On this guide
Follow the path in order.Shopify channel guide • Virginia launch path
Start Shopify in Virginia
Decide your setup, get the Virginia registration order straight, and finish the early Shopify launch steps without losing the official detail behind the answer.
Last verified April 26, 2026 7 chapters
Best for launching on Shopify 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 • 31 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, Shopify 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, Shopify 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.
- Virginia does not require a separate SCC formation filing for a sole proprietor operating under the owner's legal name.
- 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 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
- Virginia does not require a separate SCC formation filing for a sole proprietor operating under the owner's legal name.
- If the public business name is something else, Virginia routes the assumed or fictitious-name filing through the SCC Clerk's Office instead of a county-only DBA system.
- Business income generally runs through your personal tax return unless you later change tax treatment.
- You usually 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 business.
What it means
- You file Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011) with the SCC and designate a Virginia registered agent.
- You keep the operating agreement internally and calendar the Virginia LLC annual registration fee.
- If the public brand differs from the LLC legal name, the fictitious-name filing is separate.
- Virginia generally follows the federal tax classification you choose or default into.
Why someone chooses it
- Liability protection.
- Cleaner setup for banking, suppliers, bookkeeping, insurance, and scaling.
- Better fit for brand-building, contractors, employees, and later growth.
Main downside
Higher setup friction and recurring maintenance than a sole proprietorship
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local 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
Local scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Local scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Local 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 Shopify operator off guard in Virginia.- A direct Shopify storefront in Virginia should be treated as a direct-sales registration fact pattern, not as a marketplace-only shortcut.
- A live-looking store does not mean the Virginia compliance work is done.
- No public Shopify-wide insurance threshold or mandatory platform-wide minimum coverage amount was identified in the reviewed local evidence as of April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review virginia-specific friction.
Why this matters
Virginia-specific friction
Main takeaway
A direct Shopify storefront in Virginia should be treated as a direct-sales registration fact pattern, not as a marketplace-only shortcut.
Watch for
- Virginia uses a centralized fictitious-name filing through the SCC instead of a county-only DBA model, which is simpler than some states but still easy to miss.
- Virginia LLC upkeep is lighter than a full annual-report state, but the recurring $50 annual registration fee is real and the exact last-day wording should be re-checked on the live SCC page.
- Richmond can add a real BPOL, zoning, and home-occupation branch even when the rest of the state path looks simple.
Shopify-specific friction
Main takeaway
A live-looking store does not mean the Virginia compliance work is done.
Watch for
- Shopify Payments verification can stall a launch if names, addresses, or tax details do not line up.
- Tax settings, shipping settings, policy pages, and domain setup are not finished automatically just because the store exists.
- Pricing, Shopify Tax, and Shop-channel details are time-sensitive.
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public Shopify-wide insurance threshold or mandatory platform-wide minimum coverage amount was identified in the reviewed local evidence as of April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- That does not mean insurance is optional from a business-risk standpoint.
- For physical products, commercial general liability and product liability coverage become more important as sales volume, inventory, and claim risk increase.
- Separate carriers, 3PLs, landlords, wholesale partners, or higher-risk product categories can still impose their own insurance requirements.
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Local scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Local scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Local scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Direct-sales registration baseline
Local tax.virginia.gov
Registration instructions
Local tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Marketplace-seller exception branch
Platform help.shopify.com
Optional Shop sales-channel tax rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Local tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform 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 limits
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 • 43 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 your product lane.
- Avoid regulated or high-risk categories for your first launch unless you deliberately want a harder compliance build.
- Confirm the product is lawful to sell in Virginia and is not blocked by Shopify's public product, payments, or acceptable-use rules.
- Make sure you can document sourcing, brand rights, invoices, and supplier legitimacy where relevant.
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.
- Register for the Virginia direct-sales tax path before direct taxable sales of general merchandise.
- Check local permits, zoning, and home-based business rules, especially if Richmond is in play.
- Create your Shopify account and complete verification.
