On this guide
Follow the path in order.Facebook Marketplace channel guide • Virginia launch path
Start Facebook Marketplace in Virginia
Decide your setup, get the Virginia registration order straight, and finish the early Facebook Marketplace launch steps without losing the official detail behind the answer.
Last verified April 26, 2026 7 chapters
Best for launching on Facebook Marketplace in Virginia. Need the full appendix? Open the full reference guide.
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
On this journey
1 of 7 reviewed
Current chapter: Choose setup
01
Chapter 1 of 7
Choose the setup you want to launch with
Start with the setup decision first, then use the rest of the guide to build the state registrations and platform steps around it.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply.How to move through it
Review sole proprietor.Use Part 1 to get oriented, then compare both setup paths before you spend more time or money.
3 parts to review • 29 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Part 1 of 3
Start here before you spend heavily
A short orientation for the guided journey before the detailed launch steps begin.
Short answer
Use this first part only to get oriented. The detailed state, platform, local, and packet steps will follow in order.- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Virginia registrations, Facebook Marketplace setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Do next: Do not spend money yet.
Why this matters
Key detail
Do not spend money yet.
Keep in mind
- First decide whether you are launching as a sole proprietor or a single-member LLC.
- Then work through the Virginia registrations, Facebook Marketplace setup, local checks, and packet review in order.
Official links
Up next Compare setup
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Part 2 of 3
Compare sole proprietor and LLC
The side-by-side setup comparison.
Short answer
Read both setup paths before you decide which one you want the rest of the launch flow to follow.- Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
- If you operate under your own personal legal name, Virginia does not require a separate SCC entity-formation filing just to be a sole proprietor.
- Faster launch.
Do next: Review sole proprietor.
Save the path you want to optimize around
The unchosen setup stays visible for comparison, but the chosen one gets visual priority so the reading path feels more intentional.
Quick tradeoff view
Use one pass to compare the launch speed, separation, and upkeep tradeoffs.The detailed comparison stays below. This lens just makes the two setup shapes easier to scan before you read every bullet.
Best for
Sole proprietor
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
Speed to start Quicker start
Owner and business separation Very little separation
Ongoing admin load Lighter upkeep
Best for
single-member LLC
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real resale business.
Speed to start More front-loaded paperwork
Owner and business separation Cleaner separation
Ongoing admin load More upkeep
Compare details
Sole proprietor
Best for
Best for
Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.
What it means
- If you operate under your own personal legal name, Virginia does not require a separate SCC entity-formation filing just to be a sole proprietor.
- If you use a business name different from your legal name, Virginia routes that branch to a fictitious-name filing with the SCC Clerk's Office.
- Business income generally runs through your personal tax return unless you later change tax treatment.
- You do not get a liability shield.
Why someone chooses it
- Faster launch.
- Lower up-front filing costs.
- Fewer entity-maintenance steps.
Main downside
Personal liability
single-member LLC
Best for
Best for
Best if you want a more durable setup for a real resale business.
What it means
- You form the LLC by filing Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011) with the SCC.
- The baseline filing fee is $100.
- Virginia LLCs pay a recurring $50 annual registration fee instead of a generic annual report.
- If your public-facing name differs from the LLC legal name, the fictitious-name filing is separate.
Why someone chooses it
- Liability protection.
- Cleaner setup for banking, bookkeeping, and repeat inventory buying.
- Better fit for recurring sales, hiring, and later channel expansion.
Main downside
Higher setup friction and cost than a sole proprietorship
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Formation bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Local scc.virginia.gov
Fictitious-name filing
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax scc.virginia.gov
Recurring Virginia entity fee
Up next Money and risk
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Part 3 of 3
See the money and risk realities before you spend
The upfront friction and risk notes that shape the launch decision.
Short answer
These are the friction points most likely to catch a new Facebook Marketplace operator off guard in Virginia.- Virginia is cleaner than New York for a true marketplace-only shipped-checkout tax path, but ordinary local Marketplace deals still push you into the direct-sale lane.
- Public Meta help says Marketplace is intended for consumers, and business listings may be blocked.
- If you are selling physical goods, commercial general liability and product-liability coverage may still be sensible even for a small operator.
Do next: Review virginia-specific friction.
Why this matters
Virginia-specific friction
Main takeaway
Virginia is cleaner than New York for a true marketplace-only shipped-checkout tax path, but ordinary local Marketplace deals still push you into the direct-sale lane.
Watch for
- The ST-10 resale path is not automatic. It follows the registered-dealer branch.
- Virginia uses centralized SCC fictitious-name filings instead of a county-only DBA model.
