Form LLC-1011 is the Articles of Organization that every person who wants to start a limited liability company in Virginia must file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC). This one document is what legally creates your LLC. Until the SCC accepts it, your business does not exist as a separate legal entity, and you do not get the personal liability protection that an LLC gives you.
Getting this form right matters because the SCC checks every field before it approves your filing. A wrong registered agent box, a missing name designator, or a P.O. Box in the wrong spot can get your filing rejected, and you wait days longer to open a bank account or sign a lease. Virginia approves online filings in about 2 to 5 business days, and the state forms thousands of new LLCs every month, so small errors slow down a busy system and push your start date back.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 How to fill out every line of Form LLC-1011, box by box, in plain language
- 🧾 The exact documents and details you need to gather before you start
- 💵 Where to file, what it costs, and how long approval takes through each channel
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes filers make and the real cost of each one
- ❓ Clear answers to the questions first-time Virginia LLC owners ask most
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form LLC-1011 is the official Articles of Organization for a Virginia limited liability company. It is the formation document required under Chapter 12 of Title 13.1 of the Code of Virginia. When you file it and the SCC accepts it, the Commission issues a Certificate of Organization, and your LLC legally exists from that moment.
Anyone who wants to run a business in Virginia through an LLC must file this form. This includes a single person starting a one-owner company, a group of partners forming a multi-member LLC, and out-of-state owners who want a Virginia LLC. The current version is Form LLC1011 (Rev. 09/21), and you should confirm that revision date in the bottom corner of the form before you use it so you are not working from an old copy.
The form solves one core problem: it tells the state who is responsible for your company and where legal papers can be sent. The agency that receives it is the SCC Clerk’s Office. The statute that requires it is Title 13.1, Chapter 12. The fee that governs it is a flat $100, and the penalty for getting it wrong is rejection, which means delay and lost time. Each of these pieces connects: the statute sets the rules, the agency enforces them, the fee pays for the review, and the form is the proof you followed the law.
A professional LLC, such as one for doctors, lawyers, or accountants, files a slightly different version called Articles of Organization for a Professional LLC. If your business needs a state license to operate, you may need that form instead. For most general businesses, Form LLC-1011 is the right document.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gathering everything first makes the form quick to finish. The SCC does not ask for much, but each item must be exact. Missing or wrong information is the top reason filings get held up.
Here is the pre-filing checklist. Have all of these ready before you open the form:
- Your chosen LLC name with a designator. The name must include a word like “LLC” or “Limited Liability Company.” Without it, the SCC rejects the name.
- A name availability check. Your name must be different from every other entity on record. If it matches another, the filing is denied.
- Your registered agent’s full legal name. This person or company accepts legal papers for you. A wrong name means service of process can fail later.
- Proof your registered agent qualifies. The agent must meet one of Virginia’s specific qualification categories. If they do not qualify, the filing is rejected.
- The registered agent’s Virginia street address. This is the registered office, and it must be a real Virginia location, not just any mailing address.
- The county or independent city of the registered office. Virginia requires you to name the locality. Leaving it blank stalls the filing.
- Your principal office address. This is where your main business records sit, and it cannot be a P.O. Box.
- The name of each organizer who will sign. The organizer signs the form, and a missing signature voids the filing.
- A payment method for the $100 fee. Online you pay by credit card or eCheck; by mail you send a check. No fee, no filing.
- An optional email and phone number. These are not required, but giving them helps the SCC reach you fast if there is a problem.
Take a few minutes to confirm your name is open using the Clerk’s Information System before anything else. If the name is taken after you have planned everything around it, you have to start over.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
You can get Form LLC-1011 in two main ways, and the path you pick shapes the rest of the process. The fastest route is the SCC’s online portal, the Clerk’s Information System (CIS), where you complete the articles in real time without ever printing a paper form. The CIS walks you through the same fields the paper form has, just on screen.
If you prefer paper, you can download the fillable PDF from the SCC’s Virginia Limited Liability Companies page. Print it on solid white, letter-size paper, fill it in using black print, and mail or deliver it to the Clerk’s Office. The form must be one-sided, with no watermarks, a top margin of at least 1.25 inches, and 0.75-inch margins on the other sides.
