LaunchPath

Flagship channel-state reference guide

Start Walmart Marketplace 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 26, 2026 Reference mode Dense appendix

Built from reviewed public pages for Virginia, IRS, FinCEN, Richmond, Walmart Marketplace. 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 26, 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 Walmart Marketplace in Virginia, you usually need to do five things in order: Everyone 5 steps

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

  1. Choose your setup: sole proprietorship vs single-member LLC.
  2. Decide whether you are truly staying Walmart Marketplace-only or whether resale sourcing or direct off-platform sales change the Virginia tax answer.
  3. Verify Virginia and Richmond local tax, zoning, and home-business rules before you operate.
  4. Confirm that you meet Walmart's public seller qualifications, then complete business verification, payout, fulfillment, and catalog setup.
  5. Launch only after your product, fulfillment, tax, and compliance 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 Walmart Marketplace business, single-member LLC is usually the better long-term path.

Important practical note:

Virginia is cleaner than New York for pure marketplace-only collection, but that cleaner rule does not automatically give you ST-10 resale treatment and it does not cover later direct sales outside Walmart.

Avoid these first-launch mistakes

  • Treating Walmart Marketplace like a direct Shopify store instead of a marketplace-facilitated channel
  • Assuming Walmart collection automatically resolves the Virginia ST-10 resale branch
  • Adding direct off-platform sales without reopening the Virginia dealer-registration question

Virginia-specific friction

Virginia is cleaner than New York on marketplace-only collection, but not on the resale question.

  • Virginia is cleaner than New York on marketplace-only collection, but not on the resale question.
  • The moment you want ST-10, supplier tax-free resale, or direct off-Walmart sales, the tax path gets more complex.
  • Virginia LLC upkeep is straightforward, but the SCC annual-fee page mixes last day of the month wording with last business day examples, so month-end timing is worth re-checking.
  • Richmond local tax and home-occupation branches are real, not optional.

Walmart Marketplace-specific friction

Application is not just a signup form. Public Walmart pages still expect business tax ID or business license evidence, supporting documents, product IDs, returns capability, and a history of marketplace or eCommerce success.

  • Application is not just a signup form. Public Walmart pages still expect business tax ID or business license evidence, supporting documents, product IDs, returns capability, and a history of marketplace or eCommerce success.
  • Business verification, payout setup, and fulfillment settings all have to align with real-world records.
  • Category-specific referral fees, return-address rules, policy enforcement, and payment holds all affect launch success.
  • WFS, GTIN exemption, Brand Portal, and conditional liability insurance each have their own separate branches.

Insurance reality

Walmart has a public conditional liability-insurance policy, not a universal day-one insurance requirement for every new seller.

  • Walmart has a public conditional liability-insurance policy, not a universal day-one insurance requirement for every new seller.
  • As of the public policy reviewed on April 26, 2026, Walmart Marketplace says a seller must submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) with general liability and product liability insurance if the seller exceeds $100,000 in GMV in any 12-month period or if Walmart notifies the seller directly.
  • The public policy says the required limits are $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Walmart Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliates must be listed as additional insured.
  • Even below that threshold, Walmart encourages sellers to maintain insurance.
  • Keep Wallet FDIC coverage and seller-shipping protections separate from seller liability insurance. They are not the same thing.
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.
  • Pick your business name.
  • Decide whether you will stay marketplace-only or whether you want ST-10 resale treatment or direct sales later.
  • Stay in low-risk new-condition general merchandise for the first launch.
  • Avoid regulated or higher-friction categories such as food, supplements, cosmetics, medical claims, batteries-heavy hazmat, alcohol, children's products.
  • Make sure you can document sourcing with invoices and supplier records.

Do these before your first sale

  • 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 the Virginia marketplace-only vs registration vs ST-10 branch before assuming you do or do not need a dealer registration.
  • Check local permits and home-based business rules, especially the Richmond BPOL, CZC, and home-occupation branch if you will operate there.
  • Create your Walmart Marketplace seller account and complete business verification, payout, market details, fulfillment, and returns setup.

