LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Instacart in Virginia: full reference guide

Use this page when you want the complete dense version: all sections, all appendices, and the full official source directory in one scrollable reference surface.

Last verified: April 27, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for Virginia, IRS, FinCEN, Richmond, Instacart. Use it as a first-pass guide, then verify the official links that match your setup.

How to use this page

Dense appendix modeFull source directory attachedLast verified April 27, 2026

This version favors completeness over pacing. Use it when you need the appendix, the dense source trail, or the full long-form reference in one place.

Best reading order

  1. Use the fast-answer and official-links sections first if you only need the main route and source trail.
  2. Open the entity, setup, tax, and local sections only where your exact launch path actually branches.
  3. Use the full source directory last as the appendix, not the starting point, unless you already know the exact agency task.
Fast answer appendix Official links first Full source directory
Back to the guided journey

Reference mode

Everything in one dense page

The guided journey is the easier starting point. This page keeps the full accordion guide and source appendix when you want the complete research-backed reference view.

Best when you need

  • The full section map in one scroll without the lighter journey framing.
  • The appendix and official-source directory preserved next to the answer sections.
  • A clearer audit trail before you print, compare, or cross-check another route.

Still better handled in the journey

  • First-pass reading when you want the shortest, safest beginner route.
  • Deciding what to do first before you need the full appendix.
  • Switching states or platforms quickly without reading the full dense version.
Reference map
Start here Fast answer If you want to open Instacart in Virginia, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

If you want to open Instacart in Virginia, you usually need to do five things in order:

  1. Choose your setup: sole proprietorship vs single-member LLC.
  2. Get your federal and Virginia registrations in place before launching.
  3. Verify local Richmond and airport-property rules if they apply.
  4. Open and verify your Instacart shopper account.
  5. Launch only after your payout, tax, insurance, and delivery-operations setup is ready.

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Instacart business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • Assuming Instacart is the same as a storefront or retail-seller setup
  • Using a public name without the right Virginia fictitious-name filing
  • Mixing personal and business money

Virginia-specific friction

The fictitious-name branch is state-level.

  • The fictitious-name branch is state-level.
  • LLC maintenance includes an annual registration fee.
  • Ordinary Instacart shopper work does not look like a default seller-permit lane in the reviewed public record.
  • Estimated-tax and worker-classification questions can become real quickly if the operation grows.

Instacart-specific friction

Public age wording can drift by state.

  • Public age wording can drift by state.
  • Batch access is not purely first-come, first-served. Location, Cart Star, certifications, cooler-bag status, and payment-card status matter.
  • Public shopper payout language spans direct deposit, instant cashout, and the Shopper Rewards Card, so you should re-check which options your account actually offers.
  • The public platform record preserves both the ordinary contractor-style shopper path and a separate in-store employee path.
  • Public insurance wording is stable only at a high level and still needs a live re-check.

Insurance reality

Public Instacart safety pages describe occupational-accident coverage and in-app safety tools.

  • Public Instacart safety pages describe occupational-accident coverage and in-app safety tools.
  • They do not close every Virginia vehicle-insurance question for every shopper fact pattern.
  • If you use a car, treat insurer confirmation as a real pre-launch step instead of assuming your ordinary personal-auto policy fully covers app-based delivery.
Back to top Next: Quick-start checklist
Checklist Quick-start checklist Use the research-backed checklist groups before you spend, before your first sale, and before launch goes live. Everyone 3 groups

Do these before you spend money

  • Pick your entity.
  • Decide whether you are staying in ordinary grocery batches or adding alcohol-delivery, airport-property work, or specialty certifications.
  • Avoid assuming you need a seller permit or resale certificate for the ordinary shopper baseline.
  • Confirm your insurer understands delivery use before you rely on your current policy.

Do these before your first batch

  • Form the business or file the correct fictitious-name filing if needed.
  • Get an EIN from the IRS if applicable.
  • Open a dedicated business bank account or a business-only money workflow.
  • Register for the Virginia tax and employer branches that actually apply.
  • Check local permits, city rules, and home-based-business limits.
  • Create your Instacart account and complete verification.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Complete the shopper onboarding branch.
  • Confirm your payout method and current public Instacart age, insurance, and tax-document wording.
  • Start with ordinary grocery batches before adding RIC-adjacent work, alcohol delivery, or specialty certifications.
  • Keep records, mileage, and tax reserves from day one.
Back to top Next: Official links you will use first
Choose your setup Entity choice Compare the sole-proprietor and single-member LLC paths before banking, tax setup, and platform onboarding. Everyone 2 options

Sole proprietor

Best for: Best if you want the cheapest and simplest start.

