Independent city · 1st Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Chesapeake, Virginia
Chesapeake businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the city. In 2024 Chesapeake had 6,889 business establishments and 104,662 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 1st Circuit Court is Alan P. Krasnoff at 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A, Chesapeake, VA 23322-5579. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
6,889
Jobs (2024)
104,662
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(757) 382-3000
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Doing business in Chesapeake
Chesapeake is Virginia's second most populous city, with about 255,000 residents, 6,889 business establishments and 104,662 jobs in 2024. It covers a large land area that includes suburbs, farms and part of the Great Dismal Swamp, and logistics and warehousing near the port are significant employers.
Chesapeake's Circuit Court Clerk is at the city's courthouse on Albemarle Drive in the Great Bridge area. Business licenses are issued by the city's Commissioner of the Revenue, since Chesapeake is an independent city with no towns inside it.
Chesapeake is in the Hampton Roads regional sales tax area with a 6 percent general rate. Many Chesapeake clients are tradespeople and trucking owner-operators who want a simple LLC with an EIN; our Pro package includes the EIN.
Official sourceChesapeake Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Chesapeake records deeds and land records, keeps court files, and records the SCC certificate of a name change or merger for property the company owns there ($10 recording fee under § 13.1-1067). The office does not form companies.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Office | Clerk of the Circuit Court, Chesapeake |
| Clerk | Alan P. Krasnoff |
| Judicial circuit | 1st |
| Address | 307 Albemarle Drive, Suite 300A, Chesapeake, VA 23322-5579 |
| Phone | (757) 382-3000 |
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Chesapeake business numbers
Establishment and employment counts are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; population is the Census Bureau's 2024 estimate.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Business establishments, 2024 annual average | 6,889 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 104,662 |
| Jobs per establishment | 15.2 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 254,997 |
| Residents per establishment | 37 |
| Rank among Virginia cities by population | #2 |
Chesapeake sales tax and business license
Chesapeake is in the Hampton Roads regional tax area, which Virginia Tax lists at 6 percent. Groceries and essential personal hygiene items are taxed at 1 percent statewide.
With more than 50,000 residents, Chesapeake's business license fee cannot exceed $50 under § 58.1-3703; any license tax on gross receipts is set locally.
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| State sales and use tax | 4.3% |
| Local option | 1% |
| Regional transportation tax | 0.7% |
| General rate in Chesapeake | 6% |
Forming the company, step by step
- Check the name against the SCC's records, ignoring endings like LLC and Inc.
- File Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission: $100 for an LLC, or $75 for a corporation with up to 25,000 authorized shares.
- Name a registered agent who qualifies under § 13.1-1015. Ours is $199 a year.
- Get an EIN from the IRS, then open a business bank account.
- Apply for the local business license with your city, county or town.
- Pay the $50 annual registration fee each year by the last day of your formation month.
Frequently asked questions
Is Great Bridge a separate town?
No. Great Bridge is a section of the City of Chesapeake, which licenses businesses there.
Does a Chesapeake LLC pay any city fee to the SCC?
No. The SCC charges the same $100 formation fee and $50 annual fee statewide. Local license fees are paid to the city.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Chesapeake?
$100 to the SCC plus our package: Starter $149, Pro $299 or Complete $399. Add $199 a year for a registered agent unless you choose Complete.
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Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Virginia filings for owners. We are not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.