To create a CIS account, go to the registration page, enter your details, and submit. Once you log in, click “Online Services,” then “New Businesses,” and choose “Limited Liability Company” and “Articles of Organization.” If you are forming a professional LLC, pick the professional version instead. The system is free to use; you only pay the $100 filing fee at checkout.
For help, the SCC keeps how-to guides, videos, and answers on its CIS help page. You can also call the Clerk’s Office at 804-371-9733, Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, if you get stuck on any step.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form LLC-1011 Line by Line
The form has four numbered Articles and a signature block. Fill them in the order they appear. Below, each field gets its own walkthrough so you know what to write, what it should look like, and what goes wrong if you miss it.
Article I — The Limited Liability Company’s Name
This is the field where you write the exact name of your new company. It is the first thing the SCC reviews, and the name you enter here becomes your legal business name on every state record.
To answer it, write your full LLC name on the blank line. The name must contain one of these designations: Limited Company, Limited Liability Company, L.C., LC, L.L.C., or LLC. Type it with the exact spelling and capitalization you want, because that is how it will appear on your Certificate of Organization.
For example, Maria Lopez wants to start a bakery, so she writes Lopez Artisan Bakery, LLC on the line. She picks “LLC” as her designator and keeps the capitalization clean.
A common edge case is a name that is close to one already on file. Your name must be distinguishable from every other entity registered with the Commission, so check it first at the CIS name search. If yours is too similar, add a word to make it unique.
The most common mistake here is leaving out the designator, like writing only Lopez Artisan Bakery. The direct consequence is that the SCC rejects the name and you must refile, losing days. A frequent misconception is that adding “LLC” makes the name automatically available; it does not, because the rest of the name still has to be unique on record.
Article II — Registered Agent (Part A: Name)
Part A asks for the full name of your LLC’s initial registered agent. The registered agent is the person or company whose only job is to accept legal documents and official notices for your LLC.
To answer it, write the registered agent’s full legal name on the line in Part A. If the agent is a person, use their real name; if it is a company, use the company’s exact registered name.
For example, James Carter forms a consulting LLC and acts as his own agent because he lives in Virginia and is the sole member, so he writes James Carter in Part A.
An important edge case: your LLC may not serve as its own registered agent. The agent has to be a separate individual or a qualifying business entity, never the LLC itself.
The most common mistake is naming a friend who has no connection to the company and lives out of state. The consequence is rejection, because Virginia has strict rules about who can be an agent. A widespread misconception is that anyone you trust can be the agent; in truth, the person or entity must meet one of the qualification categories in Part B.
Article II — Registered Agent (Part B: Qualification)
Part B is where you check the box that shows your registered agent qualifies under Virginia law. This proves the agent is legally allowed to serve, and it is one of the most misunderstood parts of the whole form.
To answer it, mark one box. Option (1) is for an individual who is a resident of Virginia and falls into one of these roles: a member or manager of the LLC; a member or manager of an LLC that is a member or manager of your LLC; an officer or director of a corporation that is a member or manager; a general partner of a partnership that is a member or manager; a trustee of a trust that is a member or manager; or a member of the Virginia State Bar. Option (2) is for a domestic or foreign corporation, LLC, or registered limited liability partnership authorized to do business in Virginia, which is what commercial registered agent companies use.
For example, James Carter checks the box for an INDIVIDUAL who is a resident of Virginia and a member or manager of the LLC, since he owns and runs the company.
An edge case many people hit: a Virginia attorney can serve as your agent even if they are not a member, because membership in the Virginia State Bar is its own qualifying category.
The most common mistake is checking the individual box for someone who is not a Virginia resident. The consequence is a rejected filing, because non-residents do not qualify as individual agents. A common misconception is that a Virginia mailing address is enough; the person must actually be a Virginia resident and hold one of the listed roles.
Article III — Registered Office (Part A: Address)
Part A of Article III asks for the street address of your registered office. This address must be identical to the business office of the registered agent you named in Article II.
To answer it, write the number and street, the city or town, “VA,” and the ZIP code on the lines provided. Use a real Virginia street address.
For example, James Carter enters 412 Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23220, which is the same address where he works and lives.
There are narrow edge cases for addresses. You may use a rural route and box number only if the location has no street address. You may use a P.O. Box only if there is no street address or rural route, or if the town has a population of 2,000 or less.
