West Virginia Business Entity Search

How to Search West Virginia's Register

The official search is the state's “Business Organization Search” page, on apps.sos.wv.gov. We have not confirmed whether the state charges to search, so check the search page itself. Open the official search.

On the main search page you can search by:

• Entity name
• Registered agent or registered office
• Officer or principal

The state also runs separate search pages:

• Business Organization Search (advanced search options), to search by entity name, or by registered agent or registered office, or by officer or principal, or by entity or filing number, or by address.

What a Search Result Shows

A West Virginia result includes the items below, according to the state's own pages or a result page we read. It may show more.

• Entity type
• Formation or registration date
• Principal office address
• Mailing address
• Officers or managers

What Each West Virginia Status Means

The status is the label the register puts on each entity. Where the state defines a label, the meaning below restates that definition, with a link to the state page it comes from. Where it does not, we do not guess from the word, because the same word can mean different things in different states.

These are all the labels in the search tool's own status filter.

If the search shows that your own LLC was dissolved, see how to reinstate an LLC in West Virginia.

A search result is not a certificate of good standing. If a bank or another state asks for one, see how to get a West Virginia certificate of good standing.

Viewing and Ordering Documents

We have not confirmed whether filed documents can be viewed online; check the search page.

Plain copies cost $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, with search charges extra where a search takes over 15 minutes. Certified copies are priced on their own: $15.00 flat for the formation documents plus $5.00 for each amendment or other document.

Is the Name Available?

The state tells you to use this same search to check whether a name is already in use.

The state's naming standard, in its own words: “distinguishable upon the records of the Secretary of State.”

We have not confirmed whether West Virginia requires a name reservation before you file. A name reservation costs $15.00.

Our free LLC name checker looks up domain and social media handle availability for a name. It does not search West Virginia's register, so check the state's search as well.

Bulk Business Entity Data

West Virginia offers bulk business entity data for a fee. The Secretary of State sells custom lists of registered businesses, at a minimum $25.00 search fee plus $0.05 per record, and offers bulk entity data downloads to subscribing WV.gov account holders. See the state's bulk data page.

Worth Knowing in West Virginia

On West Virginia's search, a terminated entity shows a Termination Date and a Termination Reason, such as "Revoked (Failure to File Annual Report)" or "LLC Termination (Domestic)".