What it means

  • Virginia does not require a separate entity-formation filing for an ordinary sole proprietor using the owner's own legal name.
  • If you use a trade name, Virginia routes that through the SCC fictitious-name branch.
  • Business income generally runs through your personal return unless the facts later change the tax treatment.
  • You usually do not get a liability shield.

Why someone chooses it

  • Faster launch
  • Lower up-front filing costs
  • Fewer maintenance steps

Main downside: Personal liability

single-member LLC

Best for: Best if you want a more durable setup for a real business.

What it means

  • Virginia forms a domestic LLC through Articles of Organization [LLC-1011].
  • Virginia then expects an annual registration fee.
  • You still handle banking, city rules, employer setup, and Instacart onboarding separately.

Why someone chooses it

  • Liability protection
  • Cleaner setup for banking, bookkeeping, and scaling
  • Better fit if you later add another gig lane, hire, or want a stronger legal shell

Main downside: Higher setup friction and cost than a sole proprietorship

Back to top Next: What to do in order
Main path What to do in order The full end-to-end setup path, kept in the same order as the researched guide. Everyone 14 steps

  1. Step 1: Choose a low-risk launch model

    Main guide step 1

    For a first launch, stay inside the safest lane:

    Why it matters: Practical rule: If the plan depends on airport-property access, a home-based staging setup, or same-day payout as a core survival tool, slow down and close those branches first.

    • ordinary app-based Instacart shopping and grocery-delivery work
    • no inventory resale assumptions
    • no airport-heavy branch, alcohol delivery, prescription delivery, or bulky-item branch unless you deliberately research it first

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and public identity

    Main guide step 2

    You need to decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name,
    • using a fictitious name,
    • forming an LLC with its own legal name,
    • or keeping everything under a simple solo-shopper identity
    • The name on a Instacart shopper account does not replace real-world state filings.
    • Virginia uses an SCC fictitious-name branch, not a county DBA baseline.

  3. Step 3: Form the business

    Main guide step 3

    If you choose sole proprietor: Virginia does not require an SCC formation filing if you are using your own legal name.

    • If you choose sole proprietor: Virginia does not require an SCC formation filing if you are using your own legal name.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you use another public-facing name, use the SCC fictitious-name branch.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Check the legal name.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization [LLC-1011].
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Get the EIN.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File the fictitious-name branch only if the public-facing name differs from the legal LLC name.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For many LLCs this is required. For many sole proprietors it is optional but still useful for banking, tax administration, and keeping Instacart income records cleaner.

  5. Step 5: Open banking and bookkeeping

    Main guide step 5

    Do this right away:

    • Open a business checking account.
    • Use one account and one card for business only.
    • Save every weekly payout statement, instant-transfer receipt, fuel receipt, toll, parking bill, and maintenance receipt.
    • Build a mileage log and a tax-reserve routine from day one.

  6. Step 6: Register for state tax, seller permit, or resale setup

    Main guide step 6

    This Instacart shopper pack did not identify a default Virginia seller-permit or resale-certificate branch for the ordinary app-based shopper baseline.

    • This Instacart shopper pack did not identify a default Virginia seller-permit or resale-certificate branch for the ordinary app-based shopper baseline.
    • The main founder-level tax reality is federal self-employment and income-tax reporting.
    • Virginia also has an estimated-tax branch for nonwithheld income once the threshold is crossed.
    • If the business later changes shape, reopen the Virginia registration analysis instead of importing storefront assumptions into this shopper pack.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, county rules, and home-business limits

    Main guide step 7

    Virginia does not have one statewide local-business form for every county or city.

    Why it matters: Do this before operating:

    • check the local jurisdiction where the business is based,
    • confirm whether a Richmond business-license or home-occupation branch applies,
    • and keep RIC airport-property rules separate from ordinary neighborhood delivery

  8. Step 8: If you hire employees, handle payroll registrations and insurance

    Main guide step 8

    If you do not hire anyone yet, skip this for now.