- Richmond adds real local work with BPOL, CZC, and home-occupation limits.
Facebook Marketplace-specific friction
Main takeaway
Public Meta help says Marketplace is intended for consumers, and business listings may be blocked.
Watch for
- Shipping and checkout are not available to all users.
- Some business-facing Marketplace features are available only to select or certain sellers.
- The public fee and seller-protection rules mainly speak to onsite checkout, not to ordinary local cash or person-to-person deals.
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
If you are selling physical goods, commercial general liability and product-liability coverage may still be sensible even for a small operator.
Watch for
- No public universal Facebook Marketplace liability-insurance threshold was identified in the Meta pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
- Shipping carriers, landlords, storage providers, or local event venues may still impose their own insurance requirements.
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia dealer registration
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Official facebook.com
Public insurance threshold or requirement
Local rva.gov
City tax or permit warning
Local rva.gov
City filing information
Local rva.gov
City forms and home-occupation rules
02
Chapter 2 of 7
Handle the Virginia registration path in order
This is the state-side work before you rely on the platform to carry any part of the operating flow.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The Virginia and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks.How to move through it
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.Use the order check first, then move from name and entity work into EIN, banking, and tax setup.
4 parts to review • 36 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Registration sequence
Keep the Virginia and federal setup in this order.This chapter works best when you keep the filings, EIN, banking, and tax work in one clean sequence instead of bouncing between tabs.
- 1 Use the checklist to keep the order straight
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.
- 2 Handle name, entity, and filing setup
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.
- 3 Get the EIN and banking basics in place
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.
- 4 Close the Virginia tax and filing branch
Keep the Virginia tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Part 1 of 4
Use the checklist to keep the order straight
The quick-start checklist grouped by the main launch phases.
Short answer
These checklist groups keep the pre-spend, pre-sale, and pre-launch work visible before you open the platform workflow.- Pick your business name.
- Form the business or file the Virginia fictitious-name branch if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
Do next: Pick your entity.
See checklist
Do these before you spend money
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Pick your entity.
- Pick your business name.
- Decide whether you are starting with local pickup, local delivery, or shipping with checkout if your account is eligible.
- Stay with low-risk physical goods you can inspect, photograph, and hand off or ship yourself.
- Avoid prohibited or beginner-hostile items like services, animals, healthcare products, recalled products, alcohol, supplements, and obvious counterfeit-risk goods.
- Make sure you can document sourcing and item condition.
Do these before your first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Form the business or file the Virginia fictitious-name branch if needed.
- Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
- Open a dedicated business bank account.
- Resolve whether your actual Virginia fact pattern is a marketplace-only shipped-checkout branch or a direct-sale branch.
- If you want tax-free inventory purchasing, handle the registered-dealer and ST-10 branch before you assume you have it.
- Check local permits and home-business rules, especially the Richmond BPOL, CZC, and home-occupation branch if you will operate there.
- Confirm your Facebook account can access Marketplace, and if you want shipping, confirm that seller verification, tax info, and payout setup are actually available to your account.
Do these before launch goes live
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Build one low-risk listing first.
- Choose either a safe meetup workflow or a shipping workflow you can actually support.
- Keep local pickup and off-Facebook direct sales separate from any marketplace-only tax assumptions.
- Re-check the current Meta help and legal pages for fees, chargebacks, and shipping rules before you price inventory.
Official links
Up next Name + filing
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Part 2 of 4
Handle name, entity, and filing setup
The name, formation, and LLC-order work for the state launch path.
Short answer
Use the name-and-formation steps plus the state LLC order before you open banking or state tax registration.- Step 3: Form the business.
- If you sell under your legal name:.
- File Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name - Business Conducted by an Individual.
Do next: Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach.
Step details
Best practical order for a Virginia single-member LLC launch
- Pick the low-risk product lane and decide whether you are starting with local direct sales or a truly provider-collected shipped-checkout-only plan.
- File the LLC or fictitious-name paperwork.
- Get the EIN.
- Open bank and bookkeeping.
- Resolve the Virginia marketplace-only vs direct-sale vs ST-10 branch before first inventory.
- Check local permits and Richmond rules if applicable.
- Complete the actual Facebook Marketplace account-access and feature-eligibility branch before you buy real inventory.
- If you plan local direct sales, complete the Virginia dealer-registration branch early.
- If you plan true shipped-checkout-only sales, confirm shipping, verification, payout, and records before relying on the cleaner marketplace-only theory.
- If you formed an LLC, track the anniversary-month annual fee and the recurring tax and local obligations calendar.
