Charleston, W.Va. – The WV Secretary of State's Office registered 1,522 new businesses statewide during the month of October according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in October include Berkeley, Kanawha, Raleigh, Monongalia, and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
- Berkeley County– 126 new registrations
- Kanawha County– 106 new registrations
- Raleigh County– 74 new registrations
- Monongalia County– 67 new registrations
- Jefferson County– 65 new registrations
Of the 1,522 new businesses registered in October, 92 registered as non-profit and 160 qualified for one of the fee waiver 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 – 95 new registrations
- New business owners under the age of 30 – 65 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 21,324 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 171,977 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State's Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
A new statewide survey is giving West Virginia small business leaders the opportunity to help inform future project development and business support efforts. The 2026 WV Small Business Leaders Survey is officially underway and will remain open through November 25.
This anonymous survey, powered by the West Virginia Grant Resource Centers in partnership with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, aims to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities West Virginia small business leaders are encountering in 2026.
Click here to take the survey.
Survey link: https://marshall.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a5d0uHQzEvo4nCm
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 October:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 4,169 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 – 3,933
- Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 5
- In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 231
In the month of October, Clay County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 6 new business registrations, a 1.80% increase. The Secretary of State's Business Division reported that Boone, Wayne, McDowell, and Summers also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for October:
- Clay County– 1.80% growth
- Boone County– 1.61% growth
- Wayne County– 1.60% growth
- McDowell County– 1.40% growth
- Summers County– 1.39% growth
The Certified Veteran Owned Business (CVOB) Program was established by Secretary Warner in July, making West Virginia the 15th state in the nation to formally certify and recognize businesses owned by veterans.
CVOB registered since July 1 – 210
Counties that have a CVOB – 43
Participating businesses receive:
- Verified certification confirming the business is Veteran-Owned
- An official Certified Veteran-Owned Business logo for use on storefronts, websites, social media, letterhead, and other marketing materials
- Inclusion in the Secretary of State's online Veteran-Owned Business Directory
- A professional display certificate recognizing their Veteran-Owned status
- Increased visibility among customers who want to support local veterans and their businesses
Click here to learn more about the CVOB Program.