    Why it matters: If you hire:

    • register the employer tax and unemployment branches,
    • review workers' compensation immediately,
    • and keep that employer branch separate from your own shopper onboarding

  9. Step 9: Create your Instacart account

    Main guide step 9

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • SSN
    • driver's license and vehicle information if you are using a car
    • proof of address or identity if the platform asks for it
    • Start at the public shopper signup page.
    • Enter your personal information and choose the market.
    • Complete identity verification and the background-check branch.
    • Add payout details.
    • Finish any document, transport-mode, and activation steps and wait for approval.

  10. Step 10: Choose the right payout path

    Main guide step 10

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Pick the simplest payout method that matches your cash-flow needs and re-check the exact fee and timing language in the app before relying on same-day transfer.

    • There is no public monthly seller plan to buy before you can shop.
    • Instacart public pay pages reviewed on April 27, 2026 describe batch pay, promotions, and tips.
    • Public payout pages reviewed on April 27, 2026 show three real branches:
    • weekly direct deposit
    • instant cashout
    • the Shopper Rewards Card, powered by Branch

  11. Step 11: Decide whether advanced program branches belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 11

    For the ordinary solo shopper path, keep these optional:

    • full service, shop-only, and deliver-only batches
    • alcohol delivery
    • physical-card-required stores, alcohol, prescriptions, and other specialty certifications

  12. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Main guide step 12

    For Instacart, this means:

    • complete shopper onboarding,
    • understand the ordinary full-service, shop-only, and deliver-only batch flow,
    • keep RIC airport-property work separate from ordinary neighborhood grocery delivery,
    • and add advanced branches only after the ordinary shopper lane is stable

  13. Step 13: Confirm service or category eligibility before scaling

    Main guide step 13

    Do not assume every order type belongs in the same legal or insurance bucket.

    • Do not assume every order type belongs in the same legal or insurance bucket.
    • Full-service, shop-only, deliver-only, alcohol, prescription, bulky-item, and airport-property work can each create extra operational friction.
    • If you add employees, a fleet model, or merchant-owned goods, reopen the compliance analysis instead of assuming the original solo-shopper baseline still holds.

  14. Step 14: Launch with a compliance-first operating routine

    Main guide step 14

    Once live, keep these habits:

    • reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and reimbursements
    • monitor account access and support notices
    • maintain mileage and expense records
    • keep tax reserves separate
    • avoid mixing personal and business spending
    • re-check local and airport rules when your operating area changes

Best practical order for the LLC launch path

  1. Choose the service lane first.
  2. Choose the entity name.
  3. File LLC-1011.
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account.
  6. Build the bookkeeping and mileage routine.
  7. Check Richmond and airport-property branches if they matter.
  8. Build the shopper account.
  9. Finish payout and verification setup.
  10. Track the annual-registration-fee cycle.
  11. Add harder branches only after the core shopper lane is stable.
  12. Keep local and airport follow-up visible on the compliance calendar.
Back to top Next: Virginia tax stack
State filing and tax Virginia tax stack Keep the Virginia registration, tax, and maintenance rules together while you launch. Everyone 7 checks

1. EIN

A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.

  • A single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
  • A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.

2. Virginia sales tax, seller permit, or equivalent registration

This pack did not identify a default Virginia sales-tax or seller-permit branch for the ordinary Instacart shopper baseline.

  • This pack did not identify a default Virginia sales-tax or seller-permit branch for the ordinary Instacart shopper baseline.
  • Keep seller-permit, resale, or inventory logic outside this shopper pack unless the business model changes.

3. Marketplace or platform tax rule

Instacart here is a shopper-platform operator path, not a marketplace-seller or storefront path.

  • Instacart here is a shopper-platform operator path, not a marketplace-seller or storefront path.
  • The main Virginia burden in this baseline is self-employment and income-tax compliance, not a default retail-seller registration step.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

No resale-certificate branch belongs in the ordinary Instacart courier setup reviewed here.

  • No resale-certificate branch belongs in the ordinary Instacart courier setup reviewed here.
  • If the founder later adds inventory, merchant-owned goods, or another retail model, reopen that analysis directly.

5. Entity tax treatment

Virginia generally follows the federal shape closely enough that the practical founder focus here remains self-employment and income-tax treatment.

