Virginia business license guide
Last checked: April 26, 2026
Virginia business licensing is not one single filing. Most businesses need to check several layers: state business registration, Virginia tax accounts, local BPOL business licensing, zoning, and any industry permit that applies to the work.
The main point: Virginia does not use one statewide “general business license” for every business. The common local license is usually a city or county Business, Professional and Occupational License, often called BPOL. State registrations and state permits may still apply.
The short answer
For many Virginia businesses, the “business license” step is local. Your city or county may require a BPOL license or BPOL tax filing before or soon after you start operating.
Separately, you may need to register a Virginia LLC, corporation, or other entity with the Virginia State Corporation Commission, register for Virginia tax accounts with Virginia Tax, file a fictitious name through the SCC if you use a name that is not your legal name, and get industry permits if your work is regulated.
Do not assume an LLC filing is the same as a business license. In Virginia, those are usually different steps.
Start here: the practical order
- Choose your structure. Decide whether you will operate as a sole proprietor, LLC, corporation, partnership, or another structure. Get legal or tax advice if you are unsure.
- Check whether you need an SCC filing. LLCs, corporations, limited partnerships, business trusts, and many foreign businesses file with the Virginia State Corporation Commission. A simple sole proprietor usually does not form a separate entity with the SCC just because they start selling services.
- Check your business name. If you use a name other than your legal name, you may need a Virginia assumed or fictitious name filing through the SCC Clerk’s Information System.
- Register for tax accounts when needed. If you sell taxable goods, rent taxable accommodations, have Virginia employees, or owe other Virginia business taxes, register with Virginia Tax.
- Check your local BPOL office. Contact the city or county where the business operates. In Virginia, the office may be called Commissioner of the Revenue, Department of Finance, Business Tax, or Department of Tax Administration.
- Check zoning before you sign a lease or start at home. Local zoning rules can affect storefronts, home offices, signs, parking, customers at the home, storage, mobile operations, and certificates of occupancy.
- Check industry permits. Food, alcohol, construction, health professions, cosmetology, real estate, motor vehicle sales, child care, and other regulated fields may need state or local approvals before opening.
Virginia facts to know before you file anything
| Virginia item | What it means | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide general business license | Virginia does not appear to use one general statewide business license for every business. State pages send businesses to entity filings, tax accounts, and agency-specific licenses. The common “business license” layer is often local BPOL. | Virginia.gov business registrations |
| Business One Stop | Virginia Business One Stop helps organize steps for creating a business. The official page lists a one-time registration fee of $20 and warns that other agencies may charge additional fees. | Virginia Business One Stop |
| SCC business filings | The State Corporation Commission handles many entity filings. The SCC says online filing may be faster and may help avoid common errors. | SCC Start a New Business |
| Assumed or fictitious name | Virginia uses the term “fictitious name” for a name used instead of the legal name. The SCC Clerk’s Office is the central filing office. The SCC lists a $10 filing fee. | SCC Fictitious Names |
| Retail sales and use tax | Virginia’s sales tax applies to tangible personal property, accommodations, and certain taxable services unless an exemption applies. Rates can vary by locality and item type. | Virginia Retail Sales and Use Tax |
| Local BPOL | BPOL means Business, Professional and Occupational License. Virginia Tax says the BPOL local license fee and tax is imposed and administered by local officials. | Virginia Tax BPOL ruling |
| Workers’ compensation | The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission says an employer that regularly employs more than two part-time or full-time employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage. | Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission FAQs |
Federal, state, county, and city layers are separate
A Virginia business may need several different approvals. Each layer does a different job.
| Layer | Common Virginia example | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | IRS EIN, federal industry permits, FinCEN rules when applicable | Handles federal tax ID numbers and federally regulated activities such as alcohol manufacturing, aviation, firearms, broadcasting, and some transportation. | Does not replace a Virginia local BPOL license, zoning approval, state tax account, or state professional license. |
| State | SCC entity filing, Virginia Tax registration, DPOR license, DHP license, ABC license, VDH or VDACS food permit | Registers entities, tax accounts, and state-regulated professions or industries. | Does not automatically approve your city or county business location. |
| County | Fairfax County BPOL, Arlington County BPOL, county health or zoning rules | May license or tax businesses, review zoning, inspect certain operations, and collect local taxes. | Does not register an LLC with the SCC. |
| City or town | Richmond BPOL, Norfolk business license, Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue, Chesapeake business license documents | May issue a local business license, BPOL account, zoning approval, certificate of occupancy, local tax account, or local permit. | Does not replace state tax registration or state industry licensing. |
| Private platform | Amazon, Etsy, Shopify, DoorDash, Airbnb, payment processors, marketplaces | May require tax documents, insurance, identity checks, local license proof, or platform approval. | Does not decide whether Virginia, your county, or your city requires a license or permit. |
Important: A business can be “formed” with the SCC and still be unlicensed locally. A business can also have a local BPOL license and still need a state tax account or professional license.