Do these before launch goes live
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish Shopify Payments or approved payment-provider setup.
- Configure tax settings, shipping rates, fulfillment locations, policy pages, and domain settings.
- Confirm the product fits Shopify's public rules and your Virginia launch model.
- Build the first storefront pages and one or two low-risk products you can fulfill yourself.
- Run a test order before accepting real customers.
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
- Choose the product lane first.
- Choose the entity name.
- File the LLC formation document.
- Get the EIN.
- Open the bank account.
- Register for the Virginia direct-sales tax path.
- Start any immediate post-filing state requirement.
- Check local permits and zoning, especially if you will operate from a Richmond home address.
- Build the Shopify store.
- Finish the payments, tax, shipping, policy, and verification branch.
- Calendar the annual registration fee.
- Track recurring state, local, and platform obligations on the compliance calendar.
Sole proprietor: Decide whether you need a 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 approved local Virginia repo evidence shows the form number 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 steps
Main takeaway
Adopt the operating agreement and keep it internally.
Watch for
- The approved local Virginia repo evidence did not identify a separate LLC publication requirement or an initial report requirement after ordinary formation.
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 approved local Virginia repo evidence shows the form number 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,
- using an LLC legal name,
- using an LLC legal name plus a separate fictitious name,
- reselling other brands,
- creating your own brand,
- or using a private-label path.
- Your storefront name does not replace the legal entity name, bank record, or tax registrations behind the business.
- Shopify account, bank, identity, and tax details still need to match real-world records.
- If you plan long-term brand control, start keeping trademark-clearance and sourcing records early.
Step 3: Form the business
Main guide step 3
What this step settles
If you choose sole proprietor: If you operate under your own legal name, Virginia generally does not require an SCC formation filing for the sole proprietorship itself.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you operate under your own legal name, Virginia generally does not require an SCC formation filing for the sole proprietorship itself.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you use another public-facing name, file the Virginia fictitious-name branch with the SCC Clerk's Office before using it.
- If you choose sole proprietor: If you later move to an LLC, do not assume the old sole-proprietor name filing or tax registrations still cover the new entity.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
- If you choose single-member LLC: Check Virginia naming rules and availability with the SCC.
- If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011). The local approved repo evidence shows a current public filing fee of $100.
- If you choose single-member LLC: Adopt the operating agreement, get the EIN, and calendar the anniversary-month annual registration fee.
- If you choose single-member LLC: If your public brand differs from the LLC legal name, file the separate Virginia fictitious-name branch.
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Local scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Local scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Local scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Local 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 tax.virginia.gov
State start-here page
Local bos.sbsd.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 online EIN application after the business is formed if you picked an LLC.
Why it matters: For many sole proprietors, an EIN is optional if there are no employees, but it is still useful for banking, supplier forms, Shopify setup, and keeping your Social Security number off some business documents.
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 receipt, invoice, shipping bill, platform fee statement, and tax record.
- Build a tax folder and a compliance folder from day one.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Direct-sales registration baseline
Local tax.virginia.gov
Registration instructions
Local tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Marketplace-seller exception branch
Platform help.shopify.com
Optional Shop sales-channel tax rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Local 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 single-member LLC generally needs an EIN.
- Safe practical reading for this combo:.
- Filing path: Virginia online business registration or Form R-1.
Do next: Step 6: Register for Virginia tax, seller permit, or resale setup.
Step details
1. EIN
Main takeaway
A single-member LLC generally 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
Safe practical reading for this combo:
Watch for
- Filing path: Virginia online business registration or Form R-1.
- Registration result: Form ST-4.
- Return baseline: Form ST-1.
- Timing rule: before direct taxable sales or whenever a Virginia tax account is required.
- A normal direct-to-consumer Shopify storefront selling taxable general merchandise to customers through its own checkout should be treated as a direct-sales registration fact pattern.
- Do not import marketplace-only registration shortcuts into that direct-store path.