  • Virginia generally follows the federal shape closely enough that the practical founder focus here remains self-employment and income-tax treatment.
  • If the entity later changes tax classification, reopen the state analysis directly.

6. Entity filing-fee or annual-fee rule

The key recurring Virginia entity rule in this pack is the LLC annual-registration fee.

  • The key recurring Virginia entity rule in this pack is the LLC annual-registration fee.
  • The reviewed public fee is $50.00.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

Do not assume the original bank setup, payout profile, or local answer remains correct after an entity change.

  • Do not assume the original bank setup, payout profile, or local answer remains correct after an entity change.
  • If the business shifts into a retail, staffed, fleet, or airport-heavy model, reopen the Virginia registration and insurance analysis.
Back to top Next: Instacart account and operations
Platform setup Instacart account and operations Use this section for the Instacart-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Create your Instacart account

    Platform step 1

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Platform registration flow:

    • government-issued ID
    • phone number
    • email address
    • bank account information
    • SSN
    • driver's license and vehicle information if you are using a car
    • proof of address or identity if the platform asks for it
    • Start at the public shopper signup page.
    • Enter your personal information and choose the market.
    • Complete identity verification and the background-check branch.
    • Add payout details.
    • Finish any document, transport-mode, and activation steps and wait for approval.

  2. Step 10: Choose the right payout path

    Platform step 2

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Pick the simplest payout method that matches your cash-flow needs and re-check the exact fee and timing language in the app before relying on same-day transfer.

    • There is no public monthly seller plan to buy before you can shop.
    • Instacart public pay pages reviewed on April 27, 2026 describe batch pay, promotions, and tips.
    • Public payout pages reviewed on April 27, 2026 show three real branches:
    • weekly direct deposit
    • instant cashout
    • the Shopper Rewards Card, powered by Branch

  3. Step 11: Decide whether advanced program branches belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 3

    For the ordinary solo shopper path, keep these optional:

    • full service, shop-only, and deliver-only batches
    • alcohol delivery
    • physical-card-required stores, alcohol, prescriptions, and other specialty certifications

  4. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment or operations branch

    Platform step 4

    For Instacart, this means:

    • complete shopper onboarding,
    • understand the ordinary full-service, shop-only, and deliver-only batch flow,
    • keep RIC airport-property work separate from ordinary neighborhood grocery delivery,
    • and add advanced branches only after the ordinary shopper lane is stable

  5. Step 13: Confirm service or category eligibility before scaling

    Platform step 5

    Do not assume every order type belongs in the same legal or insurance bucket.

    • Do not assume every order type belongs in the same legal or insurance bucket.
    • Full-service, shop-only, deliver-only, alcohol, prescription, bulky-item, and airport-property work can each create extra operational friction.
    • If you add employees, a fleet model, or merchant-owned goods, reopen the compliance analysis instead of assuming the original solo-shopper baseline still holds.
Back to top Next: Local permits and Richmond branch
Local branch Local permits and Richmond branch These local and city checks can still change the answer even after the state and platform path is clear. Location-specific 2 branches

Local permits and location checks

Virginia pushes many permit and operating questions down to cities and counties.

  • Virginia pushes many permit and operating questions down to cities and counties.
  • For any place where the business will operate:
  • check the local city or county,
  • ask about home-occupation or home-based operation rules,
  • ask airport authorities directly before assuming ordinary neighborhood delivery rules carry onto airport property
  • Typical local risk areas:
  • city business-license rules
  • home occupation rules
  • parking or delivery-traffic limits
  • airport-property access

Richmond Appendix

If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.

  • If the business operates in Richmond, add one more review layer.
  • Richmond public pages say new businesses obtain a license within 30 days and renew by March 1.
  • Richmond public planning materials also give explicit home-occupation limits.
  • The public record is strong on the city's general licensing and home-occupation framework, but applicability to every solo shopper fact pattern remains a retained follow-up question.
Back to top Next: Employees and insurance
Optional branch Employees and insurance Use this branch if you plan to hire or need the insurance follow-up that comes with scaling. Only if hiring or scaling 5 branches

1. Employer registration

Register the unemployment branch through VEC.

  • Register the unemployment branch through VEC.
  • Use FC-27 only when the liability trigger actually applies if using the paper path.
  • Follow the Virginia employer-tax and withholding branches through the official tax and employment portals.

