Promote:
Invest in West Virginia
A short guide for companies expanding into West Virginia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. West Virginia at a glance
Population
1.77 million
The population was 1,766,147 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$111.3 billion
GDP was US$111,302.3 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$63,020
GDP per person was US$63,019.8 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
2.8%
Real GDP growth was 2.8 percent in 2025, BEA's published percent change.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, West Virginia’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA lists the state's economic development organization under its former name; House Bill 2008 made it the Division of Economic Development, within the Department of Commerce, from July 1, 2025.
Source: ITA SelectUSA, economic developer list (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
West Virginia runs a single One Stop Business Portal where online filing completes registration with the Secretary of State, the State Tax Department and WorkForce West Virginia.
Source: West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, register your business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
West Virginia Code Chapter 37, Article 3A, in effect July 10, 2025, bars prohibited foreign-party-controlled businesses from owning real estate or mineral rights in the state. Check each owner's control before you buy land.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2961 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 12, 2025
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 2 foreign-trade zones in West Virginia.
Source: FTZ Board, annual report to Congress, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Show 4 more
The article names the People's Republic of China, defined to include Hong Kong and Macao but not Taiwan, and covers its citizens, residents, government and entities it controls.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2961 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 12, 2025
By majority vote, with the Governor breaking ties, six state officials may name more foreign parties as hostile, and the article then bars them too.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2961 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 12, 2025
A prohibited business that buys real estate must divest within six months, and if it does not, the Attorney General sues and the circuit court orders a judicial sale.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2961 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 12, 2025
The 2026 Strategic and Critical Resources Act, in effect from passage on March 14, 2026, preempts local rules on extracting listed minerals; the enrolled text holds no foreign-ownership limit.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, Senate Bill 648 as enrolled, 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of March 14, 2026
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in West Virginia
- A foreign company applies to the Secretary of State for a certificate of authority, with a home-state certificate of good standing, before it does business in West Virginia.West Virginia Secretary of StateUS$100 for a corporation, US$150 for a limited liability companyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State, Form CF-1, July 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Register the business online through the One Stop Business Portal, which also registers it with the State Tax Department and WorkForce West Virginia.West Virginia One Stop Business PortalOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia One Stop Business Portal, register your business (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Hold a business registration certificate from the State Tax Department, and use its forms to add locations or close an account.West Virginia State Tax DepartmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia State Tax Department, business registration forms (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Budget for the 6.5 percent corporation net income tax, the 6 percent sales and service tax and, for the listed activities, the business and occupation tax.West Virginia State Tax DepartmentOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia Code section 11-15-3, sales tax rate (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Show 1 more set-up step
- Before you buy land or mineral rights, check Article 3A of Chapter 37 on prohibited foreign-party-controlled businesses.West Virginia LegislatureOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: West Virginia Code section 37-3A-3, foreign ownership (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Secretary of State. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Meet requirements
State business registry
Secretary of State
West Virginia Secretary of State
Registers out-of-state companies for a certificate of authority and takes business filings online through the One Stop Business Portal.
- Get advice
Regional development and chamber
Charleston Area Alliance
Brings together economic development, downtown revitalization and chamber of commerce services for the Kanawha Valley.
Visit Charleston Area Alliance (opens in a new tab)Source: Charleston Area Alliance, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Show 4 more organizations
Regional polymer industry alliance
Polymer Alliance Zone
West Virginia Polymer Alliance Zone
Works with polymer and related manufacturers to expand manufacturing in ten West Virginia counties from Huntington to Wheeling.
Visit Polymer Alliance Zone (opens in a new tab)Source: Polymer Alliance Zone, about page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Federal-state regional agency
Appalachian Regional Commission
Regional body
Funds infrastructure, workforce and business development projects across West Virginia, working with the state's Development Office.
Visit Appalachian Regional Commission (opens in a new tab)Source: Appalachian Regional Commission, West Virginia page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Get advice
Federal small business office
SBA West Virginia District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration West Virginia District Office
Offers a guide to registering a business and finding lenders and resources, plus online question sessions for small business owners.
Visit SBA West Virginia District Office (opens in a new tab)Source: SBA, West Virginia District Office page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
- Find finance
State development finance authority
WVEDA
West Virginia Economic Development Authority
Insures part of the loans that banks make to businesses in the state under its Loan Insurance Program, and reports on it quarterly to the Legislature.
Visit WVEDA (opens in a new tab)Source: Economic Development Authority, loan insurance report, July 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 28, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax authority
State Tax Department
West Virginia State Tax Department
Registers businesses for state taxes and issues the business registration certificate; its forms cover sales and use tax and withholding.
Visit State Tax Department (opens in a new tab)Source: West Virginia State Tax Department, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Volunteer exporter council
District Export Council
West Virginia District Export Council
Gives West Virginia companies export mentoring, trade education and outreach events alongside the Commercial Service.
- Get advice
Manufacturers trade association
Manufacturers Association
West Virginia Manufacturers Association
Represents manufacturers at the capitol and gives members access to experts on environment, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, tax and safety.
Visit Manufacturers Association (opens in a new tab)Source: West Virginia Manufacturers Association, about the group (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Reserved sectors
Chapter 37, Article 3A took effect July 10, 2025 and bars prohibited foreign-party-controlled businesses from owning West Virginia real estate or mineral rights; divestment takes six months.
What to do: Check each owner's nationality and control before you buy or lease land.
Sources: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2961 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab); West Virginia Code section 37-3A-3, foreign ownership (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Data center taxation
House Bill 2014 of 2025, in effect 90 days after its April 12 passage, sets a special valuation for high impact data centers and splits their tax increment five ways.
What to do: Ask the State Tax Department how the method applies before you model a data center project.
Source: West Virginia Legislature, House Bill 2014 as enrolled, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Sales tax payments
Senate Bill 615 ended the June accelerated payment of combined sales and use tax effective April 7, 2025, according to the State Tax Department.
What to do: Use the regular monthly return and check the department's page for filing changes.
Source: West Virginia State Tax Department, sales and use tax (opens in a new tab) · as of November 4, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
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Promote:West Virginia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.