The most common mistake is listing an address that is different from the registered agent’s office. The consequence is rejection, because the two must match exactly. A misconception is that you can use your home address even if your agent is somewhere else; the registered office must be the agent’s location, not yours, unless you are the agent.
Article III — Registered Office (Part B: County or City)
Part B asks you to name the county or independent city where the registered office sits. Virginia is split into counties and independent cities, and the state needs to know which one applies.
To answer it, check either “county” or “city,” then write the name of that locality on the line.
For example, James Carter’s office is in the City of Richmond, so he checks city and writes Richmond.
An edge case to watch: many Virginia cities are independent, meaning they are not part of a county. If your office is in a place like Richmond, Norfolk, or Alexandria, you almost always check “city,” not “county.”
The most common mistake is leaving this box blank or guessing wrong between county and city. The consequence is that the SCC cannot process the filing and holds it. A common misconception is that the county and city are interchangeable; in Virginia, they are legally separate, and picking the wrong one creates a record error.
Article IV — Principal Office Address
Article IV asks for the address of your LLC’s principal office. This is the location of your company’s main executive offices, and it is where you keep your member list and internal records unless you store them electronically.
To answer it, write the number and street, the city or town, the state, and the ZIP code. This address can be in Virginia or in any other state or country.
For example, Aisha Bello runs her marketing LLC from home in Arlington, so she writes 88 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22209 as her principal office.
An edge case: the principal office does not have to be in Virginia. An out-of-state owner, like Daniel Reyes in San Francisco, can list 500 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 here while still forming a Virginia LLC.
The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box. The consequence is rejection, because a P.O. Box is not allowed for the principal office; only a rural route and box number is permitted when there is no street address. A frequent misconception is that the principal office must match the registered office; the two can be completely different addresses.
Signature(s) of Organizer(s)
The last section is the signature block, where one or more organizers sign the articles. The organizer is the person filing the form to create the LLC, and their signature makes the document official.
To answer it, sign your name, print your name, and add the date. You can also add a phone number and email, which are optional but speed up contact if there is an issue. If you sign for a business entity that is the organizer, include the entity’s name, your printed name, and your role within it.
For example, Maria Lopez signs as the organizer of her bakery, prints Maria Lopez, dates it, and adds her email so the SCC can reach her fast.
An edge case: the organizer does not have to be a member or owner of the LLC. A friend, attorney, or formation service can sign as organizer, then step away once the LLC is formed.
The most common mistake is forgetting to sign, or printing the name without an actual signature. The consequence is a void filing that the SCC will not accept. A common misconception is that all members must sign; in fact, one organizer’s signature is enough to form the company.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Seeing the form filled out end to end makes it click. Below are three common filers, each walked through the main sections of Form LLC-1011.
Scenario 1: James Carter, a single-member LLC owner acting as his own registered agent. James lives in Richmond and runs a solo consulting business. He is his own agent because he is a Virginia resident and the sole member.
| Form Section | What James Enters |
|---|---|
| Article I — Name | Carter Consulting, LLC |
| Article II-A — Agent Name | James Carter |
| Article II-B — Qualification | Individual, Virginia resident, member or manager of the LLC |
| Article III-A — Registered Office | 412 Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23220 |
| Article III-B — County or City | City of Richmond |
| Article IV — Principal Office | 412 Grace Street, Richmond, VA 23220 |
| Signature | Signed James Carter, dated, email added |
| Fee | $100 paid online by credit card |
Scenario 2: Priya and Sam Nguyen, a multi-member LLC using a commercial registered agent. They open a design studio and hire a registered agent company so legal papers go to a professional office.
| Form Section | What Priya and Sam Enter |
|---|---|
| Article I — Name | Bright Studio Design, L.L.C. |
| Article II-A — Agent Name | Northwest Registered Agent, LLC |
| Article II-B — Qualification | Entity authorized to transact business in Virginia |
| Article III-A — Registered Office | The agent company’s Virginia street address |
| Article III-B — County or City | County of Fairfax |
| Article IV — Principal Office | 210 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 |
| Signature | Signed by Priya Nguyen as organizer, dated |
| Fee | $100 paid online by eCheck |
Scenario 3: Daniel Reyes, an out-of-state owner in San Francisco forming a Virginia LLC. Daniel does not live in Virginia, so he hires a commercial agent and lists his California office as the principal office.
