Charleston, W.Va. – The WV Secretary of State's Office registered 1,796 new businesses statewide during the month of July according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in July include Kanawha, Raleigh, Berkeley, Monongalia, and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
- Kanawha County– 147 new registrations
- Raleigh County– 98 new registrations
- Berkeley County– 95 new registrations
- Monongalia County– 79 new registrations
- Jefferson County– 69 new registrations
Of the 1,796 new businesses registered in July, 123 registered as non-profit and 190 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 – 94 new registrations
- New business owners under the age of 30 – 96 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 20,650 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 173,397 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State's Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
If you are unsure of your business class code, visit naics.com and use keywords that describe your primary business activity to locate the correct code.
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 July:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 4,568 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 – 4,338
- Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 13
- In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 217
In the month of July, Wirt County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 7 new business registrations, a 2.76% increase. The Secretary of State's Business Division reported that Clay, Lewis, Summers, and Raleigh also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for July:
- Wirt County– 2.76% growth
- Clay County– 2.27% growth
- Lewis County– 2.09% growth
- Summers County– 1.73% growth
- Raleigh County– 1.61% 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 in July – 65
Counties that have a CVOB – 27
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.
