County · 16th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Albemarle County, Virginia
Albemarle County businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the county. In 2024 Albemarle County had 4,185 business establishments and 64,815 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 5.3 percent, and the Clerk of the 16th Circuit Court is Jon R. Zug at Albemarle County Courthouse, Court Square, 350 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5113. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
4,185
Jobs (2024)
64,815
Sales tax
5.3%
Circuit Court Clerk
(434) 972-4083
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 Albemarle County
Albemarle County surrounds the independent City of Charlottesville and had 4,185 business establishments and 64,815 jobs in 2024. The University of Virginia's presence, health care, wineries and a large community of consultants and remote workers shape the companies we form here.
The county courthouse is on Court Square in downtown Charlottesville, even though Charlottesville itself is a separate city with its own government. A business with a Charlottesville address may actually sit in the county, so confirm the locality on your lease. The Town of Scottsville is the county's incorporated town.
Albemarle is outside Virginia's regional sales tax areas, so taxable sales are at the standard 5.3 percent: 4.3 percent state and 1 percent local. Professional practices associated with the university often form a PLLC; the SCC lists the eligible professions on its business types page.
Official sourceAlbemarle County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Albemarle County 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, Albemarle County |
| Clerk | Jon R. Zug |
| Judicial circuit | 16th |
| Address | Albemarle County Courthouse, Court Square, 350 Park Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902-5113 |
| Phone | (434) 972-4083 |
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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.
Albemarle County 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 | 4,185 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 64,815 |
| Jobs per establishment | 15.5 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 117,313 |
| Residents per establishment | 28 |
| Rank among Virginia counties by establishments | #8 |
Albemarle County sales tax and business license
Albemarle County is outside Virginia's regional sales tax areas, so Virginia Tax lists the general 5.3 percent rate. Groceries and essential personal hygiene items are taxed at 1 percent statewide.
With more than 50,000 residents, Albemarle County'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% |
| General rate in Albemarle | 5.3% |
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
My mailing address says Charlottesville. Am I in the city or the county?
Many addresses with a Charlottesville mailing address are in Albemarle County. The locality, not the mailing city, decides which office licenses you.
What is the sales tax in Albemarle County?
5.3 percent on general merchandise, according to Virginia Tax.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Albemarle County?
$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.