State registrations and tax accounts in Virginia
Entity filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission
If you form a Virginia LLC, corporation, limited partnership, registered limited liability partnership, or business trust, start with the SCC Start a New Business page. The SCC also handles many foreign business registrations for businesses formed in another state that transact business in Virginia.
The SCC business types page lists example filing paths and fees. For example, the SCC lists online filing for a Virginia LLC and a filing fee of $100. Fees and forms can change, so confirm the current SCC page before filing.
Virginia Business One Stop
Virginia Business One Stop is a state portal for entrepreneurs and business owners to plan, develop, and expand a business. It can help organize the steps involved in creating a business. It is not the same thing as getting every license you might need.
After using Business One Stop or filing with the SCC, still check Virginia Tax, your local BPOL office, zoning, and any industry regulator.
Assumed or fictitious names in Virginia
Virginia uses the term “fictitious name.” This is similar to “DBA” in many other states.
The SCC says a fictitious name is a name a person or business uses instead of the legal name. The SCC Clerk’s Office is the central filing office for these certificates. Filings can be made through the Clerk’s Information System or by paper form.
The SCC also says other people may be able to make a filing under the same fictitious name because the Commission does not decide who has the right to use a name. A fictitious name filing is not the same as a trademark, and it is not legal advice about name ownership.
Virginia Tax registration
If you need Virginia tax accounts, use Register a Business in Virginia from Virginia Tax.
Virginia Tax says that when registration is complete, a business receives a Virginia Tax account number for each tax type. If the business registered to collect retail sales or use tax, it receives a sales tax certificate.
Common tax types listed by Virginia Tax include retail sales tax, use tax for remote or out-of-state dealers with nexus in Virginia, employer withholding if you have Virginia employees, and corporate or pass-through entity income tax.
Sales tax certificate
If you are a dealer that sells, leases, or rents taxable items in Virginia, you may need to register to collect retail sales and use tax. Virginia Tax says dealers generally collect sales tax from customers and send it to Virginia Tax when they file returns.
Do not call this a “seller’s permit” unless the agency uses that wording for your situation. Virginia’s official tax pages commonly use terms such as retail sales and use tax, dealer, and sales tax certificate.
Employer setup
If you hire employees in Virginia, several separate items may apply.
- Virginia Tax says an employer who pays wages to one or more employees in Virginia generally must deduct and withhold Virginia income tax from those wages.
- The Virginia Employment Commission handles unemployment insurance. Employers should register when they have employees and need a VEC account.
- Virginia law requires new hire reporting. Code of Virginia § 63.2-1946 requires information concerning each newly hired employee to be submitted to the Virginia New Hire Reporting Center within 20 days of employment.
- The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission says employers that regularly employ more than two part-time or full-time employees must carry workers’ compensation coverage.
Federal items
The IRS says an EIN is a federal tax ID number. You need an EIN if you have employees, operate as a partnership, LLC, corporation, or certain other entities, or meet other IRS conditions. The IRS also says you can get an EIN for free directly from the IRS.
Federal permits are separate from Virginia licensing. The SBA says business activities regulated by a federal agency need a federal license or permit. Examples include some alcohol, aviation, firearms, fish and wildlife, maritime, mining, nuclear energy, broadcasting, and transportation activities.
FinCEN rules have changed. As of the reviewed FinCEN page, entities created in the United States, including those previously called domestic reporting companies, are exempt from BOI reporting under the interim final rule. Foreign entities registered to do business in the United States may still have duties. Check FinCEN directly if this could apply to you.
Local BPOL business licenses in Virginia
BPOL stands for Business, Professional and Occupational License. It is one of the most important Virginia-specific terms to know.
Virginia Tax describes the BPOL local license fee and tax as imposed and administered by local officials. That means the details depend on the city, county, or town where you do business.
Who handles BPOL?
The office name depends on the locality. In Virginia, the local office may be:
- Commissioner of the Revenue
- Department of Finance
- Business Tax Division
- Department of Tax Administration
- Treasurer or local tax office for payment
What BPOL may ask for
Local applications often ask for your legal name, trade name, business structure, FEIN or SSN, start date, address, business activity, estimated or prior gross receipts, and zoning information. Some localities also ask for proof of SCC registration, professional license, workers’ compensation information, or other documents.
