Independent city · 7th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Newport News, Virginia
Newport News businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the city. In 2024 Newport News had 4,501 business establishments and 102,308 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 7th Circuit Court is Angela F. Reason at 2500 Washington Avenue, Courthouse Building, Newport News, VA 23607-4307. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
4,501
Jobs (2024)
102,308
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(757) 926-8561
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 Newport News
Newport News had about 183,000 residents, 4,501 business establishments and 102,308 jobs in 2024, about 23 jobs per establishment. Shipbuilding is the city's signature industry, and many of the LLCs we form here are subcontractors, skilled trades and engineering consultants serving the shipyard and the region's military installations.
The Circuit Court Clerk is in the Courthouse Building on Washington Avenue downtown. Newport News is an independent city, so business licensing goes through the city's Commissioner of the Revenue.
Newport News is in the Hampton Roads regional sales tax area at 6 percent. Engineering firms owned by licensed professional engineers can form a PLLC, with at least two-thirds of the membership interests held by licensed individuals.
Official sourceNewport News Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Newport News 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, Newport News |
| Clerk | Angela F. Reason |
| Judicial circuit | 7th |
| Address | 2500 Washington Avenue, Courthouse Building, Newport News, VA 23607-4307 |
| Phone | (757) 926-8561 |
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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.
Newport News 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 | 4,501 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 102,308 |
| Jobs per establishment | 22.7 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 183,056 |
| Residents per establishment | 41 |
| Rank among Virginia cities by population | #5 |
Newport News sales tax and business license
Newport News 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, Newport News'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 Newport News | 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
Can an engineering PLLC in Newport News have an unlicensed owner?
Design-profession PLLCs require at least two-thirds of membership interests to be held by licensed individuals (§ 13.1-1111).
Is Newport News part of a county?
No. It is an independent city with its own circuit court and licensing.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Newport News?
$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.