Do these before launch goes live

  • Confirm your actual Walmart referral-fee category before pricing.
  • Confirm the product is lawful, eligible, and not blocked by Walmart policy.
  • Set up fulfillment, returns, and a valid U.S. return address correctly.
  • Build one accurate listing and start small enough to protect performance metrics.
  • Launch only after your tax, records, and local-compliance setup are ready.
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 SCC entity-formation filing for a sole proprietorship operating under the owner's own name.
  • If you use a different public-facing name, Virginia routes the assumed or fictitious-name filing through the SCC Clerk's Office.
  • Walmart's public qualification pages say SSN is not accepted as the business tax ID, so even a sole proprietor usually needs an EIN or other qualifying business identifier before applying.
  • Business income generally runs through your personal tax return unless facts change the 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 if you want a more durable setup for a real business.

What it means

  • Virginia LLC formation uses Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011) with a $100 filing fee and a required registered agent.
  • Virginia LLCs pay a recurring annual registration fee instead of a general annual report.
  • If the LLC uses a different public-facing name, the fictitious-name filing is separate.

Why someone chooses it

  • Liability protection
  • Cleaner setup for banking, vendors, bookkeeping, and scaling
  • Better fit for inventory, insurance, trademarks, and later hiring

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 product touches health, safety, children, dangerous goods, ingestibles, or serious IP risk, slow down and do category-specific compliance research before buying inventory. Walmart-specific caution:

    • general merchandise
    • new-condition products you can inspect, store, and ship reliably
    • products with clean invoices and sourcing records
    • no high-risk categories from food, supplements, cosmetics, medical claims, batteries-heavy hazmat, alcohol, children's products
    • Public Walmart policy does not treat used or restored products as a normal beginner path.
    • Public Walmart Resold policy says products not in new condition are prohibited unless you are invited into that separate program.

  2. Step 2: Choose your name and brand approach

    Main guide step 2

    You need to decide whether you are:

    Why it matters: Important:

    • operating under your own legal name,
    • using a Virginia fictitious name,
    • reselling existing brands,
    • creating your own brand,
    • or building toward a private-label path
    • Your Walmart seller name does not replace the legal business name, tax records, or bank details behind the account.
    • If you want stronger long-term control, start your trademark and brand-documentation path early.

  3. Step 3: Form the business

    Main guide step 3

    If you choose sole proprietor: No Virginia SCC entity filing is generally required if you operate under your own legal name.

    • If you choose sole proprietor: No Virginia SCC entity filing is generally required if you operate under your own legal name.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you use a public business name, file the Virginia fictitious-name branch through the SCC Clerk's Office.
    • If you choose sole proprietor: If you operate in Richmond, the city-tax and home-occupation branch still applies even if no separate entity filing is required.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Do this in order:
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Run a preliminary Virginia name check.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: File Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011) and appoint a registered agent.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: Get the EIN and move straight into tax and banking setup.
    • If you choose single-member LLC: If you will trade under a different public name, add the separate fictitious-name branch.

  4. Step 4: Get your EIN

    Main guide step 4

    Use the IRS EIN application if applicable. For most LLCs this is part of the normal setup. For many sole proprietors it is optional federally, but it is practically important for banking, suppliers, and Walmart Marketplace onboarding.

  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 invoice, carrier bill, Walmart fee statement, and tax record.
    • Build a tax folder and a compliance folder from day one.

  6. Step 6: Resolve the Virginia marketplace-only, registration, and ST-10 branch before you act

    Main guide step 6

    This is the most important Virginia difference.

    Why it matters: What the current official record supports: Safe practical reading for this combo: Resale branch: 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 do not need to register to collect Virginia sales tax.
    • Walmart's public sales-tax-collection guide says Walmart collects and remits marketplace sales tax for Virginia, with an effective date of July 1, 2019.
    • Virginia Tax's general retail-sales page separately says in-state retailers are generally individuals and businesses making sales with one or more physical locations in Virginia, and it routes them to in-state dealer registration.
    • If you are staying truly Walmart Marketplace-only, the official Virginia marketplace-seller rule supports a no-registration-to-collect beginner path.
    • If you add direct off-Walmart sales from your Virginia location, do not wait for remote-seller thresholds. Move into the registration-first branch.
    • Virginia ST-10 is written for use by a Virginia dealer buying for resale, lease, rental, or qualifying packaging use.
    • 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.
    • If you are staying purely Walmart Marketplace-only and are not trying to force a tax-free supplier-resale branch on day one, the official Virginia record supports a normal no-registration-to-collect beginner path.
    • If you need clean supplier resale treatment from the start, want to buy inventory tax-free, or may add direct sales soon, keep that branch explicit instead of assuming it is automatically solved.

