Charleston, W.Va. (WVDN) – The WV Secretary of State’s Office registered 1,274 new businesses statewide during the month of November according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in November include Kanawha, Berkeley, Monongalia, Raleigh, and Cabell.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
1. Kanawha County – 108 new registrations
2. Berkeley County – 85 new registrations
3. Monongalia County – 58 new registrations
4. Raleigh County – 58 new registrations
5. Cabell County – 50 new registrations
Of the 1,274 new businesses registered in November, 58 registered as non-profit and 139 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 – 72 new registrations
– New business owners under the age of 30 – 67 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 18,741 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025.To review county-by-county growth, visit our
Business Tip of the Month:
Beginning January 1, 2026, you can file your Annual Reports with our Office. Those can be filed by going to
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 November:
WVSOS Business Division Director Sarah Carey is pleased to announce that, last month, the Business Division assisted 3,990 customers through phone calls, in-person office visits, and virtual appointments. Launched earlier this year, the WVSOS Office’s
– Phone calls to the WVSOS Business Division – 3,796
– Virtual appointments with WVSOS Business Specialists – 9
– In-person customers to WVSOS Business Offices – 185
Pocohontas County led the state in the percentage of new business growth with a total of nineteen new business registrations, a 1.54% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business Division reported that Fayette, Nicholas, Preston, and Mineral counties also experienced notable growth during the month.
Top Five Counties in New Business Growth for November:
1. Pocohontas County – 1.54% growth
2. Fayette County – 1.28% growth
3. Nicholas County – 1.28% growth
4. Preston County – 1.21% growth
5. Mineral County – 1.14% growth