Sole proprietor: Decide whether you need a state fictitious-name filing
Main takeaway
If you sell under your legal name:
Watch for
- File Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name - Business Conducted by an Individual.
- The current public SCC reference identifies the form as SCC59.1-70-IN.
Single-member LLC: Name search and naming standards
Main takeaway
Before filing:
Single-member LLC: File the formation document
Main takeaway
Core filing:
Watch for
- Form name: Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company.
- Form number: LLC1011.
Single-member LLC: Complete the immediate post-filing step
Main takeaway
Get the EIN.
Watch for
- The official public sources reviewed for this combo did not identify a separate Virginia LLC publication requirement or initial report requirement for an ordinary domestic LLC.
- A written operating agreement is still a sensible internal document, even though this combo did not identify an official Virginia filing requirement for it.
Single-member LLC: File the fictitious-name form if needed
Main takeaway
If the public brand differs from the LLC legal name, file Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name - Business Conducted by an Entity.
Watch for
- The current public SCC reference identifies the form as SCC59.1-70-BE.
Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach
Main guide step 2
What this step settles
You need to decide whether you are:
Why it matters: Important:
- operating under your own legal name,
- using a Virginia fictitious name,
- selling casually through your existing profile,
- using a more formal business backend behind the listings,
- or trying to use any business account features only if Meta actually makes them available
- Your Facebook profile or seller display name does not replace your Virginia legal-entity or fictitious-name setup.
- Meta's public help shows that some business on Marketplace features are only available to select or certain sellers, so do not build your launch plan around those features unless your own account has them.
Step 3: Form the business
Main guide step 3
What this step settles
If you choose sole proprietor: If you use only your own legal name, there is generally no separate Virginia SCC entity filing.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use only your own legal name, there is generally no separate Virginia SCC entity filing.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use a trade name, file the Virginia fictitious-name branch with the SCC Clerk's Office.
- If you choose sole proprietor: This does not replace Virginia tax registration, local permits, or Marketplace follow-up.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
- If you choose single-member LLC: Run a preliminary Virginia name check and make sure the LLC name is distinguishable.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011).
- If you choose single-member LLC: Create the internal operating agreement and recordkeeping setup even though this combo did not identify a separate Virginia filing requirement for that document.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File the Virginia fictitious-name branch as well if your public-facing business name will differ from the LLC legal name.
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Formation bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
Sole proprietor baseline
Local scc.virginia.gov
Fictitious-name filing
Local bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
Local business-license lookup
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax scc.virginia.gov
Recurring Virginia entity fee
Local bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
State start-here page
Tax tax.virginia.gov
State business portal
Official virginia.gov
State small business support hub
Up next EIN + banking
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Part 3 of 4
Get the EIN and banking basics in place
The EIN, banking, and recordkeeping baseline before launch.
Short answer
Use the EIN and banking steps before you start platform onboarding, payouts, or supplier paperwork.- Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping.
Do next: Step 4: Get your EIN.
Step details
Step 4: Get your EIN
Main guide step 4
What this step settles
Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. Most LLCs need one. For many sole proprietors it is optional, but it is still useful for banking, tax registration, and keeping Marketplace records cleaner.
Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping
Main guide step 5
What this step settles
Do this right away:
- Open a business checking account.
- Use one account and one card for business only.
- Save every invoice, shipping receipt, payment-platform record, refund record, and tax record.
- Track each sale by transaction type: local pickup, local delivery, shipped checkout, or off-Facebook direct sale.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia dealer registration
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Up next Tax + maintenance
Part 4 of 4
Close the Virginia tax and filing branch
The Virginia tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Part 4 of 4
Close the Virginia tax and filing branch
The Virginia tax stack, registration timing, and maintenance follow-up.
Short answer
Keep the Virginia tax and maintenance rules together before you assume the platform solved them.- A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
- Virginia uses online registration as the default path and Form R-1 for paper exceptions.
- Safe takeaway:.
Do next: Step 6: Resolve the Virginia marketplace-only, direct-sale, and resale branch before you act.
Step details
1. EIN
Main takeaway
A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
Watch for
- A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.
2. Virginia sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration
Main takeaway
Virginia uses online registration as the default path and Form R-1 for paper exceptions.
Watch for
- If you register for retail sales or use tax, Virginia Tax says registration gives you your sales tax certificate and business online-services access.
- The retail-sales page says Form ST-1 replaced older sales-tax return forms beginning with the April 2025 filing period.