Local examples show why you must check your own city or county
| Locality | Official example | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | The City of Richmond says business owners are required to obtain a Richmond business license annually, and new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening. | Richmond also says a Certificate of Zoning Compliance is needed before business license renewal. |
| Fairfax County | Fairfax County says all business owners, including home-based businesses, are subject to BPOL tax and must register within 75 days of beginning operations in the county. | The deadline and penalty rules are local, so do not copy Richmond’s rules into Fairfax. |
| Arlington County | Arlington says it licenses and assesses a business privilege tax, officially known as BPOL, on all Arlington businesses, including home-based businesses. | Arlington also handles business tangible personal property tax and certain local taxes such as meals and transient occupancy taxes. |
| Chesapeake | Chesapeake’s official business license page lists a Business License Application, Business License Addendum, and Application for Zoning Approval among business license documents. | Local zoning paperwork may be part of the local license process. |
| Norfolk | Norfolk’s official business license page separates application paths for general business, out-of-town contractors, special event licenses, and nonprofits. | Your path can change based on whether you are local, temporary, nonprofit, or an out-of-town contractor. |
Practical tip: Before you apply locally, ask whether your locality requires zoning approval first. In some Virginia localities, zoning review is not optional.
Home-based, online, and mobile businesses
Home-based businesses
A home-based business can still need a local BPOL license and zoning approval. Arlington and Fairfax both state that home-based businesses are included in their BPOL systems. Other localities may use their own wording.
Home occupation rules may limit signs, customer visits, employees at the home, deliveries, storage, equipment, noise, parking, or changes to the residential character of the property. Check zoning before you advertise a home address or invite customers to the home.
Online businesses
An online business may still have a local business location. If you run the business from a Virginia home, office, coworking space, warehouse, or studio, the local BPOL office may treat that as your place of business. Sales tax rules may also apply if you sell taxable goods or services.
Mobile businesses
Mobile businesses can be more complicated. Food trucks, mobile vendors, contractors, mobile car wash operators, event sellers, and service providers may need to check more than one locality. Ask where the license is required: where the business is based, where work is performed, where sales occur, or where gross receipts are sitused for BPOL purposes.
Do not assume “no storefront” means “no license.” In Virginia, local BPOL and zoning rules can still apply to home-based, online, and mobile businesses.
Industry-specific licenses and permits
Some businesses need a state or local permit because of what they do, not because they formed an LLC. Start with the official agency that regulates the activity.
| Business type or activity | Possible Virginia agency | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Contractors, trades, barbers, cosmetology, real estate, architects, engineers, auctioneers, and other regulated occupations | Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation | DPOR says to visit the appropriate board page for information, forms, and applications specific to each license type. |
| Health professionals and certain health-related facilities | Virginia Department of Health Professions | Check the relevant health regulatory board before offering regulated health services. |
| Restaurants, food trucks, caterers, mobile units, and temporary food events | Virginia Department of Health | VDH says the Food Establishment Permit is issued when the facility is complete and inspection complies with VDH food regulations. VDH encourages operators to contact the local health department early. |
| Home or commercial kitchen food manufacturing, storage, and some retail food operations | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | VDACS says food establishments, including private homes, that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for sale are subject to Virginia food laws unless an exception applies. |
| Alcohol sales | Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority | Virginia ABC retail licenses cover serving and sale of wine, beer, and mixed beverages at restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, grocery stores, and other establishments. |
| Motor vehicle dealership activity | Motor Vehicle Dealer Board through Virginia.gov listing | Virginia.gov lists car dealership licensing and registration as a separate business registration service. |
| Short-term rentals, meals, lodging, admissions, or local hospitality taxes | City or county tax office | Localities may administer meals tax, transient occupancy tax, admissions tax, or short-term rental taxes separately from BPOL. |
Virginia city guides and local starting points
Use the local guide if BusinessLicenseGuide already has one for your city. Then confirm the current requirements on the official local page before you file or pay.
