The Virginia Articles of Organization are the LLC forms that must be completed and filed with the state in order to incorporate an LLC.
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It is simple to file the Virginia Articles of Organization!
We’ll walk you through the Virginia LLC Articles of Organization filing process in three simple stages.
Get Forms for Your Articles of Organization
Complete the Articles of Organization.
Keep the Articles of Organization on file.
Step 1: Obtain your Articles of Organization.
You may either download and mail your Virginia Articles of Organization or establish an account and submit them online.
Step two: Complete the Articles of Organization
We will assist you with completing the Virginia Articles of Organization form in this phase. The “Articles” are divided into four categories.
To finish each Article, you will need to know the following information:
Name of the Entity
Name of the Registered Agent
Registered Office Location
Address of the Principal Office
Article 1: Entity Identification
A unique and clever company name is crucial, but it is not as necessary as a legally valid name.
When selecting a name for your company, you must ensure that the name:
fulfils Virginia naming standards
is not currently in use by another Virginia firm
The Virginia Naming Guidelines should be followed:
Your business name must contain the words “limited liability company” or “limited company” or one of its acronyms (LLC, L.L.C., LC, or L.C.).
Any term, abbreviation, or combination of characters that declares or suggests the LLC is a corporation or a limited partnership is not permitted in your name.
Your name cannot contain the terms “bank” or “trust” unless the LLC will be involved in the banking or trust firm business, or the context of the remaining words clearly indicates that it will not be engaged in such activity.
Unless the LLC will be legitimately engaged in such services or it is evident from the context of the remaining words that it will not conduct such activity, your name cannot contain the terms “engineer,” “architecture,” or “land surveying,” or any variant of those words.
The terms “United States,” “national,” “Federal,” and “reserve” may not appear in the name of a firm involved in banking, lending, building and loan, brokerage, factorage, insurance, indemnity, savings, or trust.
Your name must be distinct from any other current company in the state. This lists reserved names in Virginia.
Examine Name Availability:
Is your surname legal in Virginia? Do a name search on the Virginia State Corporation Commission website to ensure that the name you desire isn’t currently in use.
Obtain a Domain Name:
We suggest that you check to see whether your company’s name is accessible as a web domain. Even if you don’t intend to create a company website right away, you may wish to purchase the URL to prevent others from doing so.
Articles 2 and 3: Registered Office and Registered Agent
A registered agent receives and transmits legal paperwork on behalf of your LLC. When you form your Virginia LLC, you must provide your registered agent and registered office address.
Your registered agent may be someone over the age of 18 who resides in Virginia. During normal business hours, your registered agent must always be present at the registered office.
A P.O. box cannot be used as your registered office address.
Article 4: Principal Office Location
The major office is where the company’s executive offices are located. A P.O. Box is not permitted.
Step 3: Submit the Articles of Incorporation.
You must submit the Articles of Organization with the State Corporation Commission to register your LLC.
You may submit your Articles of Organization in two ways:
Fill out the form online or upload a completed PDF.
Send a physical copy by mail or in person.
Following the Official Formation of Your Virginia LLC
After filing your Articles of Organization, you should do the following:
Make a Business Agreement
Obtain an EIN
Establish a Business Bank Account
Purchase Licenses and Permits
Make a Business Agreement
A Virginia LLC operating agreement is a legal document that details your LLC’s ownership structure and member functions.
Although an Operating Agreement is not necessary in Virginia to incorporate an LLC, it is a good idea to have one. You may begin working on your operating agreement before, during, or after filing your Articles of Organization.
Your operating agreement will be held in the private business records of your LLC; you will not submit it with the state.
Obtain an EIN
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is your LLC’s equivalent of a social security number. If you want to recruit staff or create company bank accounts, you’ll need an EIN.
You may get your EIN for free by using the IRS website, fax, or mail. Read our What is an EIN article to discover more about EINs and how they might benefit your LLC.
Establish a Business Bank Account
It is critical to use specific business banking and credit accounts to safeguard your company’s corporate veil. When you combine your personal and company accounts, your personal assets (house, vehicle, and other possessions) are at danger if your LLC is sued.
Purchase Licenses and Permits
When forming an LLC, you should consider if your company requires any licences or permissions to operate legally. There are a few commercial operations that need licences or permissions on the federal level.
Learn how to secure the licences and permissions required for your company, or hire an expert to handle it for you:
Federal: For federal business licences and permits, see the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
State: Visit Virginia’s Business Services website to apply for or learn more about licences, permits, and registration.
Local: Inquire with your county clerk regarding local licences and permissions.