3. Marketplace or platform tax rule
Main takeaway
Safe takeaway:
Watch for
- Virginia Tax says a marketplace seller whose sales in Virginia are all conducted through a marketplace facilitator's platform generally does not need to register to collect Virginia sales tax.
- For this combo, only Facebook Marketplace shipping and checkout, if Meta actually collects payment and sends payout, looks close to that clean marketplace-only branch.
- Local meetup, local pickup, and other direct-payment flows do not look like the facilitator-collected branch.
- Marketplace-only Meta checkout sales and direct off-platform sales are separate branches.
- Re-run the Virginia dealer-registration analysis before taking direct taxable sales outside Meta-managed checkout.
4. Local meetup versus shipped-checkout treatment
Main takeaway
This is the key Facebook Marketplace state-law split.
Watch for
- Local transactions are distinct from checkout orders.
- Meta's public responsibility and payment pages describe ordinary local Marketplace deals as transactions between the buyer and seller and push them toward cash or person-to-person payment methods.
- Shipping and checkout are separate features that are not available to all users.
- Marketplace-only relief turns on all sales being conducted through a marketplace facilitator's platform.
- Direct sales from a Virginia location remain a separate dealer-registration question.
- Local meetup and local pickup do not make the item non-taxable. They mainly change the transaction flow.
- For Facebook Marketplace, local pickup and local meetup should be treated as the more conservative direct-sale branch unless you confirm a different Virginia Tax answer for your exact facts.
- Shipped checkout is the only branch in this pack that gets close to a true marketplace-only collection theory.
5. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing
Main takeaway
Virginia uses Form ST-10 for resale purchases by a Virginia dealer.
Watch for
- Virginia Business One Stop says that to use a Virginia resale certificate, you generally must also be registered to collect Virginia sales tax from buyers in the state.
- For this combo, that means ST-10 is not a safe automatic add-on to the marketplace-only no-registration branch.
6. Entity tax treatment
Main takeaway
Virginia generally follows federal tax-classification rules for LLCs unless a different election applies.
Watch for
- A default single-member LLC is usually treated as disregarded for income-tax purposes.
7. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule
Main takeaway
The recurring Virginia LLC maintenance item verified in this combo is the $50 annual registration fee, not a separate generic LLC annual report.
Watch for
- This is distinct from sales-tax, withholding, or employer filings.
8. If the founder changes entity type later
Main takeaway
Do not assume the original Facebook Marketplace setup, tax account, bank setup, or local approvals automatically carry over to a later LLC.
Watch for
- Re-check the Virginia Tax and local-license path if you convert or replace the entity.
Sole proprietor: Understand the tax reality
Main takeaway
Sole-proprietor business income generally flows through to the owner's individual return.
Watch for
- Local business-license or BPOL duties can still exist even when the legal structure is simple.
- Richmond is the clearest local reminder in this combo that state simplicity does not eliminate local work.
Single-member LLC: File ongoing entity maintenance
Main takeaway
Key points:
Watch for
- due: the SCC annual-registration-fee FAQ says the fee is due in the anniversary month, and its table and examples mix last day of the month and last business day wording.
- The live SCC page is clear on the fee and anniversary-month rule, but its day-specific wording is easy to misread near month-end. Re-check the live page before acting close to the due date.
Step 6: Resolve the Virginia marketplace-only, direct-sale, and resale branch before you act
Main guide step 6
What this step settles
This is the most important Virginia decision point in this pack.
Why it matters: What Virginia officially says: Safe practical reading for Facebook Marketplace: Practical beginner takeaway:
- Virginia Tax says that if all of your sales in Virginia are conducted through a marketplace facilitator's platform, you are considered a marketplace seller and generally do not need to register to collect Virginia sales tax.
- Virginia Tax separately says in-state retailers are generally individuals and businesses making sales with, or at, one or more physical locations in Virginia.
- Meta's public Marketplace help distinguishes local person-to-person deals from shipping and checkout orders where buyers pay securely on Facebook and the seller ships to the buyer.
- If you are using Facebook Marketplace for local meetup, local pickup, local delivery, cash, or other direct-payment flows, that does not cleanly fit the marketplace-facilitator collection branch. Treat that as the direct-sale branch.
- If your account is eligible for shipping and checkout and Meta is collecting payment and transmitting payout, that looks much closer to the marketplace-facilitator branch.
- If you later add off-Facebook invoice sales, website sales, or repeat direct pickup sales, that is a separate direct-sale branch again.
- If you plan to do regular local pickup, door dropoff, cash, card, Venmo, or other direct-payment sales, treat the startup path as a direct-sale branch and handle Virginia registration early.