3. Marketplace or platform tax rule
Main takeaway
Safe takeaway:
Watch for
- Virginia's marketplace-seller guidance says that if all of your Virginia sales are conducted through a marketplace facilitator's platform, you generally do not need to register to collect Virginia sales tax.
- That rule is not the beginner baseline for your own Shopify storefront.
- If you later add the Shop sales channel, the approved local Shopify evidence says that, starting on January 1, 2025, orders placed directly in the Shop app or Shop website shipping to or within the United States are automatically collected, remitted, and filed by the channel, while Shop Pay orders placed on your own online-store checkout are excluded.
- Treat the Virginia direct-sales registration branch as required for the normal Shopify storefront launch.
- Handle marketplace-seller logic and Shop-channel logic as extra branches, not as substitutes for the storefront baseline.
4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing
Main takeaway
Virginia uses Form ST-10 for resale purchases by a Virginia dealer.
Watch for
- The approved local Virginia evidence says the public ST-10 form describes it as for use by a Virginia dealer buying for resale, lease, rental, or qualifying packaging use.
- For this combo's direct-store baseline, ST-10 is the normal resale-document branch after Virginia registration.
- If the founder later tries to rely on marketplace-only treatment instead, confirm the registration and resale posture with Virginia Tax before using ST-10 under that fact pattern.
5. Entity tax treatment
Main takeaway
Virginia generally follows federal tax-classification rules for LLCs unless different elections apply.
Watch for
- A default single-member LLC is usually treated as disregarded for income-tax purposes.
6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule
Main takeaway
The recurring Virginia LLC maintenance item verified in the approved local evidence is the $50 annual registration fee, not a separate generic LLC annual report.
Watch for
- The same local evidence is not perfectly aligned on whether the public SCC page uses a last-calendar-day or last-business-day phrasing for the anniversary-month deadline.
- This is distinct from sales-tax, withholding, or other operational tax filings.
7. If the founder changes entity type later
Main takeaway
Do not assume the original sales-tax registration, employer account, bank setup, local permits, or Shopify account details remain correct after a legal-entity change.
Watch for
- Re-check the Virginia Tax and local-license path if you convert or replace the entity.
Sole proprietor: Register for Virginia tax, seller permit, or reseller setup
Main takeaway
Important distinction:
Watch for
- Because this combo assumes direct Shopify sales of taxable general merchandise through your own storefront, the safe baseline is to complete the ordinary Virginia registration path before launch.
- Use Virginia's online business registration flow or Form R-1 if you fall into a paper-registration exception.
- If you are required to collect Virginia retail sales or use tax, Virginia Tax issues Form ST-4, the Sales Tax Certificate of Registration.
Sole proprietor: Understand the tax reality
Main takeaway
Federal business income generally flows through to Schedule C for a standard sole proprietor.
Watch for
- Virginia state and local tax rules can still apply even without an LLC.
- Local business-license or BPOL duties can still exist even if the legal structure is simple.
Single-member LLC: File ongoing entity maintenance
Main takeaway
Key points:
Watch for
- due: the approved local Virginia repo evidence is consistent that the fee is due in the anniversary month, but inconsistent on whether the SCC frames the deadline as the last calendar day or the last business day of that month.
Step 6: Register for Virginia tax, seller permit, or resale setup
Main guide step 6
What this step settles
Keep this separate:
- Virginia Tax uses the online registration flow or Form R-1 for business tax registration.
- If you register to collect Virginia retail sales or use tax, Virginia issues Form ST-4, the Sales Tax Certificate of Registration.
- Starting with the April 2025 filing period, registered sales-tax filers use Form ST-1.
- Because this combo assumes a direct Shopify storefront selling taxable general merchandise through its own checkout, treat Virginia tax registration as a baseline pre-launch step.
- If you buy goods for resale after registration, use Form ST-10 when applicable and keep the vendor documentation.
- Virginia's marketplace-seller guidance is for sellers whose Virginia sales are all conducted through a marketplace facilitator's platform. That is not the beginner baseline for your own Shopify storefront.