BusinessLicenseGuide city pages found
- Chesapeake, VA Business License Guide
- Norfolk, VA Business License Guide
- Richmond, VA Business License Guide
- Virginia Beach, VA Business License Guide
Official local starting points
| Locality | Official starting point | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | City of Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue businesses page | Business license, business personal property, tax questions, zoning, and local forms. |
| Chesapeake | Chesapeake Opening / Operating a Business – Tax & Licensing | Business License Application, addendum, zoning approval, and contractor-only documents when applicable. |
| Norfolk | Norfolk Business License | General business, out-of-town contractor, special event, and nonprofit license paths. |
| Richmond | Richmond BPOL Tax | Annual business license, new business timing, BPOL renewal, zoning compliance, and business portal. |
| Arlington County | Arlington Business License and Taxes | BPOL, business tangible personal property tax, custodial taxes, and business tax contacts. |
| Fairfax County | Fairfax County BPOL explanation | BPOL registration, home-based businesses, renewal deadline, and local filing penalties. |
| Alexandria | Alexandria Business License Tax | Annual city business license, renewal, local license tax, and additional documentation. |
Address check: In Virginia, independent cities and counties can sit close together. Confirm whether your address is inside a city, county, or town before you apply. A mailing address or ZIP code may not tell the full story.
Official Virginia agency directory
| Need | Agency or office | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Plan business startup steps | Virginia Business One Stop | Virginia Business One Stop |
| Form or register an entity | Virginia State Corporation Commission | SCC Start a New Business |
| File a fictitious name | SCC Clerk’s Office | SCC Fictitious Names |
| Register for Virginia tax accounts | Virginia Department of Taxation | Register a Business in Virginia |
| Understand sales and use tax | Virginia Department of Taxation | Retail Sales and Use Tax |
| Withholding tax for employees | Virginia Department of Taxation | Withholding Tax |
| Unemployment insurance employer account | Virginia Employment Commission | Virginia Employment Commission |
| New hire reporting | Virginia New Hire Reporting Center | Virginia New Hire Reporting Center |
| Workers’ compensation | Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission | Employer FAQs |
| Professional and occupational licenses | Virginia DPOR | DPOR Professions and Occupations |
| Health professional licensing | Virginia Department of Health Professions | DHP Apply for a License |
| Food establishment permits | Virginia Department of Health | VDH Applying for a Food Permit |
| Food manufacturing or kitchen-based food business | Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services | VDACS kitchen-based businesses |
| Alcohol retail license | Virginia ABC Authority | Virginia ABC retail licenses |
| Federal EIN | IRS | IRS Employer Identification Number |
| Federal permits | U.S. Small Business Administration guide | SBA licenses and permits |
| Beneficial ownership reporting status | FinCEN | FinCEN BOI information |
Common mistakes in Virginia
- Thinking an LLC is a business license. An LLC filing with the SCC forms an entity. It does not automatically give you local permission to operate.
- Skipping BPOL because there is no statewide general license. Even if there is no single statewide general business license, your city or county may require a BPOL license or local business tax filing.
- Using the wrong local office. Virginia local offices use different names. Search for BPOL, Commissioner of the Revenue, business license, business tax, or Department of Finance.
- Ignoring zoning for a home business. A home office, home bakery, salon, studio, or repair business may need zoning approval even if customers rarely visit.
- Assuming a fictitious name protects the name. The SCC says it does not decide who has the right to use a fictitious name.
- Copying another city’s BPOL rules. Richmond, Fairfax, Arlington, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Alexandria, and Virginia Beach use local rules and deadlines. Check your own locality.
- Starting a food business without the right food agency. VDH and VDACS cover different food situations. Local health departments can also have district-specific forms and policies.
- Forgetting employer steps. Hiring workers can trigger Virginia withholding, VEC unemployment insurance, new hire reporting, workers’ compensation, workplace posters, and payroll records.
What to ask when you contact the agency
Use this when you are not sure whether to start with the SCC, Virginia Tax, your city or county, zoning, or a state licensing board. Before calling or emailing, have your business type, legal structure, business name, address or general location, start date, website, products or services, and employee plans ready.
Phone or email script
Hello, I am starting or operating a [business type] in [city or county], Virginia. The business will be [home-based / mobile / storefront / online] at [address or general location]. I plan to sell or provide [products or services]. Can you confirm whether I need a local BPOL business license, zoning approval, certificate of occupancy, local tax account, state tax registration, professional license, health permit, or another permit before I operate? If your office does not handle this, which office should I contact next?
Ask the agency to point you to the current official page, form, fee schedule, deadline, and renewal rule. If you speak by phone, write down the date, office, person’s name if provided, and the next step they gave you.
- Write down the exact license, permit, account, or approval name.
- Write down whether the requirement is state, county, city, town, zoning, tax, health, fire, building, or professional licensing.
- Ask whether approval is needed before opening, before advertising, before signing a lease, or before making the first sale.
- Ask whether a home-based or mobile version of the business changes the rule.
- Ask whether renewals, gross receipts filings, inspections, or local taxes apply later.
- Save the official application link or form name.