2. Workers' compensation

VWC guidance makes clear that 1099 labels alone do not settle status.

  • VWC guidance makes clear that 1099 labels alone do not settle status.
  • Owners can elect coverage in some cases, but actual employee or manager facts can change the answer.
  • review workers' compensation immediately,

3. Disability, paid leave, or similar coverage

This pack did not identify a standalone statewide paid-leave or disability-insurance branch for the ordinary Instacart employer baseline comparable to some other states.

  • This pack did not identify a standalone statewide paid-leave or disability-insurance branch for the ordinary Instacart employer baseline comparable to some other states.
  • Re-check if the employer model changes or later legal requirements apply.

4. Exemption certificate if applicable

This pack did not identify a universal owner or contractor exemption document for the ordinary Instacart employer branch.

  • This pack did not identify a universal owner or contractor exemption document for the ordinary Instacart employer branch.

Insurance reality

Public Instacart safety pages describe occupational-accident coverage and in-app safety tools.

  • Public Instacart safety pages describe occupational-accident coverage and in-app safety tools.
  • They do not close every Virginia vehicle-insurance question for every shopper fact pattern.
  • If you use a car, treat insurer confirmation as a real pre-launch step instead of assuming your ordinary personal-auto policy fully covers app-based delivery.
Back to top Next: Ongoing compliance calendar
Stay compliant Ongoing compliance calendar Keep the recurring compliance checks and live-operating routine visible after launch. Everyone 5 groups

Before first batch

  • Finish entity or fictitious-name setup.
  • Get EIN if applicable.
  • Open bank account.
  • Register for state tax or employer branches that apply.
  • Check local permits and home-use limits.
  • Complete platform verification.

Before first live launch

  • Finish the shopper onboarding and payout setup.
  • Confirm Richmond and RIC branches if they matter.
  • Re-check the live public Instacart age, payout, tax, and insurance wording.

Monthly

  • Reconcile payouts, fees, and business expenses.
  • Review cash reserves for taxes.
  • Check mileage and records.
  • Review account-health, support, or document-expiration notices.

Quarterly

  • Review federal and Virginia estimated-tax needs.
  • Re-check whether the business has moved into a more formal registration or employer branch.

Annual or periodic

  • Pay the Virginia LLC annual registration fee if you are operating through an LLC.
  • Handle annual federal and state tax filing.
  • Re-check insurance, payout setup, and any local or airport-related operating rules.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 8 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • Assuming Instacart is the same as a storefront or retail-seller setup
  • Using a public name without the right Virginia fictitious-name filing
  • Mixing personal and business money
  • Skipping mileage and payout records
  • Treating RIC like ordinary neighborhood delivery
  • Assuming the platform solves local business-rule questions
  • Missing Virginia LLC maintenance fees
  • Treating the platform as the compliance department

Practical first-launch recommendation

If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.

If you intend to build a real Instacart business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Back to top Next: Full official source directory
Full appendix Full official source directory Every official source row from the research pack, kept in its full table structure. Everyone 42 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

Virginia.gov / SCC

State start-here page

Form / portal Business start page
Fee None for the page
Timing First setup step
Who needs it Everyone

Official statewide start page routing founders to formation, tax, and employer resources.

Open official link

Virginia State Corporation Commission

State filing portal

Form / portal CIS portal
Fee No portal fee by itself
Timing Before filing and later for maintenance
Who needs it Filing entities

Main state filing and maintenance portal.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

State tax hub

Form / portal Tax guidance hub
Fee None for the page
Timing Early planning
Who needs it Everyone

Official starting point for business taxes, estimated taxes, and employer-related tax branches.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Choice and Formation

Virginia SCC

Compare business types

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing First decision
Who needs it Everyone

Official state explainer for sole proprietor versus LLC and other entity types.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Formation hub

Form / portal LLC page
Fee Varies by filing
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Filing entities

Main state LLC guidance page.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Default entity formation filing

Form / portal Articles of Organization [LLC-1011]
Fee $100
Timing At formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Official form and fee for a Virginia domestic LLC.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Ongoing entity maintenance

Form / portal Annual registration fee
Fee $50.00
Timing Due by the last day of the entity's anniversary month
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Official SCC annual-fee page for LLCs.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Fictitious Name Filings