  7. Step 7: Check local permits, city 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: Richmond branch: Important Richmond home-business warnings: Practical warning: If you will store meaningful inventory, package orders at home, generate recurring carrier traffic, or allow pickups, clear the actual Richmond zoning answer before launch instead of guessing.

    • check the city or county where you will actually operate,
    • ask about zoning, storage, deliveries, signage, and local-business-license rules,
    • and do not assume Richmond rules apply unless the address is actually inside Richmond
    • Richmond says owners of businesses in the city are required to obtain a business license annually.
    • New businesses must obtain a license within 30 days of opening.
    • In most cases, the city says a business license is required before the business begins conducting business in the city.
    • The city also says you must obtain a Certificate of Zoning Compliance before business-license renewal, and Zoning Administration routes residential home-occupation licensing requests through the Online Permit Portal.
    • The current public zoning fee sheet shows a Home Occupation CZC filing fee of $50.00.
    • The public home-occupation rules say only household members may work on the premises, there can be no outside storage, the area may not exceed 25% of the enclosed heated floor area or 500 square feet, visits including deliveries are limited to 4 vehicles per day and no more than 2 persons at any one time between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and no product may be offered for sale directly to customers on the premises.

  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 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

  9. Step 9: Create your Walmart Marketplace account and complete setup

    Main guide step 9

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Public application requirements reviewed on April 26, 2026 also say sellers should have: Platform registration flow: Important:

    • government-issued ID
    • business email
    • phone number
    • bank or payout information
    • tax information
    • business registration or license documents if applicable
    • supporting documents that verify your business name and address
    • product IDs such as GTIN or UPC, or a justified exemption path if your products qualify
    • Business Tax ID(s) or Business License Number
    • business-identity details that match IRS or other government records
    • a history of marketplace or eCommerce success
    • a catalog that complies with Walmart's prohibited-products rules
    • and either a B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability or use of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
    • The fuller public Walmart onboarding sequence reviewed on April 26, 2026 is this 5-step flow, not the simpler marketing summary some other pages use.
    • Public Walmart pages describe business verification as taking from a few minutes to two business days.
    • The public Complete onboarding in Seller Center guide says both fulfillment methods require a verifiable return address.
    • Walmart's public New Seller Payment Hold Policy, last updated December 10, 2025, says United States sellers face a rolling delay of up to 14 days and non-U.S. sellers up to 21 days, with the hold ending only after 90 days have passed since the first shipped order and the seller has received $7,500 in payments.
    • Walmart's public Wallet page says you can only use one payout method at a time, and if you use Wallet, payouts follow the same settlement cycle as other payment methods.
    • Verify your business with business details that match your tax and formation records.
    • Choose your payout method using one approved payout path at a time.
    • Add market details and customer-service information.
    • Manage fulfillment as seller-fulfilled, WFS, or a supported combination.
    • Set up your catalog in Seller Center.

  10. Step 10: Understand Walmart's cost model before you price anything

    Main guide step 10

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Do not price from memory. Re-check the live Walmart category table for your exact category before you buy inventory or publish listings.

    • Walmart Marketplace does not use a monthly seller subscription fee in the public pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
    • Walmart's public pricing page says Marketplace and WFS use zero setup, monthly, or hidden fees.
    • Marketplace referral fees vary by category and product type and are only deducted after a completed sale.
    • The public referral-fee schedule shows category-specific percentages, not one flat seller rate.
    • A public example visible on April 26, 2026: Beauty, Health and Personal Care shows 8% for items with a total sales price of $10 or less, and 15% for items above $10.
    • WFS adds separate fulfillment and storage fees on top of marketplace referral fees.
    • The public WFS pricing page shows fixed monthly storage of $0.75 per cubic foot from January through September, and in October through December the same $0.75 rate for inventory stored up to 30 days plus an added $1.50 per cubic foot per month after 30 days.

