Charleston, W.Va. – The WV Secretary of State's Office registered 1,975 new businesses statewide during the month of April according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in April include Monongalia, Kanawha, Berkeley, Raleigh and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
- Monongalia County– 134 new registrations
- Kanawha County– 127 new registrations
- Berkeley County– 120 new registrations
- Raleigh County– 91 new registrations
- Jefferson County– 78 new registrations
Of the 1,975 new businesses registered in April, 77 registered as non-profit and 210 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 – 101 new registrations
- New business owners under the age of 30 – 109 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 19,900 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from May 1, 2025, to April 30, 2026. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 171,194 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State's Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
Annual Reports are due June 30. File early and avoid the end-of-June rush by filing your Annual Report now through the WV One Stop Business Portal. Early filing helps prevent last-minute portal delays or payment issues and keeps your business in good standing.
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 3,899 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 – 3,681
- Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 4
- In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 214
In the month of April, Webster County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 8 new business registrations, a 2.45% increase. The Secretary of State's Business Division reported that Clay, Pocahontas, Wayne, and Wyoming also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for April:
- Webster County– 2.45% growth
- Clay County– 2.38% growth
- Pocahontas County– 2.27% growth
- Wayne County– 2.10% growth
- Wyoming County– 2.09% growth