- If you are truly trying to stay inside Meta-managed shipping and checkout only, Virginia is cleaner than New York and supports a more usable marketplace-only no-registration-to-collect path, but that still depends on actual feature availability and keeping the rest of your facts clean.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia dealer registration
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax scc.virginia.gov
Recurring Virginia entity fee
Federal fincen.gov
BOI status
03
Chapter 3 of 7
Finish the Facebook Marketplace account and operations branch
Use these steps for the platform-side account, plan, operations, and eligibility work after the state basics line up.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
Facebook Marketplace account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness.How to move through it
Step 10: Confirm access to Facebook Marketplace before you build the plan around it.Open the Facebook Marketplace branch only after the Virginia basics line up, then finish plan and operations choices.
3 parts to review • 29 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Facebook Marketplace account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Facebook Marketplace account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Short answer
Start the platform onboarding only after the legal name, EIN, and payout details line up cleanly.Do next: Step 9: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance.
Step details
Step 9: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance
Platform step 1
What this step settles
If you do not hire anyone yet, skip this for now.
Why it matters: If you hire:
- register with Virginia Tax for withholding if you pay wages subject to federal withholding,
- register with the Virginia Employment Commission to determine unemployment-tax liability,
- maintain workers' compensation coverage if you regularly employ more than 2 part-time or full-time workers
Official links
Up next Plan + pricing
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Part 2 of 3
Review the plan, pricing, and optional programs
Plan, pricing, and optional program decisions before launch.
Short answer
Use this part for the platform plan, pricing, or optional brand and program choices that come before operations.- Step 11: Build the actual listing path your account supports.
Do next: Step 10: Confirm access to Facebook Marketplace before you build the plan around it.
Step details
Step 10: Confirm access to Facebook Marketplace before you build the plan around it
Platform step 2
What this step settles
Have these ready:
Why it matters: What Meta publicly says:
- an active main Facebook account
- age verification ability if requested
- phone number and email
- government-issued ID if shipping verification triggers
- tax information if shipping verification triggers
- bank or other payout details if your account is eligible for shipping checkout
- your real legal name and business details if you are using a business backend
- Marketplace is available in many countries for adults with active Facebook accounts and is available from the Facebook app for Android or iPhone.
- Meta may restrict access if the account is new or inactive, if you are using an additional profile instead of your main profile, or if you violated platform policies.
- Marketplace is intended for consumers, and businesses that list may be blocked and or have their listings removed.
Step 11: Build the actual listing path your account supports
Platform step 3
What this step settles
Base listing flow from Meta's public help:
Why it matters: For local transaction listings: For shipping and checkout listings: Business-mode caveat: Practical rule: Do not promise yourself a structured business dashboard, universal business onboarding, or business-mode switching unless your actual account shows those features.
- Meta's public responsibility and payment help treats ordinary local Marketplace transactions as deals between the buyer and seller.
- That is part of why the local branch stays separate in this Virginia pack.
- Meta's public help says selling with shipping and checkout is not available to all users.
- Meta's shipping-performance page says this shipping feature is available on the Facebook app for iPhone and Android.
- Meta's seller-verification help says acceptable proof-of-identity documents include a passport or passport card, driver's license, or state or government-issued ID, and that the name on the document must match the name registered on the Marketplace profile.
- Meta's public help on switching between personal and business account on Marketplace says that feature is only available to select sellers right now.
- Meta's public help on confirming your identity when selling as a business says that feature is only available to certain sellers.
- Open Marketplace.
- Create a new listing and choose Item for sale.
- Add photos or video.
- Enter the item information.
- Continue and publish.
Official links
Official facebook.com
Marketplace eligibility
Official facebook.com
Base listing flow
Tax facebook.com
Seller verification and tax-information trigger
Official facebook.com
Fees, seller protection, and chargebacks
Tax facebook.com
Tax forms and payout posture
Official facebook.com
Shipping overview
Local facebook.com
Local transaction posture
Local facebook.com
Local payment posture
Official facebook.com
Shipping performance
Local facebook.com
Returns
Official facebook.com
Restrictions and prohibited items
Official facebook.com
Public insurance threshold or requirement
Up next Ops + eligibility
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Part 3 of 3
Finish operations and eligibility before scaling
Operations and eligibility checks before the business scales.
Short answer
Close the operating branch only after the listing, trip, hosting, or operational eligibility checks are ready.- Step 13: Complete the local or shipped operations branch.
Do next: Step 12: Understand fees, chargebacks, and payouts before you price anything.
