Charleston, W.Va. – The WV Secretary of State's Office registered 1,270 new businesses statewide during the month of August according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in August include Kanawha, Monongalia, Berkeley, Raleigh, and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
- Kanawha County– 136 new registrations
- Monongalia County– 110 new registrations
- Berkeley County– 109 new registrations
- Raleigh County– 86 new registrations
- Jefferson County– 68 new registrations
Of the 1,270 new businesses registered in August, 179 qualified for one of the programs offered by the WV Secretary of State's Office. Each program waives the initial registration fee for registering the business.
The Boots to Business incentive also waives the first four years of Annual Report filing fees, offering potential savings of up to $250 for new business owners.
New Business Owners Eligible for WVSOS Cost Savings Programs:
- Veterans, active-duty, military spouses – 97 new registrations
- New business owners under the age of 30 – 82 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 14,324 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from September 1, 2024, to August 31, 2025. Clay County led all 55 counties with a 20.60% growth rate during the one-year timespan. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database.
Business Tip of the Month:
Business Tip of the Month - At the Secretary of State's office, the designation "C" stands for Corporation and does not indicate tax status such as C-Corp or S-Corp. The West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office does not recognize or manage any tax information. For tax related matters, including Business License questions, please contact the WV Tax Division at 304-558-3333.
The WVSOS Business Division works closely with the WV Department of Commerce to help get entrepreneurs the support and assistance they need to start and open their business. Read more about the partnership at WV Business-Link.
Customer Service Summary for April:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 4,014 customers through phone calls, in-person office visits, and virtual appointments. The WVSOS Office's virtual appointment scheduler allows customers to receive face-to-face customer support at a time or with a specialist of their choosing from the comfort of their office or even their own home.
- Phone calls to the WVSOS Business Division – 3,822
- Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 4
- In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 188
Lincoln County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of twelve new business registrations, a 2.32% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business Division reported that Wyoming, Boone, Clay and Wirt counties also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for April:
- Lincoln County– 2.32% growth
- Wyoming County– 1.98% growth
- Boone County– 1.92% growth
- Clay County– 1.71% growth
- Wirt County– 1.71% growth
