Charleston, W. Va. – The West Virginia Secretary of State's Office registered 870 new businesses statewide during the month of December 2021 according to Secretary of State Mac Warner.

Summers County led the state in the percentage of new business registration growth for the month with a total of 19 new businesses, a 2.69% increase. The Secretary of State’s Business & Licensing Division reported that Pendleton, Lincoln, Tyler and Monroe counties also had notable growth during the month.

A total of 13 new business entities registered in Pendleton County in December 2021. In Lincoln County, eight businesses registered. Tyler County saw five new business registrations and Monroe County registered 10 new businesses with the Secretary of State's Office.

Counties that lead the state in total businesses registered for the month of December were Kanawha, Berkeley, Monongalia, Jefferson and Cabell. Kanawha County successfully registered 94 businesses in December 2021. Berkeley County reported 79 business registrations. In Monongalia County, 68 businesses registered. Jefferson County saw 44 new businesses register and Cabell County totaled 36 registrations for the month.

Statewide, West Virginia registered 12,323 new businesses in the previous 12-month period, from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Summers County led all 55 counties with a 28.82% growth rate for the year. To review county-by-county growth, visit our Business Statistics Database.

BUSINESS & LICENSING SERVICES

All West Virginia Secretary of State offices are currently open to the public for in-person services by walk-in or appointment. Appointments can be made online or by phone to visit our Capitol office, the WV One Stop Business Center, or our regional offices in Clarksburg and Martinsburg.

Our office recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of the new online Enterprise Registration & Licensing System, which allows for 24-hour access to online services for registration and filings relating to Notaries, Charitable Organizations, Professional Fundraisers, Private Investigators, Marriage Celebrants, Athlete Agents, Scrap Metal Dealers, Trademarks and Apostilles.

Nearly all business filings may be completed online through the business portal at Business4WV.gov.

For immediate assistance, contact the Business & Licensing Division at 304-558-8000.