Step details
Step 12: Understand fees, chargebacks, and payouts before you price anything
Platform step 4
What this step settles
What the current public Meta legal page supports for onsite checkout:
Why it matters: Payout reality: Tax-form reality: Return reality:
- Meta says Individual Sellers pay a 5% selling fee per transaction, with a minimum fee of $0.40.
- Meta says the fee is calculated on the entire amount of the transaction, including the sale price, any shipping fees, and applicable taxes.
- Meta says a $20 chargeback fee can be deducted if the buyer's card issuer decides in the buyer's favor.
- Meta says seller protection is currently only available in the U.S. and is limited to items covered by Purchase Protection with a sale price of $2,000 or less.
- The same public policy layer ties Individual Seller protection to using a Meta-generated shipping label and shipping within the published shipping or handling window.
- That means you should not treat local pickup, off-platform payment, or self-arranged person-to-person delivery as covered by the same public protection language.
- Current public Meta help still points to PayPal, bank-account articles, and older payout-help flows around shipping.
- That means the exact payout rail for your account should be treated as account-specific and re-checked live before you rely on it.
- Meta's public tax-form help says shipping sales may trigger 1099-K reporting through PayPal and that Meta may send 1099-MISC for certain reimbursements.
- Meta's public returns help says returns and refunds for local pickup Marketplace purchases are not available from Facebook.
- Keep that separate from any return, refund, or dispute path that applies to onsite checkout orders.
Step 13: Complete the local or shipped operations branch
Platform step 5
What this step settles
For local meetup or pickup:
Why it matters: For shipping and checkout if your account is eligible: Meta's public shipping-performance page says: Meta's public seller-policy page adds another important checkout rule:
- keep communication on Facebook where possible
- use safe meetup habits
- verify the item before final payment
- mark listings as pending, sold, or available correctly
- ship inside the promised handling window
- use valid tracking
- monitor shipping performance
- cancellation rate should stay below 10%
- missed handling rate is monitored
- not meeting the cancellation-rate standard may result in a temporary loss of shipping on Marketplace
- if an Individual Seller has not fulfilled an order within 3 business days from the date of purchase, the order will be automatically canceled by Meta
Official links
Official facebook.com
Marketplace eligibility
Official facebook.com
Base listing flow
Tax facebook.com
Seller verification and tax-information trigger
Official facebook.com
Fees, seller protection, and chargebacks
Tax facebook.com
Tax forms and payout posture
Official facebook.com
Shipping overview
Local facebook.com
Local transaction posture
Local facebook.com
Local payment posture
Official facebook.com
Shipping performance
Local facebook.com
Returns
Official facebook.com
Restrictions and prohibited items
Official facebook.com
Public insurance threshold or requirement
04
Chapter 4 of 7
Handle the local and city-specific branches
These local facts can still change the answer even after the state and platform path looks clear.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules.How to move through it
Review richmond appendix.Only turn this chapter on if your location, city, or operating model changes the answer.
2 parts to review • 9 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to cities and counties.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to cities and counties.
Short answer
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to cities and counties.Do next: Review local permits and location checks.
Why this matters
Local permits and location checks
Main takeaway
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to cities and counties.
Watch for
- For any place where the business will operate:.
- check Virginia Business One Stop,.
- contact the local government office,.
- ask local zoning or building offices if the business will operate from home or store inventory,.
- and ask whether a local business-license, BPOL, or tax account is required.
- Typical local risk areas:.
- business-license or BPOL obligations.
- home occupation restrictions.
- zoning for storage.
- truck or carrier activity at a residence.
- signage, parking, and occupancy issues.
Official links
Up next Richmond appendix
Part 2 of 2
Richmond Appendix
If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.
Part 2 of 2
Richmond Appendix
If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.
Short answer
If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.Do next: Review richmond appendix.
Why this matters
Richmond Appendix
Main takeaway
If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.
Watch for
- Richmond's BPOL page says owners of businesses in the city are required to obtain a Richmond business license annually.
- New businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening.
- The same page says that in most cases a business license is required before the business begins conducting business in the city.
- Richmond's Zoning Administration page routes residential home-occupation business-license requests through the Online Permit Portal for a residential Certificate of Zoning Compliance.
- The current public zoning-fee notice shows a Home Occupation CZC fee of $50.00.
- The public home-occupation rules say only household members may work on the premises, there may be no outside activity or outside storage, the area may not exceed 25% of the heated enclosed floor area or 500 square feet, visits including deliveries are limited, and no product may be offered for sale directly to customers on the premises.
- Practical warning:.
- That means a home-based inventory and shipping setup in Richmond is not a footnote. If inventory, carrier pickups, or customer traffic will happen at the residence, confirm the exact local answer before launch.