- If you later add the Shop sales channel, the approved local Shopify evidence says that, starting on January 1, 2025, Shop-app and Shop-website orders shipping to or within the United States are channel-filed, but Shop Pay orders placed through your own online-store checkout are excluded. Treat that as an extra channel branch, not as a substitute for Virginia setup.
Official links
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Direct-sales registration baseline
Local tax.virginia.gov
Registration instructions
Local tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Marketplace-seller exception branch
Platform help.shopify.com
Optional Shop sales-channel tax rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Local tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Federal irs.gov
Entity tax treatment
Tax scc.virginia.gov
Recurring Virginia entity fee
Federal fincen.gov
BOI status
Local tax.virginia.gov
State start-here page
Local bos.sbsd.virginia.gov
State business portal
Official virginia.gov
State small-business support hub
03
Chapter 3 of 7
Finish the Shopify 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
Shopify account setup, operations, and pre-launch readiness.How to move through it
Step 10: Choose the right Shopify plan.Open the Shopify branch only after the Virginia basics line up, then finish plan and operations choices.
3 parts to review • 20 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 Shopify account
The first account and verification work for the platform path.
Part 1 of 3
Open the Shopify 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: Create your Shopify store and payment setup.
Step details
Step 9: Create your Shopify store and payment setup
Platform step 1
What this step settles
Have these ready:
Why it matters: Platform registration flow: U.S. payments note:
- government-issued ID
- phone number
- email address
- bank account information
- tax information
- business registration details if you formed an entity
- Virginia ST-4 information for tax setup
- proof of address or identity if Shopify asks for it
- Shopify's public Shopify Payments guidance says eligibility depends on being in a supported country or region, selling allowed products, and complying with law and Shopify terms.
- Public Shopify help also says proof of address, business documents, and photo ID can be required, and only the account owner can complete a Proof of Liveness check where that extra check is triggered.
- Public Shopify help says payouts can be held until verification is complete.
- Start with Shopify's public store-setup flow and keep the storefront private while you build.
- Set business details, store location, billing information, and the plan branch you actually want to use after the trial or promo period.
- Complete Shopify Payments if your business is eligible, or connect an approved third-party gateway if it is not.
- Configure products, taxes, shipping and delivery, policy pages, domain, checkout, and fulfillment settings.
- Run at least one test order before launch.
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: Decide whether you need branding and IP work on day one.
Do next: Step 10: Choose the right Shopify plan.
Step details
Step 10: Choose the right Shopify plan
Platform step 2
What this step settles
Caveat:
- For a standard Virginia direct-to-consumer store, Basic is the beginner-safe baseline because the approved local Shopify evidence treats Basic as enough for a normal first storefront.
- As of April 26, 2026, the approved local Shopify pricing evidence showed starting annual-billing rates of $29 for Basic, $79 for Grow, and $299 for Advanced.
- Move up only when the lower payment fees, extra staff capacity, reporting, international, or shipping features actually justify the higher monthly cost.
- Shopify pricing, promos, and localized billing presentation are time-sensitive and should be re-checked immediately before purchase.
Step 11: Decide whether you need branding and IP work on day one
Platform step 3
What this step settles
Shopify does not have a public brand-registry-style program you must join before a normal first launch.
- Shopify does not have a public brand-registry-style program you must join before a normal first launch.
- What matters first is whether you own the rights to what you are selling and whether your product, copy, and images comply with platform rules and law.
- If you are reselling other brands, keep invoices and authorization records where relevant.
- If you are building your own brand, start trademark planning early, but do not let that stop a small low-risk validation launch.
Official links
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform registration guide
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform payments and verification
Platform shopify.com
Platform pricing
Platform help.shopify.com
Brand or IP program
Platform help.shopify.com
Store-setup overview
Platform help.shopify.com
Category, compliance, or product restriction guide
Platform help.shopify.com
Shipping, fulfillment, tax, and domain tools
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform 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: Confirm product and category eligibility before scaling.
Do next: Step 12: Complete the storefront, shipping, and fulfillment branch.