  11. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Main guide step 11

    Walmart Brand Portal is optional, not a launch requirement for an ordinary first listing.

    • Walmart Brand Portal is optional, not a launch requirement for an ordinary first listing.
    • It is most relevant if you own a brand and have a registered USPTO trademark.
    • Walmart's public Brand Portal page says an active trademark registration with the USPTO is required for each brand you register there.
    • If you resell branded goods, invoices and supplier records matter more on day one than portal enrollment does.

  12. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment and operations branch

    Main guide step 12

    Use the beginner-safe Walmart operations path:

    Why it matters: You have two main beginner fulfillment paths: If you ship orders yourself: If you use WFS:

    • start with one or two low-risk listings,
    • keep titles, photos, descriptions, and item attributes accurate,
    • choose fulfillment you can reliably support,
    • set conservative handling and shipping promises,
    • and do not scale inventory until the first workflow actually works
    • seller-fulfilled
    • Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
    • Walmart's public onboarding guide says both fulfillment methods require a verifiable return address.
    • If you will self-fulfill from a Richmond residence, do not skip the local zoning branch.
    • WFS is optional after onboarding.
    • Public WFS pages say there are currently no minimum requirements, though Walmart recommends setting up at least 50 items with continual replenishment.
    • WFS handles order-related customer support and returns for WFS orders.
    • Public WFS guidance says candidate items are generally non-perishable, do not require temperature control, and can be as large as 500 pounds with maximum dimensions of 120" x 105" x 93" including packaging.
    • The public Seller Success Formula page says that if you use WFS, WFS controls the performance standards and those metrics are not available in Seller Center.

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

    Main guide step 13

    Walmart's public minimum-qualification pages require a catalog that complies with its prohibited-products rules.

    • Walmart's public minimum-qualification pages require a catalog that complies with its prohibited-products rules.
    • Walmart's public policy index says sellers are responsible for staying compliant with marketplace policies, rules, and guidelines.
    • Public Walmart prohibited-products materials say one prohibited item in the catalog can deny the application.
    • If you sell products without a product ID, Walmart has a public GTIN or UPC exemption path.
    • Public quickstart policy materials still identify pre-approval examples like fragrance, luxury brands, software, cell phones and accessories, Halloween and select seasonal products, and custom content.

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

    Main guide step 14

    Once live, keep these habits:

    • reconcile payouts, fees, refunds, and return-related charges
    • monitor business-verification, payout, and performance notices
    • maintain invoices and supplier records
    • keep tax reserves separate
    • review margins after real referral, fulfillment, and return costs
    • avoid mixing personal and business spending
    • re-check the Virginia registration branch before adding direct off-platform sales or local pickup

Best practical order for the LLC launch path

  1. Choose the product lane first.
  2. Choose the entity name.
  3. File the LLC or fictitious-name paperwork.
  4. Get the EIN.
  5. Open the bank account.
  6. Decide whether you are staying purely Walmart Marketplace-only or whether you actually need the registered-dealer branch.
  7. Check local permits and Richmond rules if applicable.
  8. Build the Walmart account.
  9. Finish fulfillment and returns setup.
  10. If you formed an LLC, track the anniversary-month annual fee.
  11. Re-check live Walmart fee, policy, and insurance pages before launch.
  12. Track recurring tax and local obligations 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 typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.

  • A typical single-member LLC needs an EIN.
  • A sole proprietor may not always need one federally, but it is often practical anyway.
  • For Walmart Marketplace, the EIN question also matters because the public qualification pages reject SSN as the business tax ID.

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

Virginia uses online registration as the default path and Form R-1 for paper exceptions.

  • Virginia uses online registration as the default path and Form R-1 for paper exceptions.
  • 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

Safe takeaway:

  • 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.
  • Walmart's public Sales tax collection guide says Virginia is one of the states where Walmart collects and remits marketplace sales tax, effective July 1, 2019.
  • This pack therefore treats the true marketplace-only Walmart Marketplace path as the Virginia beginner baseline.
  • Marketplace-only Walmart sales and direct off-platform sales are separate branches.
  • Re-run the Virginia dealer-registration analysis before taking direct taxable sales outside Walmart.

