County · 24th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Bedford County, Virginia
Bedford County businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the county. In 2024 Bedford County had 2,307 business establishments and 18,602 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 5.3 percent, and the Clerk of the 24th Circuit Court is Judy E. Reynolds at 123 East Main St., Suite 201, Bedford, VA 24523. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
2,307
Jobs (2024)
18,602
Sales tax
5.3%
Circuit Court Clerk
(540) 586-7632
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 Bedford County
Bedford County, between Lynchburg and Roanoke and reaching Smith Mountain Lake, had 2,307 business establishments and 18,602 jobs in 2024, with about 82,000 residents. At roughly 8 jobs per establishment, it has the smallest average business size among the counties on our list, with marinas, short-term rentals, contractors and farms common.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is on East Main Street in the Town of Bedford, which is the county seat. Bedford was an independent city until it became a town within the county in 2013, so older records may still refer to the City of Bedford.
Taxable sales in Bedford County are at 5.3 percent. Owners of lake rental properties frequently use a separate LLC for each property or a Virginia series LLC; each protected series costs $100 to designate and $50 a year.
Official sourceBedford County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Bedford 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, Bedford County |
| Clerk | Judy E. Reynolds |
| Judicial circuit | 24th |
| Address | 123 East Main St., Suite 201, Bedford, VA 24523 |
| Phone | (540) 586-7632 |
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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.
Bedford 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 | 2,307 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 18,602 |
| Jobs per establishment | 8.1 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 82,182 |
| Residents per establishment | 36 |
| Rank among Virginia counties by establishments | #14 |
Bedford County sales tax and business license
Bedford 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, Bedford 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 Bedford | 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
Is Bedford still an independent city?
No. Bedford became a town within Bedford County in 2013.
Should each lake rental be its own LLC?
It is a common choice. A protected series is an alternative, but the SCC fees per series match a separate LLC's $100 and $50 a year.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Bedford 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.