How To Fill Out The Virginia LLC Articles of Organization

Are you thinking about starting a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Virginia? If so, you’ll need to comply with the state’s business formation regulations. While filing your Articles of Organization may be intimidating at first, it is an essential step toward forming your LLC.

This guide will walk you through how to fill out the Virginia LLC Articles of Organization and answer some common questions that many people have when starting their business in Virginia.

Steps To Fill Out The Virginia LLC Articles Of Organization

The Virginia Articles of Organization is the official document filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (Virginia SCC) to establish a Limited Liability Company (LLC). After the state approves the filing, the business can officially begin operating and register for the necessary business licenses and permits.
 
To form a Virginia Limited Liability Company, you will need to either file online through the Virginia State Corporation Commission’s website or download and file Form LLC-1011.

Step 1: Pick a Name for the LLC

The first step in filling out the Virginia Operating Agreement is to pick a business name.

There are a few requirements when choosing a Virginia LLC name.

1. The name of your LLC must not be too similar to the name of another business entity already registered with the state of Virginia. You can verify name availability by doing a Virginia LLC name search with the Virginia State Corporation Commission to be sure the LLC name is available.

2. The name of the LLC must include one of the following entity identifiers at the end of the business name:

• Limited Liability Company
• Limited Company
• L.L.C.
• LLC
• L.C.
• LC

Enter the LLC name, including the identifier. It’s also recommended to include a contact number and email address because if you choose a name that is taken, the State Corporation Commission will contact you to choose a different name.

Step 2: Provide the Principal Office Address

The address of the Principal Office may be, but is not required to be, the actual place of the business. It can also be the main location where the business records are kept.

A physical address must be used for the Principal Office, as P.O. Boxes are not acceptable.

Step 3: Appoint a Registered Agent

One requirement for having an LLC in Virginia is to appoint a Virginia registered agent. The Registered Agent is a party physically located in Virginia who will receive important notices and service of process (which means accepting papers that start a lawsuit) on behalf of the LLC.

Step 4: Choose a Qualification for the Registered Agent

There are several choices for who can be qualified as a registered agent.

In general, provided the LLC member lives in the state of Virginia and is generally available during business hours, they may act as the registered agent. Additionally, any adult resident of the state, attorney or accountant in the state, or a registered agent service can also act as the LLC’s Agent.

Select the box that most closely matches the qualifications of the Virginia registered agent.

Related: Should you be the registered agent?

Step 5: Include the Registered Agent Address

Include the physical address (No PO Boxes) for the Registered Office. This would be an address where someone is generally present during normal business hours.

Step 6: File the Articles of Organization

An LLC Organizer will review the Articles of Organization to ensure the information provided is correct, agree to the terms, and sign the document.

The Organizer is someone who is involved with the LLC formation.  The Organizer may or may not be a member, such as a mentor, attorney, or accountant, but any of the initial member(s) can be an organizer.

Virginia LLC FAQs