| Form Section | What Daniel Enters |
|---|---|
| Article I — Name | Reyes Trading Company, LLC |
| Article II-A — Agent Name | A commercial registered agent company |
| Article II-B — Qualification | Entity authorized to transact business in Virginia |
| Article III-A — Registered Office | The agent’s Virginia street address |
| Article III-B — County or City | City of Norfolk |
| Article IV — Principal Office | 500 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
| Signature | Signed Daniel Reyes as organizer, dated, phone added |
| Fee | $100 paid online by credit card |
How to File the Completed Form
Virginia gives you three ways to file Form LLC-1011, and the fee is the same flat $100 no matter which you pick. Choose the channel that fits how fast you need approval and whether you want a paper trail.
Online through the CIS portal. Go to the Clerk’s Information System, create an account, and complete the articles on screen. You pay the $100 by credit card or eCheck, and there are no extra processing fees for filing online. Approval usually takes 2 to 5 business days, and you can download your approved Articles of Organization right away from the entity’s filing history. Keep that PDF as your proof of filing.
By mail. Print the completed form and mail it with a check payable to “State Corporation Commission” (do not send cash) to: State Corporation Commission, Clerk’s Office, P.O. Box 1197, Richmond, VA 23218-1197. Approval also runs about 2 to 5 business days, plus mail time. The state mails you a receipt and Certificate of Organization, and you keep the stamped copy as proof.
In person or by courier. Deliver the form and payment to the Clerk’s Office at 1300 E. Main St., 1st floor, Richmond, VA 23219. This is useful if you are local and want to hand-deliver. Keep your date-stamped copy as proof of filing.
For all channels, save every confirmation, receipt, and the approved Articles PDF. If you ever open a bank account, sign a lease, or apply for a loan, you will need that approved document as proof your LLC exists.
What Happens After You File
Once you submit Form LLC-1011, the SCC reviews it for completeness and accuracy. If everything is correct, the Commission accepts the filing and issues a Certificate of Organization, and your LLC legally exists from that point. Online filers usually see approval in 2 to 5 business days.
After approval, you receive a few documents: the approved Articles of Organization, a Certificate of Organization, and a Welcome Letter, also called the Commissioner’s Acceptance. The Articles of Organization is the most important one, so download and store it safely. The other two are good to keep in your records but matter less day to day.
If your filing has an error, the SCC will not approve it. They may contact you using the optional email or phone you provided, which is exactly why giving that information helps. You then fix the problem and resubmit, and the clock starts over, so accuracy the first time saves real days.
Forming the LLC is the start, not the finish. Virginia LLCs owe a $50 annual registration fee to the SCC, due by the end of your formation anniversary month each year. Most owners also get a free EIN from the IRS and write an operating agreement, which Virginia does not file but which protects how the LLC runs.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Small slips on this short form cause most rejections. Watch for each of these:
- Leaving the designator off the name. Without “LLC” or a like word, the SCC rejects the name outright.
- Picking a name too close to an existing one. A name that is not distinguishable gets denied, and you refile.
- Naming the LLC as its own agent. Virginia bans this, so the filing fails.
- Checking the wrong agent qualification box. A mismatch between the agent and the box leads to rejection.
- Using a non-resident as an individual agent. Individual agents must live in Virginia, or the filing is denied.
- Mismatching the registered office and agent address. The two must be identical, or the form is rejected.
- Leaving the county or city box blank. Without the locality, the SCC cannot process the filing.
- Using a P.O. Box for the principal office. This is not allowed and triggers rejection.
- Forgetting to sign as organizer. An unsigned form is void.
- Sending cash by mail. The SCC does not accept cash, so the filing goes nowhere.
- Using an outdated form version. Filing an old revision instead of Rev. 09/21 can cause processing problems.
- Putting personal data like an SSN on the form. These filings are public, so never include a Social Security number.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do:
- Do check your name first on the CIS search, because availability is the gate to everything else.
- Do confirm your agent qualifies under one of the listed categories, since the wrong type means rejection.
- Do match the registered office to the agent’s address exactly, because the law requires it.
- Do add your email and phone, since they let the SCC reach you fast if there is an issue.
- Do file online when you can, because it is faster and you get your approved PDF right away.
- Do save every confirmation and the approved Articles, since you will need them for banks and contracts.
