How to File Articles of Organization in West Virginia

In West Virginia, as in most states, the primary step in creating a limited liability company (LLC) is to file articles of organization with the state. This is an absolutely crucial document that helps define your business, so it’s important to do it correctly.

An LLC is a business entity that offers liability protection for owners, as well as pass-through taxation, much like a sole proprietorship. 

What are Articles of Organization?

The articles of organization is a legal document you need to file with the state to form your LLC and officially become a legal entity. It will specify details about your company and establish your LLC as a registered business entity in West Virginia. 

The document is similar to the articles of incorporation you would file to form a corporation instead of an LLC. 

How to File the West Virginia Articles of Organization

In West Virginia, the process to file articles of organization is quite simple. The crucial first step is gathering the required information about your new LLC, before proceeding with the filing itself. 

Here are the steps you’ll need to take to create your new business entity: 

1. Gather the required information about your business: 

• Business name
• Social security number or EIN
• Address
• Registered agent name and address
• Email and website
• Organizer (name of person or entity doing the LLC filing)
• Management structure
• Member or manager names
• Business purpose

2. Visit the state’s secretary of state’s website 

Find West Virginia’s articles of organization form here. It’s easiest to fill out the form online and file it immediately, but you can also download it, fill it out and mail it in. 

3. Filling out Articles of Organization Document

In order to fill out the form online, you’ll need to register for an account on the secretary of state’s business portal website.

Once you’ve registered for an account, you can go to “New Business Registration”. It will ask you a series of questions about the nature of your business. Then it will ask for a business description. 

Once you get past the questions about your type of business, it asks you to choose your management structure. Select whether your LLC will be member-managed or manager-managed (click the link to learn more). 

Then you will fill in your:

• Business name
• Social security number or EIN
• Registered agent name and address
• Person authorized to sign the document 

It will also ask you an extensive series of questions about your business before you get to the end and can review all your information. 

When filling out your articles of organization form, be sure to double-check that all the information is accurate and up-to-date. Maybe you’ve just moved, or use your middle initial in official documents, such as with your bank account. If you get it wrong now, changing it later can be a real pain, so accuracy is crucial. 

File Articles of Organization 

The last step is to pay your articles of organization filing fee, which in West Virginia is $130. 

West Virginia Secretary of State Contact Info

Here’s the West Virginia Secretary of State Department website. Contact the secretary of state’s office at (304) 558-6000, or the business center at (304) 558-8000.

The address of the department is:

Office of the Secretary of State
State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV 25305

The business center address is:

WV One Stop Business Center
1615 East Washington Street
Charleston, WV 25311-2126

The Bottom Line

In West Virginia, it’s relatively easy to create an LLC, but you do need to jump through a few hoops. You now have all the information you need to officially create your new business and begin your entrepreneurial journey in the Mountain State.