- New businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of the date of opening.
- and do not assume Richmond rules apply unless the address is actually in Richmond.
05
Chapter 5 of 7
Use the hiring and insurance branch only if it matches your plan
This branch matters when you expect to hire, scale, or need the insurance follow-up tied to the business model.
Optional branch
What this chapter does
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders.How to move through it
Review insurance reality.Only turn this branch on when hiring, payroll, or coverage questions are close enough to matter.
2 parts to review • 6 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Only turn this branch on if it matches your plan
These branch questions keep the main reading path clean. If one matches your situation, the relevant detail blocks below get emphasized.
Matching branch content is now highlighted below.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Part 1 of 2
If you hire, close the employment branch first
The employee registration, payroll, and employment-program branch.
Short answer
Use these cards if the business will hire employees or carry payroll responsibilities soon.- Register with Virginia Tax for withholding if you pay wages subject to federal withholding.
- Virginia law generally requires coverage when an employer regularly employs more than 2 part-time or full-time workers.
- This combo did not identify a general Virginia private-employer disability or paid-family-leave insurance mandate equivalent to a New York-style branch.
Do next: Review 1. employer registration.
Why this matters
1. Employer registration
Main takeaway
Register with Virginia Tax for withholding if you pay wages subject to federal withholding.
Watch for
- Register with the Virginia Employment Commission to determine unemployment-tax liability.
- VEC offers online registration and identifies T-FC-27, Report to Determine Liability, as the paper registration path.
2. Workers' compensation
Main takeaway
Virginia law generally requires coverage when an employer regularly employs more than 2 part-time or full-time workers.
Watch for
- Public VWC guidance says required coverage cannot simply be waived for ordinary employees.
- maintain workers' compensation coverage if you regularly employ more than 2 part-time or full-time workers.
3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage
Main takeaway
This combo did not identify a general Virginia private-employer disability or paid-family-leave insurance mandate equivalent to a New York-style branch.
4. Exemption certificate if applicable
Main takeaway
This combo did not identify a general CE-200-style public exemption certificate for ordinary Virginia employers.
Watch for
- Eligible executive officers or LLC managers can reject their own workers' compensation coverage only after valid coverage exists and the required rejection filing is made.
Official links
Up next Insurance branch
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Part 2 of 2
Keep the insurance branch visible as you scale
The insurance, liability, and scale-trigger branch.
Short answer
This is the insurance and liability follow-up tied to hiring, products, services, or growth.- If you are selling physical goods, commercial general liability and product-liability coverage may still be sensible even for a small operator.
Do next: Review insurance reality.
Why this matters
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
If you are selling physical goods, commercial general liability and product-liability coverage may still be sensible even for a small operator.
Watch for
- No public universal Facebook Marketplace liability-insurance threshold was identified in the Meta pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
- Shipping carriers, landlords, storage providers, or local event venues may still impose their own insurance requirements.
06
Chapter 6 of 7
Keep the operating calendar and mistake list close after launch
Once you are live, use the ongoing calendar and the mistake list to keep the business on a safer path.
Core chapter
What this chapter does
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.How to move through it
Treating a local pickup Facebook sale as if it were automatically a marketplace-facilitator tax sale.Use the recurring calendar first, then keep the repeated-mistake notes close after launch.
2 parts to review • 24 source touchpoints behind the drawers.
Chapter parts
Open Part 1 when you are ready to start working through this chapter.After you start, only one part stays open at a time and the earlier ones stay easy to revisit.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Part 1 of 2
Use the ongoing compliance calendar
The recurring compliance calendar grouped by timing.
Short answer
This groups the recurring checks by when they matter after launch.- Resolve the Virginia tax branch that applies.
- Save the sale record, messages, and proof of delivery or meetup.
- Track whether the transaction was direct or Meta checkout.
Do next: Finish entity or fictitious-name setup.
See checklist
Before first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish entity or fictitious-name setup.
- Resolve the Virginia tax branch that applies.
- Check local permits and Richmond rules if applicable.
- Confirm Marketplace access and, if relevant, shipping eligibility.
After first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Save the sale record, messages, and proof of delivery or meetup.
- Track whether the transaction was direct or Meta checkout.
- Update your bookkeeping immediately.
Monthly or quarterly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File and pay Virginia sales-tax returns if you are registered.
- Review chargebacks, refunds, and shipping performance.
- Keep marketplace-policy problems small and early.
- Re-check whether any direct sales or local changes reopened the Virginia dealer-registration branch.
