How Much Does It Cost to Start a Business in Virginia?
Last updated: May 2026
Virginia Business Overview
LLC Filing Fee
$100
Sales Tax Rate
5.3%
Minimum Wage
$12.41/hr
Cost of Living Index
103.7
Workers Comp
Required
Annual Report Fee
$50
Starting a Business in Virginia
Virginia businesses register with the State Corporation Commission. Local BPOL (Business, Professional, and Occupational License) taxes apply in most localities.
Virginia has a graduated income tax with rates from 2% to 5.75%. Corporate income tax is 6%. The state has a streamlined business registration process.
Northern Virginia's proximity to DC creates exceptional demand for government contracting, IT, and professional services. The state has a growing tech sector with Amazon HQ2.
For official formation documents, visit the Virginia Secretary of State.
Startup Costs for 100 Business Types in Virginia
The table below shows estimated startup costs for every major business type, adjusted for Virginia’s cost of living index of 103.7. Click any column header to sort. Click a business name to see full cost breakdowns, calculator, and licensing requirements.
| Accounting Firm | Professional Services | $7,490 | $21,400 | $49,220 |
| Airbnb & Vacation Rental Business | Real Estate | $11,770 | $32,100 | $96,300 |
| Ambulance Service | Transportation & Logistics | $85,600 | $214,000 | $535,000 |
| App Development Company | Tech & Online | $10,700 | $32,100 | $85,600 |
| Architecture Firm | Professional Services | $21,400 | $58,850 | $139,100 |
| Auto Detailing Business | Automotive | $5,350 | $32,100 | $107,000 |
| Auto Repair Shop | Automotive | $80,250 | $214,000 | $535,000 |
| Bakery | Food & Beverage | $21,400 | $101,650 | $321,000 |
| Bar & Nightclub | Food & Beverage | $107,000 | $374,500 | $909,500 |
| Barbershop | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,050 | $69,550 | $187,250 |
| Beauty Supply Store | Beauty & Personal Care | $32,100 | $107,000 | $321,000 |
| Bookstore | Retail | $26,750 | $107,000 | $321,000 |
| Brewery / Microbrewery | Food & Beverage | $267,500 | $428,000 | $1,605,000 |
| Cannabis Dispensary | Specialty & Regulated | $133,215 | $355,240 | $1,332,150 |
| Car Wash | Automotive | $133,215 | $582,080 | $1,662,780 |
| Carpentry & Woodworking Shop | Construction & Trades | $11,235 | $29,960 | $74,900 |
| Catering Business | Food & Beverage | $12,840 | $56,710 | $139,100 |
| Chiropractic Office | Health & Wellness | $107,000 | $128,400 | $321,000 |
| Cleaning Business | Home Services | $1,605 | $11,770 | $39,590 |
| Clothing Boutique | Retail | $32,100 | $107,000 | $321,000 |
| Coffee Shop | Food & Beverage | $64,200 | $128,400 | $374,500 |
| Concrete Business | Construction & Trades | $26,750 | $69,550 | $160,500 |
| Consulting Business | Professional Services | $2,140 | $9,630 | $27,820 |
| Convenience Store | Retail | $53,500 | $299,600 | $802,500 |
| Courier & Delivery Service | Transportation & Logistics | $8,560 | $23,540 | $58,850 |
| Cybersecurity Firm | Tech & Online | $21,400 | $58,850 | $160,500 |
| Dance Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,400 | $85,600 | $267,500 |
| Daycare Center | Childcare & Education | $64,200 | $192,600 | $535,000 |
| Demolition Company | Construction & Trades | $32,100 | $85,600 | $214,000 |
| Dental Practice | Health & Wellness | $374,500 | $535,000 | $1,070,000 |
| Digital Marketing Agency | Tech & Online | $4,280 | $12,840 | $34,240 |
| E-Commerce Store | Tech & Online | $5,350 | $16,050 | $53,500 |
| Electrical Business | Home Services | $16,050 | $58,850 | $171,200 |
| Esthetics & Skincare Business | Beauty & Personal Care | $8,560 | $42,800 | $128,400 |
| Excavation Company | Construction & Trades | $53,500 | $139,100 | $374,500 |
| Financial Planning Practice | Professional Services | $21,400 | $58,850 | $139,100 |
