Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – The WV Secretary of State’s Office registered 1,152 new Domestic Businesses and 467 Foreign Businesses statewide during the month of September according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in September include Berkeley, Kanawha, Monongalia, Raleigh, and Cabell.
Top five counties in total businesses registered:
1. Berkeley County – 105 new Domestic Businesses
2. Kanawha County – 96 new Domestic Businesses
3. Monongalia County – 88 new Domestic Businesses
4. Raleigh County – 88 new Domestic Businesses
5. Cabell County – 79 new Domestic Businesses
Of the 1,619 new businesses registered in September, 156 qualified for one of the 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 – 83 new registrations
– New business owners under the age of 30 – 73 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 13,263 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 169,257 (both domestic and foreign) businesses are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office to do business in West Virginia.
Business Tip of the Month:
A third-party service is not required to file your Annual Report. Annual reports can be filed online at Business4WV.gov starting on January 1, 2026, for $25.
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
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 3,345 customers through phone calls, in-person office visits, and virtual appointments. Launched earlier this year, 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 – 3,144
– Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 16
– In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 185
Morgan County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of 26 new business registrations, a 1.99% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business Division reported that Monroe, Wirt, Wayne and Pleasants counties also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top five counties in new business growth:
1. Morgan County – 1.91% growth
2. Monroe County – 1.81% growth
3. Wirt County – 1.68% growth
4. Wayne County – 1.60% growth
5. Pleasants County -1.55% growth