Don’t:
- Don’t use a P.O. Box for the principal office, because it is banned and causes rejection.
- Don’t name your own LLC as the agent, since Virginia does not allow it.
- Don’t skip the designator in the name, or the SCC rejects it.
- Don’t put your SSN on the form, because the document is public record.
- Don’t send cash by mail, since only checks are accepted.
- Don’t forget to sign as organizer, or the filing is void.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Many filers can complete Form LLC-1011 alone, but a service or attorney can help in tricky cases. Here is how the two compare.
Pros of filing on your own:
- You save money, since you skip service fees and pay only the $100 state fee.
- You learn your own business, because you handle the details yourself.
- It is fast online, with the CIS guiding you field by field.
- You control your records, keeping every document from the start.
- It is simple for one-owner LLCs, where the form is short and clear.
Cons of filing on your own:
- You risk errors on the agent box or addresses that cause rejection.
- You must be your own agent or find one, which can be hard for out-of-state owners.
- You handle public records yourself, including the privacy of your home address.
- You get no legal advice, so special provisions may be missed.
- You track deadlines alone, like the $50 annual fee.
Pros of using a service or attorney:
- They reduce mistakes, since they file these forms often.
- They can serve as your agent, which solves the non-resident problem.
- They protect your privacy, by using their address on public records.
- They add custom provisions when your LLC needs them.
- They track compliance, including annual filings.
Cons of using a service or attorney:
- It costs more, with fees on top of the state’s $100.
- You give up some control over the timing and details.
- You may not learn the process as well yourself.
- Quality varies between providers.
- You still must review the filing to confirm it is correct.
Online Filing vs. Mail Filing
| Online (CIS) | |
|---|---|
| File in real time at cis.scc.virginia.gov | Print and mail Form LLC-1011 |
| Pay by credit card or eCheck, no extra fee | Pay by check to “State Corporation Commission” |
| Approval in about 2 to 5 business days | About 2 to 5 business days plus mail time |
| Download approved Articles right away | Request or download the approved copy after |
| Easiest for most filers | More steps and slower to get your document |
FAQs
Do I have to include “LLC” in my company name?
Yes. Your name must contain a designation such as LLC, L.L.C., Limited Liability Company, L.C., LC, or Limited Company, or the SCC will reject the filing.
Can my LLC be its own registered agent?
No. Virginia law does not allow an LLC to serve as its own registered agent; you must name a qualifying individual or an authorized business entity instead.
Does my registered agent have to live in Virginia?
Yes. If the agent is an individual, they must be a Virginia resident and hold one of the listed roles, such as a member, manager, or member of the Virginia State Bar.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the principal office in Article IV?
No. A P.O. Box is not allowed for the principal office; you may use a rural route and box number only if there is no street address.
In Article III-B, do I check “county” or “city”?
No single answer fits all; check “city” if your office is in an independent Virginia city like Richmond or Norfolk, and “county” only if it sits within a county.
Must my registered office match my agent’s address?
Yes. The registered office address in Article III must be identical to the business office of the registered agent named in Article II.
Do all LLC members have to sign the form?
No. Only one organizer must sign Form LLC-1011, and the organizer does not even have to be a member of the LLC.
How much does it cost to file Form LLC-1011?
Yes, there is a fee: the filing fee is a flat $100, the same whether you file online or by mail, with no extra processing fee online.
Can an out-of-state person form a Virginia LLC?
Yes. You can list a principal office in any state, but you still need a qualifying Virginia registered agent with a Virginia registered office.
Should I put my Social Security number on the form?
No. Never include an SSN, because these filings are public records that anyone can view through the SCC.
Do I need to file my operating agreement with the form?
No. The operating agreement is an internal document, so you do not send it to the SCC; you keep it in your own records.
How long until my LLC is approved?
Yes, there is a typical timeline: online filings are usually approved in about 2 to 5 business days, with mail filings taking a bit longer due to postal time.
Can a commercial registered agent company be my agent?
Yes. A domestic or foreign corporation, LLC, or registered LLP authorized to do business in Virginia can serve, and you check the entity box in Article II-B.
Do I have to reserve my LLC name before filing?
No. A name reservation is optional; most filers skip it and simply check name availability on the CIS before they file.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form LLC-1 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form LLC-2 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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