Independent city · 4th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the city. In 2024 Norfolk had 6,441 business establishments and 144,085 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 4th Circuit Court is George E. Schaefer at 150 St. Paul's Boulevard, 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510-2773. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
6,441
Jobs (2024)
144,085
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(757) 389-8942
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 Norfolk
Norfolk had about 231,000 residents, 6,441 business establishments and 144,085 jobs in 2024. At about 22 jobs per establishment it is one of the most employment-dense localities in Virginia, driven by Naval Station Norfolk, the port, hospitals and downtown offices. Defense subcontractors, maritime service firms and restaurants are frequent clients.
Norfolk's Circuit Court Clerk is on St. Paul's Boulevard downtown. The city's Commissioner of the Revenue issues business licenses; as an independent city Norfolk has no towns or county layer above it for licensing.
Norfolk is in the Hampton Roads regional sales tax area at 6 percent. Contractors working on base often need proof of good standing; a $6 SCC certificate is the standard document.
Official sourceNorfolk Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Norfolk 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, Norfolk |
| Clerk | George E. Schaefer |
| Judicial circuit | 4th |
| Address | 150 St. Paul's Boulevard, 7th Floor, Norfolk, VA 23510-2773 |
| Phone | (757) 389-8942 |
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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.
Norfolk 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 | 6,441 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 144,085 |
| Jobs per establishment | 22.4 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 231,105 |
| Residents per establishment | 36 |
| Rank among Virginia cities by population | #4 |
Norfolk sales tax and business license
Norfolk 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, Norfolk'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 Norfolk | 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
Do I need a Virginia company to do contract work at Naval Station Norfolk?
Not necessarily. An out-of-state company can register in Virginia as a foreign LLC or corporation instead. We can help with either.
Where are Norfolk deeds recorded?
With the Clerk of the Circuit Court at 150 St. Paul's Boulevard.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Norfolk?
$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.
SourceReady when you are
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.