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Who needs an assumed or fictitious name certificate in Virginia?

Issued by Virginia State Corporation Commission, at step 1 of 6 in the opening sequence: set up the business.

Every kind of business in Virginia

The Virginia table lists this for every kind of business.

Needed whenever the business trades under any name other than the owner’s legal name or the LLC’s registered name. Since 2020 the certificate is filed with the Commission, not the circuit court.

Checked Oct 21, 2026 against the agency’s page.

Step 1 of 6: Set up the business

  1. Set up the business
  2. Register for tax
  3. Approve the space
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business
  5. Alcohol permits
  6. Before the first hire

Issued by Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Sources and dates

State Corporation Commission fictitious name pages (Code of Virginia 59.1-69). Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.