Virginia SCC

Sole proprietor baseline

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing First setup step
Who needs it Sole proprietors

Using your own legal name does not require a separate state entity filing.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Individual fictitious-name filing

Form / portal Individual fictitious-name certificate
Fee $10.00
Timing Before using a public trade name
Who needs it Sole proprietors using another public-facing name

Virginia uses a state SCC fictitious-name branch, not a county DBA baseline.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Entity fictitious-name filing

Form / portal Entity fictitious-name certificate
Fee $10.00
Timing Before an entity uses another public-facing name
Who needs it LLCs and other entities using another name

State-level branch for an entity whose public name differs from the legal entity name.

Open official link

Source group

Federal and State Tax Setup

IRS

EIN overview and online application

Form / portal EIN application
Fee Free
Timing Early in setup
Who needs it LLCs, employers, founders who want an EIN

Standard federal EIN path.

Open official link

IRS

EIN paper form

Form / portal Form SS-4
Fee Free
Timing If not applying online
Who needs it Founders using mail or fax

Paper fallback for EIN applications.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Gig-work tax guidance

Form / portal Gig-work tax guide
Fee None for the page
Timing Before first filing and ongoing
Who needs it Gig workers

Strong official state guide for the Virginia tax posture of rideshare and food-delivery contractors.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

App-based delivery income warning

Form / portal Guidance article
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and tax season
Who needs it Founders using app income

Virginia Tax says income from deliveries or driving for hire is typically taxable.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Estimated-tax rule

Form / portal Estimated-tax guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Quarterly if required
Who needs it Independent contractors and others with nonwithheld income

Virginia says estimated payments are required if expected state income-tax liability after credits and withholding is more than $1,000.

Open official link

Not part of this baseline

Seller-permit or resale branch

Form / portal Not applicable
Fee Not applicable
Timing Not applicable
Who needs it Ordinary shoppers

No default Virginia seller-permit or resale-certificate branch was identified for the ordinary shopper pack.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

IRS

Federal entity-tax baseline

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None
Timing Planning and annual filing
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Pair this with Virginia's annual-registration-fee requirement.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Recurring Virginia entity filing

Form / portal Annual registration fee
Fee $50.00
Timing Due by the last day of the anniversary month
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Official SCC fee and due-rule page for ordinary Virginia LLCs.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI reporting status

Form / portal BOI guidance
Fee None
Timing Check before filing
Who needs it Everyone forming an entity

As of April 27, 2026, domestic U.S. entities are no longer reporting companies.

Open official link

Source group

Employees, Payroll, and Insurance

Virginia Tax

Virginia employer withholding

Form / portal Employer tax guidance
Fee No fee stated on the page
Timing When first becoming an employer
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Official tax hub for Virginia employer-tax branches.

Open official link

Virginia Employment Commission

Virginia unemployment registration

Form / portal iFile/iReg or VEC FC-27
Fee No fee stated on the page
Timing When liability begins
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Use this together with the official registration and liability materials.

Open official link

Virginia Employment Commission

VEC FC-27 form

Form / portal FC-27
Fee No fee stated on the form
Timing Do not mail until a liability trigger applies
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

Official paper fallback for unemployment registration.

Open official link

Virginia Employment Commission

Worker-classification guidance

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and when status questions matter
Who needs it Founders and advisors

IRS common-law factors remain the guide.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Worker-misclassification warning

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and at hiring
Who needs it Employers and advisors

Virginia Tax says the state assumes a worker is an employee unless the business can show independent-contractor status under IRS guidelines.

Open official link

Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission

Workers' compensation

Form / portal Coverage guidance
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring
Who needs it Employers with employees

1099 labels do not control status, and owners can elect coverage in some cases.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Instacart

Public shopper-intro page

Form / portal Shopper signup path
Fee No public signup fee identified
Timing Before launch
Who needs it New shoppers

Public page reviewed on April 27, 2026 says some shoppers can start shopping in as soon as 1 hour in certain areas.

Open official link

Instacart

Eligibility and identity-verification posture

Form / portal Public safety and integrity article
Fee None for the page
Timing Before launch
Who needs it New shoppers

Instacart says prospective shoppers must be 18+, hold a valid driver's license and SSN, pass criminal and motor-vehicle-record background checks, and complete photo and identity verification.

