Foreign companies are those which are formed in another state or country. In order to transact business in West Virginia these entities must register with the West Virginia Secretary of State's Office for a Certificate of Authority.
Register your out-of-state foreign company online at the One Stop Business Portal. Our New Business Startup Wizard can help you determine the agencies that you will need to register with and the filing process necessary to conduct business in the state.
The registration must be accompanied by a "certificate of good standing" or a "certificate of existence" from the domestic state of formation. Select your home state below to navigate to the appropriate state agency website to request the certificate.
In some cases, an organization's name may not be available for use in West Virginia due to name availability or naming restrictions. In these cases, the business must register a "forced DBA name" for use in West Virginia. See What is a "Forced DBA Name?" for more information and filing requirements.
If your foreign business is veteran-owned, it may be eligible for the Secretary of State registration and annual report fee waiver. Read more about the Veteran-Owned Business Waiver.
Foreign Registration Filing Fees
An additional $1.00 online processing fee will apply to all online filings.
| Business Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Corporation (for profit) | $100.00 |
| Corporation (non-profit) | $50.00 |
| Limited Liability Company (LLC/PLLC) | $150.00 |
| Limited Partnership (LP) | $150.00 |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | $500.00 |
| Cooperative Association (for profit) | $100.00 |
| Cooperative Association (non-profit) | $50.00 |
| Voluntary Association | $50.00 |
| Business Trust | $50.00 |
| Unincorporated Non-Profit Association | $15.00 |
We also provide paper forms to register your business. Select your business type:
Select Business Type
Exempt Corporations and Limited Liability Companies
Depending on its business activities, a corporation or limited liability company may file for Exemption from Certificate of Authority in West Virginia through the Secretary of State. If the entity qualifies, an application for Exemption from Certificate of Authority must be filed with this office. You should review the business activities for which a business may claim exemption in the application instructions before filing for exempt status.
Exemption Filing Fees
An additional $1.00 online processing fee will apply to all online filings.
| Business Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Corporation | $25.00 |
| Limited Liability Company (LLC/PLLC) | $25.00 |