Annual
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Renew the Virginia LLC annual registration fee if applicable.
- Renew Richmond or other local business-license items if the local jurisdiction requires renewal.
- Use the correct current ST-10 only if you are registered and eligible.
- Re-check Richmond zoning questions if the address or operating pattern changes.
Official links
Official facebook.com
Public insurance threshold or requirement
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Official facebook.com
Marketplace eligibility
Official facebook.com
Shipping overview
Local bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
State start-here page
Up next Common mistakes
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Short answer
These are the repeated errors called out in the research pack.- Assuming ST-10 is safe before you actually have the registered-dealer branch in place.
- Adding off-Facebook or direct local sales without re-running the Virginia registration analysis.
- Assuming Marketplace shipping, business-mode, or payout tools are universally available.
Do next: Treating a local pickup Facebook sale as if it were automatically a marketplace-facilitator tax sale.
Why this matters
Practical first-launch recommendation
- If you are casually selling a few low-risk items and want the lightest setup, sole proprietor can work.
- If you intend to build a real resale business in Virginia, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.
- Important platform note:
- Public Meta help says Marketplace is available for adults with active Facebook accounts, must be used from the main profile rather than an additional profile, and is intended for consumers. The same help pages say businesses that list on Marketplace may be blocked and or have their listings removed. Treat that as real platform risk when deciding how much inventory and filing cost to commit on day one.
Key detail
Treating a local pickup Facebook sale as if it were automatically a marketplace-facilitator tax sale.
Keep in mind
- Assuming ST-10 is safe before you actually have the registered-dealer branch in place.
- Adding off-Facebook or direct local sales without re-running the Virginia registration analysis.
- Assuming Marketplace shipping, business-mode, or payout tools are universally available.
- Using your display name as a substitute for Virginia legal-name or fictitious-name compliance.
- Storing meaningful inventory or allowing repeated pickups from a Richmond home address without clearing the CZC and home-occupation branch.
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Virginia dealer registration
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Official facebook.com
Public insurance threshold or requirement
Local rva.gov
City tax or permit warning
Local rva.gov
City filing information
Local rva.gov
City forms and home-occupation rules
07
Chapter 7 of 7
Review your selected steps and open the packet PDF
Use the review screen to decide what belongs in the packet, then open a real PDF preview in a new tab.
Finish
Review and print
Review the chapters you kept and make sure the right reminders stay visible.
Use this step to keep only the chapters that match the launch plan now, then keep the local and city reminders close before you treat the packet as final.
Saved setup choice
single-member LLCThat choice stays visible while the rest of the journey gets lighter.
Packet count
4 chapters selectedOptional branches can stay out of the packet until they match the real launch plan.
Still verify locally
6 remindersLocal tax, zoning, insurance, and platform policy changes still need the official check.
Open the working launch packet with fillable tracker rows, then print or download it from the PDF tab.
Choose what stays in the packet
Selected chapters
- Choose setup
Your setup choice, the short safe path, and the money realities that matter before spending deeply. - Virginia registrations
The Virginia and federal registration sequence, tax setup, and state-maintenance checks. - Facebook Marketplace setup
Facebook Marketplace account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness. - Local and city checks
Local permits, local taxes, city appendices, and location-specific operating rules. - Hiring and insurance
Hiring, payroll, insurance, and scale-up risk reminders. - Ongoing calendar and mistakes
The recurring compliance calendar, live-operating routine, and beginner mistakes to avoid.
See local verification reminders
- Useful for startup routing, local-license reminders, and state-agency coordination.
- Virginia Tax says completion of registration gives you Virginia tax account numbers and Form ST-4 if you registered to collect retail sales or use tax.
- Public Virginia.gov hub pointing to Business One Stop and other state business resources.
- Public page says businesses must obtain a Richmond business license annually and new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening. The same page also says most businesses need a license before they begin conducting business.
- Public zoning administration guidance says Residential CZC instructions include Home Occupation business licensing requests.
- Richmond's public home-occupation materials say only household members may work on the premises, no outside storage is allowed, no direct sales may be offered on the premises, and visits including deliveries are limited.
Change your path
Need a different route into this answer?
Use one of these links if you landed in the wrong platform, wrong state, or want the state-only baseline before you keep reading.
Choose another platform Switch away from Facebook Marketplace without losing the state-first flow. Choose another state for Facebook Marketplace Stay on Facebook Marketplace and reopen the state picker for Virginia alternatives. Open the Virginia state guide Compare the platform-specific path with the state-only baseline. Open official sources Jump straight to the official source directory if you want agency links first.