Step details
Step 12: Complete the storefront, shipping, and fulfillment branch
Platform step 4
What this step settles
Use the Shopify-specific version of this section:
Why it matters: For a beginner launch, self-fulfillment or one simple 3PL path is the safe baseline. Do not add multiple complex fulfillment systems before you can reliably ship the first orders.
- add products and collections,
- create About, Contact, and customer-facing policy pages,
- enter Virginia tax registration details in Shopify only after registration is ready,
- set shipping profiles, shipping zones, rates, package weights, and fulfillment locations,
- choose self-fulfillment or connect one simple fulfillment service,
- connect or buy a domain,
- and test the storefront before launch.
Step 13: Confirm product and category eligibility before scaling
Platform step 5
What this step settles
Review Shopify's public Acceptable Use Policy.
- Review Shopify's public Acceptable Use Policy.
- Review Shopify Payments eligibility if you plan to use it.
- Avoid regulated or prohibited products such as cannabis, prescription drugs, many medical devices, tobacco-related products, firearms, or other heavily regulated items unless you deliberately build a specialty-compliance workflow.
- If you later add the Shop channel, remember that Shop adds its own channel-level product and tax handling branch.
Official links
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform registration guide
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform payments and verification
Platform shopify.com
Platform pricing
Platform help.shopify.com
Brand or IP program
Platform help.shopify.com
Store-setup overview
Platform help.shopify.com
Category, compliance, or product restriction guide
Platform help.shopify.com
Shipping, fulfillment, tax, and domain tools
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform 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 counties and municipalities.
Part 1 of 2
Local permits and location checks
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to counties and municipalities.
Short answer
Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to counties and municipalities.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 counties and municipalities.
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, and new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening.
- The approved local Richmond zoning evidence says a Certificate of Zoning Compliance is required to obtain the business-license branch in the city.
- The approved local Richmond fee-sheet evidence shows a $50 filing fee for a home-occupation Certificate of Zoning Compliance.
- Richmond's public home-occupation materials in the approved local evidence say only household members may be employed on the premises, no outside storage of products or materials is allowed, products may not be offered for sale directly to customers on the premises, and visits associated with the home occupation are limited.
- Safe practical takeaway: if you plan to store, package, photograph, or ship Shopify inventory from a Richmond home, confirm the exact address-specific zoning answer before launch.
- Richmond expects a business license within 30 days of opening.
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.
- The approved local Virginia evidence shows Form 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
- Approved local Virginia evidence says there are no general waivers or exceptions for employers who are required to carry coverage.
- Virginia workers' compensation coverage generally becomes mandatory when 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.
Watch for
- The approved local repo evidence did not identify a general Virginia private-employer disability or paid-family-leave insurance mandate equivalent to the 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 the business has valid coverage in place 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.- No public Shopify-wide insurance threshold or mandatory platform-wide minimum coverage amount was identified in the reviewed local evidence as of April 26, 2026.
Do next: Review insurance reality.
Why this matters
Insurance reality
Main takeaway
No public Shopify-wide insurance threshold or mandatory platform-wide minimum coverage amount was identified in the reviewed local evidence as of April 26, 2026.
Watch for
- That does not mean insurance is optional from a business-risk standpoint.
- For physical products, commercial general liability and product liability coverage become more important as sales volume, inventory, and claim risk increase.
- Separate carriers, 3PLs, landlords, wholesale partners, or higher-risk product categories can 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 direct Shopify store like a marketplace-facilitated channel.Use the recurring calendar first, then keep the repeated-mistake notes close after launch.
2 parts to review • 26 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.- Get the EIN if applicable.
- Finish payment-provider setup and any identity or bank verification.
- Enter tax settings only after registration details are ready.
Do next: Finish entity or Virginia fictitious-name setup.
See checklist
Before first sale
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish entity or Virginia fictitious-name setup.
- Get the EIN if applicable.
- Open the bank account.
- Register for the Virginia direct-sales tax branch if you will make direct taxable sales.
- Check local permits and zoning.