| Flower Shop | Retail | $21,400 | $80,250 | $214,000 |
| Food Delivery Service | Food & Beverage | $10,700 | $55,640 | $139,100 |
| Food Processing Business | Food & Beverage | $214,000 | $267,500 | $802,500 |
| Food Truck | Food & Beverage | $48,150 | $128,400 | $214,000 |
| Freight Brokerage | Transportation & Logistics | $17,120 | $38,520 | $85,600 |
| Furniture Store | Retail | $53,500 | $214,000 | $642,000 |
| General Contracting Business | Construction & Trades | $21,400 | $58,850 | $139,100 |
| Ghost Kitchen | Food & Beverage | $21,400 | $64,200 | $160,500 |
| Gift Shop | Retail | $21,400 | $74,900 | $214,000 |
| Gym & Fitness Center | Health & Wellness | $53,500 | $267,500 | $1,070,000 |
| Hair Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $16,050 | $80,250 | $267,500 |
| Handyman Business | Home Services | $2,140 | $10,700 | $35,310 |
| Home Health Care Agency | Health & Wellness | $42,800 | $139,100 | $321,000 |
| HVAC Business | Home Services | $21,400 | $74,900 | $214,000 |
| Ice Cream Shop | Food & Beverage | $21,400 | $80,250 | $214,000 |
| Insurance Agency | Professional Services | $16,050 | $42,800 | $96,300 |
| IT Services Business | Tech & Online | $16,050 | $42,800 | $107,000 |
| Juice Bar & Smoothie Shop | Food & Beverage | $26,750 | $96,300 | $267,500 |
| Landscaping Business | Home Services | $10,700 | $42,800 | $128,400 |
| Laundromat | Real Estate | $107,000 | $267,500 | $642,000 |
| Law Firm | Professional Services | $12,840 | $36,380 | $86,670 |
| Limousine & Car Service | Transportation & Logistics | $42,800 | $96,300 | $235,400 |
| Liquor Store | Retail | $53,500 | $192,600 | $535,000 |
| Marketing Agency | Professional Services | $5,350 | $19,260 | $53,500 |
| Martial Arts Studio | Childcare & Education | $21,400 | $74,900 | $214,000 |
| Meal Prep Business | Food & Beverage | $21,400 | $69,550 | $214,000 |
| Med Spa | Health & Wellness | $107,000 | $374,500 | $1,070,000 |
| Medical Practice | Health & Wellness | $160,500 | $428,000 | $1,070,000 |
| Mental Health Practice | Health & Wellness | $16,050 | $53,500 | $160,500 |
| Moving Company | Home Services | $32,100 | $107,000 | $321,000 |
| Music School | Childcare & Education | $10,700 | $53,500 | $160,500 |
| Nail Salon | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,400 | $96,300 | $267,500 |
| Painting Business | Home Services | $5,350 | $26,750 | $85,600 |
| Personal Training Business | Health & Wellness | $5,350 | $26,750 | $107,000 |
| Pest Control Business | Home Services | $10,700 | $42,800 | $128,400 |
| Pet Store | Retail | $32,100 | $107,000 | $321,000 |
| Pharmacy | Health & Wellness | $267,500 | $428,000 | $1,070,000 |
| Physical Therapy Clinic | Health & Wellness | $64,200 | $192,600 | $481,500 |
| Pizza Shop | Food & Beverage | $80,250 | $187,250 | $428,000 |
| Plumbing Business | Home Services | $16,050 | $53,500 | $160,500 |
| Podcast Production Company | Tech & Online | $2,140 | $6,420 | $19,260 |
| Preschool | Childcare & Education | $53,500 | $160,500 | $428,000 |
| Property Management Company | Real Estate | $11,235 | $25,680 | $58,850 |
| Real Estate Agency | Professional Services | $10,700 | $29,960 | $74,900 |
| Real Estate Investing & Rental Business | Real Estate | $26,750 | $80,250 | $267,500 |
| Restaurant | Food & Beverage | $187,250 | $401,250 | $802,500 |
| Roofing Company | Home Services | $16,050 | $64,200 | $192,600 |
| SaaS Company | Tech & Online | $21,400 | $64,200 | $214,000 |
| Spa & Massage Therapy | Health & Wellness | $10,700 | $74,900 | $267,500 |
| Staffing Agency | Professional Services | $21,400 | $58,850 | $160,500 |
| Storage Unit Facility | Real Estate | $214,000 | $642,000 | $2,140,000 |
| Tattoo Shop | Beauty & Personal Care | $21,400 | $63,130 | $214,000 |