4. Resale purchases or exempt purchasing

Virginia uses Form ST-10 for resale purchases by a Virginia dealer.

  • Virginia uses Form ST-10 for resale purchases by a Virginia dealer.
  • 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.

5. Entity tax treatment

Virginia generally follows federal tax-classification rules for LLCs unless a different election applies.

  • Virginia generally follows federal tax-classification rules for LLCs unless a different election applies.
  • A default single-member LLC is usually treated as disregarded for income-tax purposes.

6. Entity filing-fee or franchise-tax rule

The recurring Virginia LLC maintenance item verified in this combo is the $50 annual registration fee, not a separate generic LLC annual report.

  • The recurring Virginia LLC maintenance item verified in this combo is the $50 annual registration fee, not a separate generic LLC annual report.
  • This is distinct from sales-tax, withholding, or employer filings.

7. If the founder changes entity type later

Do not assume the original marketplace-only setup, tax account, bank setup, or local approvals automatically carry over to a later LLC.

  • Do not assume the original marketplace-only setup, tax account, bank setup, or local approvals automatically carry over to a later LLC.
  • Re-check the Virginia Tax and local-license path if you convert or replace the entity.
Back to top Next: Walmart Marketplace account and operations
Platform setup Walmart Marketplace account and operations Use this section for the Walmart Marketplace-specific account, plan, eligibility, and operations work. Everyone 5 steps

  1. Step 9: Create your Walmart Marketplace account and complete setup

    Platform step 1

    Have these ready:

    Why it matters: Public application requirements reviewed on April 26, 2026 also say sellers should have: Platform registration flow: Important:

    • government-issued ID
    • business email
    • phone number
    • bank or payout information
    • tax information
    • business registration or license documents if applicable
    • supporting documents that verify your business name and address
    • product IDs such as GTIN or UPC, or a justified exemption path if your products qualify
    • Business Tax ID(s) or Business License Number
    • business-identity details that match IRS or other government records
    • a history of marketplace or eCommerce success
    • a catalog that complies with Walmart's prohibited-products rules
    • and either a B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability or use of Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
    • The fuller public Walmart onboarding sequence reviewed on April 26, 2026 is this 5-step flow, not the simpler marketing summary some other pages use.
    • Public Walmart pages describe business verification as taking from a few minutes to two business days.
    • The public Complete onboarding in Seller Center guide says both fulfillment methods require a verifiable return address.
    • Walmart's public New Seller Payment Hold Policy, last updated December 10, 2025, says United States sellers face a rolling delay of up to 14 days and non-U.S. sellers up to 21 days, with the hold ending only after 90 days have passed since the first shipped order and the seller has received $7,500 in payments.
    • Walmart's public Wallet page says you can only use one payout method at a time, and if you use Wallet, payouts follow the same settlement cycle as other payment methods.
    • Verify your business with business details that match your tax and formation records.
    • Choose your payout method using one approved payout path at a time.
    • Add market details and customer-service information.
    • Manage fulfillment as seller-fulfilled, WFS, or a supported combination.
    • Set up your catalog in Seller Center.

  2. Step 10: Understand Walmart's cost model before you price anything

    Platform step 2

    Practical rule:

    Why it matters: Do not price from memory. Re-check the live Walmart category table for your exact category before you buy inventory or publish listings.

    • Walmart Marketplace does not use a monthly seller subscription fee in the public pages reviewed on April 26, 2026.
    • Walmart's public pricing page says Marketplace and WFS use zero setup, monthly, or hidden fees.
    • Marketplace referral fees vary by category and product type and are only deducted after a completed sale.
    • The public referral-fee schedule shows category-specific percentages, not one flat seller rate.
    • A public example visible on April 26, 2026: Beauty, Health and Personal Care shows 8% for items with a total sales price of $10 or less, and 15% for items above $10.
    • WFS adds separate fulfillment and storage fees on top of marketplace referral fees.
    • The public WFS pricing page shows fixed monthly storage of $0.75 per cubic foot from January through September, and in October through December the same $0.75 rate for inventory stored up to 30 days plus an added $1.50 per cubic foot per month after 30 days.

