Charleston, W.Va. – The WV Secretary of State's Office registered 1,963 new businesses statewide during the month of May according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in May include Kanawha, Monongalia, Berkeley, Raleigh and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
- Kanawha County– 147 new registrations
- Monongalia County– 120 new registrations
- Berkeley County– 118 new registrations
- Raleigh County– 115 new registrations
- Jefferson County– 80 new registrations
Of the 1,963 new businesses registered in May, 70 registered as non-profit and 219 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 – 114 new registrations
- New business owners under the age of 30 – 105 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 23,580 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from April 1, 2025, to May 31, 2026. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 170,741 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State's Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
June 30 is the final day to file your West Virginia Annual Report. Businesses that miss the deadline are automatically assessed a late fee and becomes non-compliant on July 1. Filing only takes a few minutes through the One Stop Business Portal, which is available 24/7. It's fast, simple, and ready whenever you are.
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 May:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 3,626 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 – 3,416
- Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 10
- In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 200
In the month of May, Wirt County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 6 new business registrations, a 2.48% increase. The Secretary of State's Business Division reported that Clay, Wayne, Raleigh, and Webster also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for May:
- Wirt County– 2.48% growth
- Clay County– 2.33% growth
- Wayne County– 2.20% growth
- Raleigh County– 1.97% growth
- Webster County– 1.80% growth