| Tax Preparation Business | Professional Services | $3,745 | $10,700 | $28,890 |
| Thrift Store | Retail | $21,400 | $80,250 | $214,000 |
| Tire Shop | Automotive | $53,500 | $160,500 | $428,000 |
| Towing Company | Automotive | $53,500 | $160,500 | $428,000 |
| Trucking Company | Transportation & Logistics | $32,100 | $85,600 | $214,000 |
| Tutoring Business | Childcare & Education | $2,140 | $25,680 | $107,000 |
| Used Car Dealership | Automotive | $53,500 | $214,000 | $642,000 |
| Vape Shop | Retail | $26,750 | $80,250 | $214,000 |
| Web Development Agency | Tech & Online | $3,745 | $12,840 | $35,310 |
| Welding Business | Construction & Trades | $16,050 | $42,800 | $107,000 |
| Winery | Food & Beverage | $535,000 | $815,340 | $3,210,000 |
| Yoga Studio | Health & Wellness | $16,050 | $85,600 | $214,000 |
Most Popular Business Types in Virginia
Licenses & Permits in Virginia
General Business License
Virginia does not have a statewide general business license. Businesses must register their entity with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) and register with the Virginia Department of Taxation for sales and use tax purposes. Virginia's counties and independent cities each have their own business license requirements through a Business, Professional, and Occupational License (BPOL) tax system. Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Richmond, and Northern Virginia jurisdictions each have their own BPOL rates and requirements.
Industry-Specific Licenses
- Food Establishment Permit — Virginia Department of Health or Local Health DepartmentCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Contractor License — Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation — Board for ContractorsCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Cosmetology Salon License — Virginia Board for Barbers and CosmetologyCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Real Estate Broker License — Virginia Real Estate BoardCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Child Day Center License — Virginia Department of Education — Division of Child Care and Early Childhood DevelopmentCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- On-Premises Wine and Beer License — Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control AuthorityCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
- Medical Practice License — Virginia Board of MedicineCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Biennial
- Data Broker Registration — Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer ServicesCost: Varies — contact agency • Renewal: Annual
Home-Based Business Rules
Virginia's independent cities and counties regulate home-based businesses through local zoning ordinances. Many Virginia jurisdictions allow home occupations in residential zones with restrictions on customer traffic, commercial signage, and non-resident employees. Fairfax County and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions allow home-based businesses that serve Washington DC markets. Virginia's cottage food law supports home-based food production and direct consumer sales subject to a state-defined annual cap.
Virginia Business Resources
SBA District Office
Virginia SBA District Office — Richmond
Secretary of State
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/clk/busi_research.aspxZoning Information
Virginia counties and cities manage zoning independently. Northern Virginia has some of the most complex commercial zoning in the state due to proximity to DC.
Health Department Notes
Food establishments are regulated and licensed by local health departments under the Virginia Department of Health.
Workers Compensation
Required for employers with 2 or more employees (1 or more in the construction industry).