- Complete Shopify setup and verification.
Before first live launch
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Finish payment-provider setup and any identity or bank verification.
- Enter tax settings only after registration details are ready.
- Finish shipping rates, fulfillment, policy pages, contact information, and domain settings.
- Run a test order.
Monthly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- Reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and chargebacks.
- Review cash reserves for sales tax and income tax.
- Review app billing and shipping costs.
- Check inventory, returns, and policy compliance.
Quarterly
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File Virginia ST-1 returns on the cadence Virginia assigns if you remain registered.
- If you have employees, file payroll-tax reports and deposits on the cadence assigned to the withholding and VEC accounts.
- Review whether new locations, 3PL changes, or channel additions changed your tax or permit profile.
Annual or periodic
Grouped so the launch order stays easier to scan.
- File annual federal and Virginia income-tax returns as applicable.
- If you formed an LLC, pay the Virginia annual registration fee in the anniversary month and confirm the exact live SCC deadline wording before relying on older notes.
- Renew local business-license, BPOL, or zoning items if your city requires renewal.
- Re-check Shopify pricing, payments, tax-service, Shop-channel, and policy pages whenever your launch timing, product type, or fulfillment model changes.
Official links
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform insurance threshold or requirement
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Direct-sales registration baseline
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform registration guide
Platform help.shopify.com
Store-setup overview
Local tax.virginia.gov
State start-here page
Up next Common mistakes
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
The most common mistakes from the research pack plus the first-launch recommendation.
Part 2 of 2
Common Mistakes New Operators Make
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.- Launching without the Virginia direct-sales tax branch in place.
- Using a public brand name without the Virginia fictitious-name filing when it is required.
- Treating a Richmond home-based setup as automatically approved.
Do next: Treating a direct Shopify store like a marketplace-facilitated channel.
Why this matters
Practical first-launch recommendation
- If you are testing casually with minimal risk, sole proprietor can work.
- If you intend to build a real Shopify business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.
Key detail
Treating a direct Shopify store like a marketplace-facilitated channel
Keep in mind
- Launching without the Virginia direct-sales tax branch in place
- Using a public brand name without the Virginia fictitious-name filing when it is required
- Treating a Richmond home-based setup as automatically approved
- Letting Shopify default settings stand without testing checkout, shipping, and policy-page visibility
- Mixing personal and business money
- Missing the Virginia LLC annual registration fee
- Buying regulated or high-risk inventory before checking Shopify and Virginia compliance limits
Official links
Formation scc.virginia.gov
Compare business types
Local scc.virginia.gov
Formation hub
Local scc.virginia.gov
Default entity formation filing
Local scc.virginia.gov
Immediate post-filing requirement
Local scc.virginia.gov
Ongoing entity maintenance
Federal irs.gov
EIN overview and online application
Federal irs.gov
EIN paper form
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Direct-sales registration baseline
Local tax.virginia.gov
Registration instructions
Local tax.virginia.gov
Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline
Platform tax.virginia.gov
Marketplace-seller exception branch
Platform help.shopify.com
Optional Shop sales-channel tax rule
Tax tax.virginia.gov
Resale or exemption certificate
Local tax.virginia.gov
Recordkeeping guidance
Platform help.shopify.com
Platform 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 limits
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. - Shopify setup
Shopify 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
- Approved local Virginia repo evidence uses this as the Virginia Tax startup and routing page.
- Useful for startup routing, local-license reminders, and state-agency coordination.
- Public Virginia.gov hub points founders to Business One Stop and other state business resources.
- Approved local Richmond evidence says owners of businesses in Richmond are required to obtain a business license annually and new businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening.
- Approved local Richmond zoning materials say residential home-occupation business-license requests use the residential CZC path.
- Approved local Richmond home-occupation materials say no direct sales may be offered on the premises, no outside storage is allowed, only household members may be employed on-site, and visits are limited; confirm the exact address-specific answer before launch.
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 Shopify without losing the state-first flow. Choose another state for Shopify Stay on Shopify 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.