By Diane Nester
For The Office of WV Secretary of State Kris Warner
Charleston – The WV Secretary of State’s Office registered 2,057 new businesses statewide during the month of June according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in June include Kanawha, Berkeley, Monongalia, Raleigh and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
1. Kanawha County – 153 new registrations
2. Berkeley County – 122 new registrations
3. Monongalia County – 118 new registrations
4. Raleigh County – 88 new registrations
5. Jefferson County – 74 new registrations
Of the 2,057 new businesses registered in June, 59 registered as non-profit and 216 qualified for one of the fee waiver programs offered by the WV Secretary of State’s Office. Each program waives the initial registration fee for registering the business. The Boots to Business incentive also waives the first four years of Annual Report filing fees, offering potential savings of up to $250 for new business owners.
New Business Owners Eligible for WVSOS Cost Savings Programs:
– Veterans, active-duty, military spouses – 88 new registrations
– New business owners under the age of 30 – 128 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 23,865 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from May 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 174,343 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
Need information on businesses registered in West Virginia? You can search our records anytime at wvsos.gov and filter your results by county, business status (active/inactive), effective date, business type, and more. It’s a quick and easy way to find the information you need! Visit wvsos.gov and click on this link for a complete step-by-step guide to learn more.
The WVSOS Business Division works closely with the WV Department of Commerce to help get entrepreneurs the support and assistance they need to start and open their business. Read more about the partnership at WV Business-Link.
Customer Service Summary for June:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 6,524 customers through phone calls, in-person office visits, and virtual appointments. The WVSOS Office’s virtual appointment scheduler allows customers to receive face-to-face customer support at a time or with a specialist of their choosing from the comfort of their office or even their own home.
– Phone calls to the WVSOS Business Division – 6,043
– Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 12
– In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 469
In the month of June, Clay County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 9 new business registrations, a 2.98% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business Division reported that Summers, Mason, Tucker, and Lincoln also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for June:
1. Clay County – 2.98% growth
2. Summers County – 2.35% growth
3. Mason County – 1.91% growth
4. Tucker County – 1.91% growth
5. Lincoln County – 1.83% growth
DISCLAIMERS & CLARIFICATION: Unless a delayed effective date is specified, the existence of a limited liability company begins when the articles of organization are filed even if their filing is held for further compliance review and approved at a later date. The filed date is considered the date the Secretary of State receives the filing and payment has been completed.