Virginia business license checklist
- Write down the business activity in plain English. Include products, services, where work happens, and whether customers visit.
- Choose the legal structure. If forming an LLC, corporation, limited partnership, or other entity, check the SCC first.
- Search your proposed business name and decide whether a fictitious name filing is needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if required or useful for banking, payroll, or tax accounts.
- Register with Virginia Tax if you need retail sales tax, use tax, employer withholding, corporate income tax, pass-through entity tax, or another Virginia tax account.
- Contact the local BPOL office where the business is located or where you will conduct business.
- Ask zoning whether the address and activity are allowed. Do this before signing a lease or starting from home.
- Check whether a certificate of occupancy, building permit, fire inspection, sign permit, health permit, or local operational permit is needed.
- Check the state regulator for your industry. Start with DPOR, DHP, VDH, VDACS, ABC, or the agency listed on Virginia.gov if your activity is regulated.
- If hiring, set up Virginia withholding, VEC unemployment insurance, new hire reporting, workers’ compensation if required, and payroll compliance.
- Save copies of all approvals, receipts, account numbers, renewal notices, tax classifications, zoning letters, and agency emails.
- Calendar renewal dates and filing dates. Local BPOL licenses and taxes often renew annually, but the exact rule depends on the locality.
Official sources reviewed
- Virginia Business One Stop
- Virginia State Corporation Commission Business Home
- SCC Start a New Business
- SCC Business Types
- SCC Fictitious Names
- Virginia.gov Business Registrations and Certifications
- Virginia Tax Register a Business
- Virginia Tax Retail Sales and Use Tax
- Virginia Tax Withholding Tax
- Virginia Tax BPOL local license fee and tax ruling
- Virginia DPOR Professions and Occupations
- Virginia Department of Health Professions Apply for a License
- Virginia Department of Health Applying for a Food Permit
- VDACS Home and Commercial Kitchen-Based Businesses
- Virginia ABC Retail Licenses
- Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission Employer FAQs
- Code of Virginia § 63.2-1946 New Hire Reporting
- IRS Employer Identification Number
- SBA Apply for Licenses and Permits
- FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
FAQ
Does Virginia have a statewide general business license?
Virginia does not appear to use one statewide general business license for every business. Many businesses instead deal with state registrations, Virginia tax accounts, industry licenses, and a local BPOL business license or local business tax filing.
What is a BPOL license in Virginia?
BPOL means Business, Professional and Occupational License. In Virginia, BPOL is a local business license fee or tax system administered by cities, counties, or towns, not a single state license issued to every business.
Is forming an LLC with the Virginia SCC the same as getting a business license?
No. Forming an LLC with the Virginia State Corporation Commission creates or registers the legal entity. It does not automatically give local permission to operate, satisfy BPOL, approve zoning, or replace industry permits.
Do sole proprietors need to register with the Virginia SCC?
A sole proprietor usually does not form a separate entity with the Virginia SCC just because they start a business. But they may still need a fictitious name filing, Virginia tax registration, local BPOL license, zoning approval, or industry permit.
What is a fictitious name in Virginia?
A fictitious name is a name a person or business uses instead of the legal name. Virginia fictitious name certificates are filed through the State Corporation Commission Clerk’s Office.
Do online businesses in Virginia need a business license?
An online business may still need a local BPOL license if it is operated from a Virginia home, office, warehouse, studio, or other location. Sales tax, zoning, and industry rules may also apply depending on what the business sells or does.
Do home-based businesses in Virginia need zoning approval?
They may. Local zoning rules can apply to home-based businesses, including limits on signs, customer visits, employees, storage, parking, noise, and equipment. Check the city or county zoning office before operating from home.
Where do I register for Virginia sales tax?
Register with Virginia Tax if you need to collect retail sales and use tax. When registration is complete, Virginia Tax says businesses that registered to collect retail sales or use tax receive a sales tax certificate.
Who do I call if I am not sure which Virginia license applies?
Start with the local BPOL or business license office for your city or county, then contact zoning and any state agency that regulates your activity. Have your business type, address, structure, start date, products, services, and employee plans ready.
Review note and disclaimer
This guide is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, financial, insurance, immigration, employment, safety, zoning, or professional advice. Business licensing rules, fees, portals, forms, deadlines, and agency policies can change. Confirm important details with the official agency or a qualified professional before you act.
Update note
This page was last checked on April 26, 2026, using official Virginia, local, and federal sources available at that time. Future updates should re-check Virginia Tax, SCC, local BPOL pages, DPOR, VDH, VDACS, ABC, and FinCEN before changing fee, deadline, or filing-language details.