Open official link

Instacart

Shopper terms and worker-model split

Form / portal Shopper app terms
Fee None for the page
Timing Before launch
Who needs it New shoppers

Public terms say shopper services are subject to an Independent Contractor Agreement, unless the app is being used in the course of employment.

Open official link

Instacart

Earnings overview

Form / portal Earnings overview
Fee No public signup fee identified
Timing Before launch and ongoing
Who needs it Active shoppers

Public page explains batch pay + promotions + tips, says heavy pay on qualifying batches is at least $2, and says shoppers keep 100% of tips.

Open official link

Instacart

Rewards-card payout branch

Form / portal Shopper Rewards Card and account
Fee No credit check; other account terms vary
Timing During setup and ongoing
Who needs it U.S. shoppers comparing payout options

Public page says eligible U.S. shoppers can apply and receive no-cost automatic payouts after every batch through this account path.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Instacart

Batch-access overview

Form / portal Shopper app batch-access guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Before launch and ongoing
Who needs it Active shoppers

Public page explains batch access by location, store proximity, and account status.

Open official link

Instacart

Batch types

Form / portal Batch-type guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Before launch
Who needs it New shoppers

Public page says batches can include full service, shop-only, and deliver-only work.

Open official link

Instacart

Physical card and certification branch

Form / portal Batch-eligibility guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing During setup and later
Who needs it Active shoppers

Public page says some stores require an active physical payment card and that alcohol, prescription, bulky-item, and certain heavy-item batches require certifications or opt-ins.

Open official link

Instacart

Shopper flexibility and support framing

Form / portal Shopper commitments page
Fee None for the page
Timing Before launch and ongoing
Who needs it Prospective shoppers

Public page says when, where, and what work you take is up to you, and points shoppers to support resources.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Instacart

Shopper safety and injury-protection posture

Form / portal Public safety article
Fee None for the page
Timing Before first batch and ongoing
Who needs it U.S. full-service shoppers

Public page says shopper injury protection is available free of charge to all U.S. full-service shoppers.

Open official link

Instacart investor relations

Personal auto-insurance caution

Form / portal Annual and quarterly filings hub
Fee None for the page
Timing Before first delivery by car and at each renewal
Who needs it Car-based shoppers

Investor materials support that shoppers are expected to carry their own insurance; public shopper pages do not close the full Virginia auto-policy answer.

Open official link

Source group

Richmond Branch

City of Richmond

City business-license baseline

Form / portal BPOL guidance and portal links
Fee Public page shows current flat license fee and tax rules vary by gross receipts and business type
Timing Only if Richmond concludes the business is subject to city licensing
Who needs it Richmond-based founders

Public page says new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days and renew by March 1, but applicability to an ordinary solo shopper remains a retained follow-up question.

Open official link

City of Richmond

City zoning administration

Form / portal Zoning and CZC guidance
Fee Fee varies
Timing Before relying on a home or city-based launch
Who needs it Richmond-based founders

City page routes home-occupation and residential CZC requests through zoning staff and the online permit portal.

Open official link

City of Richmond

Planning FAQ with home-occupation rules

Form / portal FAQ
Fee None for the page
Timing Before home-based launch
Who needs it Richmond home-based founders

Current public FAQ is the clearest single source for published home-occupation limits, including traffic and space limits.

Open official link

City of Richmond

Residential CZC instructions

Form / portal Residential CZC guidance
Fee See fee schedule
Timing Before filing if city confirms applicability
Who needs it Richmond residential applicants

City instruction sheet for residential CZC submissions, including home occupation requests.

Open official link

City of Richmond

Fee schedule

Form / portal Current fee schedule
Fee $50.00 residential home-occupation CZC fee
Timing If filing is required
Who needs it Richmond residential applicants

Public fee support for the home-occupation zoning branch.

Open official link

Richmond International Airport

RIC airport baseline

Form / portal Airport ground-transport page
Fee None for the page
Timing Before relying on airport-area operations
Who needs it Couriers operating near RIC

Public airport page clearly covers rideshare pickup flow, not a dedicated ordinary-shopper workflow. Keep airport-side delivery as retained follow-up rather than flattening it into a universal answer.

Open official link
Back to top