County · 15th Judicial Circuit
Start an LLC in Hanover County, Virginia
Hanover County businesses form an LLC with the State Corporation Commission for $100, not with the county. In 2024 Hanover County had 4,310 business establishments and 59,513 jobs, its general sales tax rate is 6 percent, and the Clerk of the 15th Circuit Court is Frank D. Hargrove, Jr. at P.O. Box 39, 7530 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069-0039. Our Starter package is $149 plus the SCC fee.
Last verified: November 10, 2026, against official Virginia sources.
Establishments (2024)
4,310
Jobs (2024)
59,513
Sales tax
6%
Circuit Court Clerk
(804) 365-6151
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 Hanover County
Hanover County, north of Richmond, had 4,310 business establishments and 59,513 jobs in 2024 with about 115,000 residents. Distribution and logistics along Interstate 95 and Route 301 sit alongside farms, garden centers and a growing number of contractors in Mechanicsville.
The Hanover County Courthouse complex is in the community of Hanover, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court is on County Complex Road. The Town of Ashland, on the railroad line, is the county's incorporated town and can license businesses inside its limits. Mechanicsville and Montpelier are unincorporated.
Hanover is part of the Central Virginia regional sales tax area, so taxable sales carry 6 percent. Hanover shares the 15th Judicial Circuit with Spotsylvania, Stafford and other localities, but each has its own clerk's office for recording.
Official sourceHanover County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Hanover 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, Hanover County |
| Clerk | Frank D. Hargrove, Jr. |
| Judicial circuit | 15th |
| Address | P.O. Box 39, 7530 County Complex Road, Hanover, VA 23069-0039 |
| Phone | (804) 365-6151 |
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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.
Hanover 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 | 4,310 |
| Employment, 2024 annual average | 59,513 |
| Jobs per establishment | 13.8 |
| Population, July 2024 estimate | 115,309 |
| Residents per establishment | 27 |
| Rank among Virginia counties by establishments | #7 |
Hanover County sales tax and business license
Hanover County 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, Hanover 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 Hanover | 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
Is Mechanicsville a town?
No. Mechanicsville is unincorporated, so Hanover County issues the business license.
Does Ashland require a separate license?
Ashland is an incorporated town that can license businesses inside its limits. Check with the town if your address is there.
What does it cost to form an LLC in Hanover 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.