee for filing Form 2553 is $99.
Start your West Virginia Corporation in 5 minutes.
Tell us a few details. We file with the West Virginia Secretary of State, prepare your bylaws, issue founder stock with vesting, file your 83(b) reminder, obtain your EIN, and file BOI.
Pay only state fee
QSBS preserved
60-day money-back
Related searches: form a corporation in West Virginia · West Virginia C-Corp · West Virginian S-Corp · West Virginia incorporation cost 2026 · how to incorporate in West Virginia · West Virginia Secretary of State corporation · West Virginia corporate bylaws · West Virginia QSBS · Delaware vs West Virginia C-Corp
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Corporations we have formed in West Virginia.
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220,000+ businesses. 60-day money-back. State fees passed through at cost.
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Every deadline auto-tracked across your entities. Compliance Score visible year-round.
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