County · 17th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the county. In 2024 Arlington County had 9,629 business establishments and 179,244 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 17th Circuit Court is Paul F. Ferguson at 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
9,629
Jobs (2024)
179,244
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(703) 228-7010
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 Arlington County
Arlington County packs 9,629 business establishments and 179,244 jobs into a small, dense area across the Potomac from Washington, D.C. That is about 18.6 jobs per establishment, the highest ratio among the counties on our list, reflecting large employers in Rosslyn, Crystal City, Pentagon City and Ballston alongside thousands of small consultancies.
Arlington has no incorporated towns or cities inside it, so the county is the only local licensing office for every Arlington address. The circuit court and the Clerk's Office are on North Courthouse Road in the Courthouse neighborhood. If you are a Washington, D.C. resident forming a Virginia company for an Arlington office, you can use our registered agent, since an out-of-state individual cannot serve.
Arlington is in Northern Virginia's regional tax area, so retail sales are taxed at 6 percent. Many Arlington clients are federal contractors or remote consultants who want an S corporation election after forming; the election is filed with the IRS, and the SCC record stays an LLC or corporation.
Official sourceArlington County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Arlington 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, Arlington County |
| Clerk | Paul F. Ferguson |
| Judicial circuit | 17th |
| Address | 1425 North Courthouse Road, Arlington, VA 22201 |
| Phone | (703) 228-7010 |
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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.
Arlington 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 | 9,629 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 179,244 |
| Jobs per establishment | 18.6 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 239,807 |
| Residents per establishment | 25 |
| Rank among Virginia counties by establishments | #6 |
Arlington County sales tax and business license
Arlington County is in the Northern 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, Arlington 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% |
| Regional transportation tax | 0.7% |
| General rate in Arlington | 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 Arlington neighborhoods like Ballston have separate licensing?
No. Arlington has no incorporated towns, so every business there is licensed by the county.
I live in D.C. Can I be the registered agent for my Arlington LLC?
No. Virginia requires an individual agent to be a Virginia resident, so a D.C. resident uses an entity agent such as ours.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Arlington 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.