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Biz Formation Academy

A plain textbook on LLC paperwork, one state per chapter.

Unit 3 · West Virginia

Foreign LLC Registration Chapter, West Virginia (2026): 5 Sections and the 3 Best Services

The recommended reading for registering an LLC formed elsewhere in West Virginia in 2026 is Mainstay Filing ($199), West Virginia Registered Agent.co ($199) and WV Registered Agent.org ($199), in that order. 5 sections explain the filing, the $150 fee and the duties that follow.
Written by the Biz Formation Academy editorial board

Key facts for this chapter

Registration fee $150 See code.wvlegislature.gov; page last consulted October 2026
Certificate from the state of formation Required Include with the application
Yearly filing $25 Annual report
What the state collects over three years $200 Service fees excluded
Sections 5 First to last

What this chapter teaches

  • When the rule applies
  • How the filing is made
  • Recurring obligations
  • How the recommended services compare

Recommended reading for West Virginia

The editorial board's five criteria are explained on how we grade and determine the order.

1. Mainstay Filing: best for LLCs that keep expanding

Read this one first
$199 and the $150 state fee, then $149 annually

In West Virginia, Mainstay Filing heads the list: the service fee is $199 plus the state's own fee, the agent for service of process is free for year one, and the later price is $149 a year.

West Virginia Registered Agent.co costs $100 less over three years; this service still ranks higher because it does more of the work.

The agent line on the second invoice reads $149, and stays there in each state.

Price covers

  • Registration paperwork completed
  • Covers all fifty states

Advantages

  • $199 over West Virginia's fee
  • The same fee in every state

Limitations

  • Agent renews at $149, $50 above West Virginia Registered Agent.co
Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

2. West Virginia Registered Agent.co: best for a low yearly agent fee

In-state service
$199 and the $150 state fee, then $99 annually

West Virginia Registered Agent.co takes second position; $199 beyond the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 above the state fee
  • Then $99 per year
  • No agent fee in year one

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit West Virginia Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

3. WV Registered Agent.org: best for another West Virginia choice

In-state service
$199 and the $150 state fee, then $99 annually

WV Registered Agent.org takes third position; $199 beyond the state fee to register, then $99 each year.

It publishes the same prices as West Virginia Registered Agent.co.

Price covers

  • The filing is made for you
  • A year of agent service is built into the price

Advantages

  • $199 above the state fee
  • Then $99 per year
  • No agent fee in year one

Limitations

  • A separate agent is required at home
Visit WV Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

The services compared

#ServiceFirst yearFrom year twoThree-year total
1 Mainstay Filing $199$149/yr$497 Visit Mainstay Filing Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
2 West Virginia Registered Agent.co $199$99/yr$397 Visit West Virginia Registered Agent.co Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.
3 WV Registered Agent.org $199$99/yr$397 Visit WV Registered Agent.org Partner link. We may earn money if you buy.

Each company's posted price on November 13, 2026. Every row also owes the $150 state fee.

The sections

  1. Section 1

    Determine whether registration is required

    Key term: foreign LLC. It is an LLC formed in a different state, and West Virginia asks it to register before operating here.

    Reference: See sos.wv.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  2. Section 2

    Request the home-state certificate

    Obtain certificate of existence (good standing), dated in the current tax year.

    A recent certificate is safest, so order it late.

  3. Section 3

    Appoint an agent for service of process for West Virginia

    The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent; the Articles ask for one "if any". The statute says an LLC "may" keep an agent, and the Articles of Organization ask for one "if any." If an agent is named, its West Virginia address goes on the state record.

    Every recommended service provides the agent for service of process.

    Reference: See code.wvlegislature.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  4. Section 4

    Section four is the West Virginia Application for Certificate of Authority of Limited Liability Company

    Filing is the act of registering, and the state charges $150.

    Reference: See code.wvlegislature.gov; page last consulted October 2026

  5. Section 5

    Prepare for the recurring filing

    Note the annual report and its $25 fee (June 30).

West Virginia costs by section

EntryRecipientPrice
Registering the LLC State agency$150
Annual report State agency$25
Service, if hired The service$199 initially
Three years of state fees State agency$200

The filing fee, two later reports and any minimum tax make up the state's three-year total; the bibliography shows where each figure came from.

Why Mainstay Filing is first

finished ahead of on chapters the price completes, which counts for 30%.

West Virginia Registered Agent.co renews for less, yet reach across several states counted for more.

Short answers

What is West Virginia's fee for an out-of-state LLC?

$150 at the filing office. A service adds $199.

Which form do I file to register?

Look for the West Virginia Application for Certificate of Authority of Limited Liability Company (LLF-1); it is sent to the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division.

Do I need a certificate from my home state?

Yes: certificate of existence (good standing), dated in the current tax year.

What is due after registering?

Next is the annual report at $25.

Which services are in this lesson?

This chapter ranks Mainstay Filing, West Virginia Registered Agent.co and WV Registered Agent.org.

Which service should handle the registration?

The ranking is Mainstay Filing, West Virginia Registered Agent.co and WV Registered Agent.org, and Mainstay Filing is first since registration with West Virginia costs $199 over the state fee, with year one of the agent for service of process included.

Related chapters

Bibliography and primary texts

  1. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing chapter: business4.wv.gov, consulted August 2026.
  2. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing chapter: business4.wv.gov, consulted August 2026.
  3. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia yearly filing: Annual report: fee and chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  4. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia yearly filing: Annual report: fee and chapter: onestop.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  5. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia report due date chapter: code.wvlegislature.gov, consulted August 2026.
  6. Bibliography entry for the W chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted August 2026.
  7. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia formation fee: Filing fee, official source chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  8. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia formation fee: Filing fee, official source chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  9. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia registered agent statute chapter: code.wvlegislature.gov, consulted October 2026.
  10. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia SOS, register an out-of-state business chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  11. Bibliography entry for the Form LLF-1, application for certificate of authority chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  12. Bibliography entry for the W chapter: code.wvlegislature.gov, consulted October 2026.
  13. Bibliography entry for the W chapter: code.wvlegislature.gov, consulted October 2026.
  14. Bibliography entry for the W chapter: code.wvlegislature.gov, consulted October 2026.
  15. Bibliography entry for the West Virginia SOS, cancel or withdraw a foreign chapter: sos.wv.gov, consulted October 2026.
  16. Mainstay Filing, West Virginia service page: consulted November 13, 2026
  17. West Virginia Registered Agent.co, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026
  18. WV Registered Agent.org, pricing page: consulted November 13, 2026