Registering Your Business

Trade Name & Partnership Registration

All businesses in Arlington that use trade names and all general partnerships must register with the Clerk of the Circuit Court. A $10 fee is required to register a trade name. A sole proprietor who does not have a trade name is not required to register. For more information, call the Arlington Clerk of the Circuit Court at (703) 228-7010.

Corporations

A new business incorporating in Virginia must file its articles of incorporation with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and pay a filing fee of $25. Stock corporations must pay a charter fee based on the number of authorized shares. The charter fee is $50 for every 25,000 shares or fraction. For over one million shares, the fee is $2,500. Non-stock corporations (those organized not for profit) pay a charter registration fee of $25. Foreign corporations are corporations doing business in Virginia but incorporated elsewhere. In order to transact business or conduct affairs in Virginia, a foreign corporation must apply for a Certificate of Authority To Transact Business In Virginia from the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The fees are the same as for domestic corporations (above).

All corporations doing business in Virginia must register annually with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and pay a fee. Stock corporations pay a $50 fee for 5,000 or fewer shares plus $15 for each additional 5,000 or fewer shares to a maximum of $850. Non-stock corporations pay an annual fee of $25. For more information, call the Virginia State Corporation Commission Clerk’s Office at (804) 371-9733 or toll-free (in-state) at (866) 722-2551.

Limited Partnerships

Limited partnerships, domestic or foreign, must file a certificate of limited partnership with the State Corporation Commission and pay a $100 filing fee. A limited liability company is an unincorporated association. The owners have liability protection as in a corporation, but are treated as a partnership for income tax purposes. The company must file articles of organization with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and pay a filing fee of $100. The annual registration fee is $50. To register or obtain information, call the Virginia State Corporation Commission Clerk’s Office at (804) 371-9733 or toll-free (in-state) at (866) 722-2551.

Contractors

Contractors must register their business both with the state and the County government. To bid on or undertake a job, contractors must possess a contractor’s license issued by the State Board for Contractors. Contractors who perform work in Arlington must register with the County Inspection Services Division. For more information, call the Virginia State Board for Contractors at (804) 367-8511 and the Arlington Inspection Services Division at (703) 228-3800.

Restaurant Meals Tax

Restaurants must register with the Arlington Commissioner of Revenue for collection of the County meals tax. New restaurants must register with the Business Tax Division before sales begin. The tax rate is 4% and is collected from the customer and held in trust by the restaurant until the 20th of each month, when it is paid to the County. This meals tax is in addition to what the state charges. For more information, call the Arlington Commissioner of Revenue at (703) 228-7180.

Franchise & Trademark Registration

Franchises must be registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission before they may be offered or sold in Virginia. Trademarks owned or used in Virginia may be registered by filing an application and a filing fee of $30. To register either a franchise or a trademark, call the Virginia State Corporation Commission at (800) 552-7945 (toll free in Virginia only).