CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The WV Secretary of State’s Office registered 2,152 new businesses statewide during the month of March according to Secretary of State Kris Warner. Counties that led the state in total businesses registered in March include Berkeley, Kanawha, Monongalia, Raleigh and Jefferson.
Top Five Counties in Total New Businesses Registered:
1. Berkeley County – 154 new registrations
2. Kanawha County – 148 new registrations
3. Monongalia County – 122 new registrations
4. Raleigh County – 99 new registrations
5. Jefferson County – 90 new registrations
Of the 2,152 new businesses registered in March, 106 registered as non-profit and 263 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 – 125 new registrations
– New business owners under the age of 30 – 138 new registrations
Learn more about the Boots to Business and Young Entrepreneur fee waiver programs.
Statewide, West Virginia registered 19,686 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026.To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database. A total of 168,065 businesses are registered with the Secretary of State’s Office to do business in West Virginia.
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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.
