Independent city · 13th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the city. In 2024 Richmond had 9,205 business establishments and 165,947 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 13th Circuit Court is Edward F. Jewett at John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North Ninth Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
9,205
Jobs (2024)
165,947
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(804) 646-6505
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 Richmond
Richmond, the state capital, had about 234,000 residents, 9,205 business establishments and 165,947 jobs in 2024. It is also where the State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Office sits, in the Tyler Building at 1300 East Main Street, which is where every Virginia LLC and corporation is formed.
The city's Circuit Court Clerk is in the John Marshall Courts Building on North Ninth Street. Richmond is an independent city, separate from Henrico and Chesterfield counties, so the city's Commissioner of the Revenue licenses businesses inside city limits. Restaurants in Scott's Addition, Carytown and the Fan are licensed by the city.
Richmond is in the Central Virginia regional sales tax area, so taxable sales carry 6 percent. Being near the SCC does not change the process: filings and annual fees are handled online, and we submit them for you.
Official sourceRichmond Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Richmond 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, Richmond |
| Clerk | Edward F. Jewett |
| Judicial circuit | 13th |
| Address | John Marshall Courts Building, 400 North Ninth Street, Richmond, VA 23219 |
| Phone | (804) 646-6505 |
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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.
Richmond 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 | 9,205 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 165,947 |
| Jobs per establishment | 18.0 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 233,655 |
| Residents per establishment | 25 |
| Rank among Virginia cities by population | #3 |
Richmond sales tax and business license
Richmond is in the Central Virginia 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, Richmond'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 Richmond | 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 I walk my LLC articles into the SCC in Richmond?
The Clerk's Office accepts filings, but online filing is faster and is the only way to get expedited service. We file online for you.
Is Carytown licensed by Richmond or Henrico?
Carytown is inside the City of Richmond, so the city issues the business license.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Richmond?
$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.