[0:00] The short answer Dan: The 5 best registered agents in West Virginia in 2026 are Mainstay Filing, Northwest Registered Agent, WV Registered Agent.org, Bizee, and West Virginia Registered Agent.co. Maya: This is The Business Formation Podcast. Today, West Virginia. What's different here? Dan: The statute says an LLC may keep an agent, not must. Changing one is a $15 filing. [0:31] What the law says Maya: An agent is optional? That's rare. Dan: In the statute, an LLC may maintain an office and an agent for service of process. The Articles form asks for the agent "if any." Maya: So why would anyone pay for one? Dan: Because of what happens without one. If there's no agent, a plaintiff goes through the Secretary of State, and the papers travel by certified mail instead of landing with a person who expects them. Maya: I'm Maya, by the way, here with Dan. Dan: Thanks, Maya. Here are the five. [1:05] Mainstay Filing Maya: Who's first? Dan: Mainstay Filing. $149 a year, and $149 again at renewal. Maya: What comes with it? Dan: Its West Virginia address sits on the public record in place of yours. Papers served on your company are scanned and uploaded the same business day, free. Your first three government mailings each year are scanned free as well. Maya: I already have an agent. What then? Dan: Mainstay files the change form, and the $15 state fee goes through at cost. Maya: The catch? Dan: It isn't the lowest price here. Two services on this list charge $99. [1:42] Northwest Registered Agent Maya: Number two? Dan: Northwest Registered Agent, $125 a year. It says it hasn't raised the price in 20 years, and up to 10 pieces of business mail a year are scanned free. Maya: The catch? Dan: Signup enrolls you automatically in an annual report filing service. It's $100 plus state fees for each filing, until you cancel. Maya: And West Virginia's report costs what? Dan: $25, or $26 online. The service is four times the state's price. With the state fee added, one filing through it comes to $125. Maya: That's the same as the agent fee itself. Dan: It is. So the first year can cost $250, if nobody cancels the add-on. [2:26] WV Registered Agent.org Maya: Three? Dan: WV Registered Agent.org, $99 a year, the same at renewal. You get a physical address, scanned legal mail, and compliance alerts. Maya: Cost to switch? Dan: The $15 state fee. Nothing on top. Maya: Anything missing? Dan: Annual report filing is separate. Maya: Compared with number one? Dan: $50 a year less. That's $100 over two years. [2:53] Bizee Maya: And four? Dan: Bizee, formerly Incfile. It's free the first year with any formation package, then $149 a year. Maya: What's the fine print? Dan: A formation order is required for the free year, and the $149 renewal is automatic. Maya: Say I formed my LLC last year. Dan: Then it's $149 from day one, which is $298 for two years. [3:20] West Virginia Registered Agent.co Maya: Five? Dan: West Virginia Registered Agent.co. A flat $99 a year. The office address, same-day scanning of court papers, and reminders before state deadlines. Maya: Is it different from number three? Dan: Same price, same catch. Annual report filing is a separate service. [3:39] Who can be the agent Maya: Who can I name in West Virginia? Dan: An individual who lives in the state, a domestic corporation, another LLC, or a foreign corporation or company that's authorized to do business here. Maya: Does the statute set an age or office hours? Dan: Neither. And it doesn't say the address has to be a street address instead of a P O box. Maya: Does the agent have to consent in writing? Dan: The sources I checked show no consent filing and no agent signature. Maya: So it's a lighter system than most states. Dan: It is. Which makes the Articles form the main place it gets recorded. [4:15] Naming it at formation Maya: Where does the agent go? Dan: Item 5 on Form LLD-1, the Articles of Organization. That's $100, or $101 online. Maya: Is that form public? Dan: Yes. The form says plainly that it's a public document. Maya: What does the agent receive? Dan: Any process, notice, or demand that the law says can be served on the company. [4:39] Changing the agent Maya: How do I change it? Dan: The fee schedule calls it Change of Agent, Address and Officers, or AAO for short. Maya: What does it cost? Dan: $15. You can file it online through the One Stop Business Portal. Maya: Any extra online fee? Dan: An additional $1 online processing fee applies to online filings. Maya: What else does the same form change? Dan: The address and the members or managers. So you can update everything together. [5:09] If the agent resigns Maya: What if my agent quits? Dan: It delivers a statement of resignation to the Secretary of State. The Secretary mails a copy to the designated office and another to your company at its principal office. Maya: When does it end? Dan: On the 31st day after the statement is filed. Maya: Is there a fee? Dan: I found no resignation form or fee on the fee schedule. Maya: And then what? Dan: Then you have a month to name someone else, or you're back in the no-agent situation. [5:40] When there's no agent Maya: Walk me through the no-agent route. Dan: The Secretary of State is treated as the agent. A plaintiff files a copy with the Secretary, who mails one by registered or certified mail with a return receipt. Maya: To whom? Dan: To the registered agent if there is one. Otherwise to the person last named to receive process, and if nobody was named, to the principal office. Maya: When does it count? Dan: When the return receipt is signed, or the mail is refused. Maya: Does the plaintiff pay for that? Dan: The Secretary of State's fee for service is $20 per defendant. Maya: Is there a penalty for not having an agent? Dan: The statute says "may," so I found none. Maya: So the real reason to have an agent is control. Dan: Right. With an agent, service is directed to a named agent. Without one, it goes to the principal office, and the Secretary of State is the middleman. [6:35] The annual report Maya: What does West Virginia ask every year? Dan: An annual report, due June 30. It's $25, or $26 online. Maya: And late? Dan: A $50 late fee. Maya: Anything new? Dan: From July 1, 2026, a company with five on-time years can choose a biennial report instead, for $50. [6:59] Being your own agent Maya: Can I serve as my own agent? Dan: If you live in West Virginia, yes, as an individual. Or any individual who lives there. Maya: What's the tradeoff? Dan: Your name and address end up on a public form, and that's where the Secretary of State's certified mail goes. Maya: So reachability matters. Dan: Most of all. A refused letter still counts as service. [7:21] Choosing Maya: How would a Charleston or Morgantown owner choose? Dan: Three questions. Does the price hold at renewal, is there a real address, and who files the $15 change. Maya: What's the three-year gap? Dan: Mainstay is $447, a $99 service is $297. That's $150 apart, for the free scanned government mail and the change filed for you. Maya: Your pick? Dan: Mainstay Filing. Our pick for West Virginia, at $149 a year. [7:55] The five in a row Maya: All five, one more time. Dan: One, Mainstay Filing: $149, the same at renewal. Two, Northwest: $125, with the report service to cancel. Three, WV Registered Agent.org: $99 flat. Four, Bizee: free the first year with a formation order, then $149. Five, West Virginia Registered Agent.co: $99 flat. Maya: The links are in the show notes. Thanks for listening to The Business Formation Podcast.