  3. Step 11: Decide whether brand or IP programs belong in the initial launch

    Platform step 3

    Walmart Brand Portal is optional, not a launch requirement for an ordinary first listing.

    • Walmart Brand Portal is optional, not a launch requirement for an ordinary first listing.
    • It is most relevant if you own a brand and have a registered USPTO trademark.
    • Walmart's public Brand Portal page says an active trademark registration with the USPTO is required for each brand you register there.
    • If you resell branded goods, invoices and supplier records matter more on day one than portal enrollment does.

  4. Step 12: Complete the fulfillment and operations branch

    Platform step 4

    Use the beginner-safe Walmart operations path:

    Why it matters: You have two main beginner fulfillment paths: If you ship orders yourself: If you use WFS:

    • start with one or two low-risk listings,
    • keep titles, photos, descriptions, and item attributes accurate,
    • choose fulfillment you can reliably support,
    • set conservative handling and shipping promises,
    • and do not scale inventory until the first workflow actually works
    • seller-fulfilled
    • Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS)
    • Walmart's public onboarding guide says both fulfillment methods require a verifiable return address.
    • If you will self-fulfill from a Richmond residence, do not skip the local zoning branch.
    • WFS is optional after onboarding.
    • Public WFS pages say there are currently no minimum requirements, though Walmart recommends setting up at least 50 items with continual replenishment.
    • WFS handles order-related customer support and returns for WFS orders.
    • Public WFS guidance says candidate items are generally non-perishable, do not require temperature control, and can be as large as 500 pounds with maximum dimensions of 120" x 105" x 93" including packaging.
    • The public Seller Success Formula page says that if you use WFS, WFS controls the performance standards and those metrics are not available in Seller Center.

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

    Platform step 5

    Walmart's public minimum-qualification pages require a catalog that complies with its prohibited-products rules.

    • Walmart's public minimum-qualification pages require a catalog that complies with its prohibited-products rules.
    • Walmart's public policy index says sellers are responsible for staying compliant with marketplace policies, rules, and guidelines.
    • Public Walmart prohibited-products materials say one prohibited item in the catalog can deny the application.
    • If you sell products without a product ID, Walmart has a public GTIN or UPC exemption path.
    • Public quickstart policy materials still identify pre-approval examples like fragrance, luxury brands, software, cell phones and accessories, Halloween and select seasonal products, and custom content.
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 business-permit questions down to cities and counties.

  • Virginia pushes many business-permit questions down to cities and counties.
  • 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

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'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 Certificate of Zoning Compliance.
  • The current public zoning-fee sheet 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 business 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.
  • and do not assume Richmond rules apply unless the address is actually inside Richmond
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 with Virginia Tax for withholding if you pay wages subject to federal withholding.

  • 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.
  • VEC offers online registration and identifies T-FC-27, Report to Determine Liability, as the paper registration path.

2. Workers' compensation

Virginia law generally requires coverage when an employer regularly employs more than 2 part-time or full-time workers.

  • Virginia law generally requires coverage when an employer regularly employs more than 2 part-time or full-time workers.
  • 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

This combo did not identify a general Virginia private-employer disability or paid-family-leave insurance mandate equivalent to a New York-style branch.

  • 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

This combo did not identify a general CE-200-style public exemption certificate for ordinary Virginia employers.

  • This combo did not identify a general CE-200-style public exemption certificate for ordinary Virginia employers.
  • 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.

Insurance reality

Walmart has a public conditional liability-insurance policy, not a universal day-one insurance requirement for every new seller.

  • Walmart has a public conditional liability-insurance policy, not a universal day-one insurance requirement for every new seller.
  • As of the public policy reviewed on April 26, 2026, Walmart Marketplace says a seller must submit a Certificate of Insurance (COI) with general liability and product liability insurance if the seller exceeds $100,000 in GMV in any 12-month period or if Walmart notifies the seller directly.
  • The public policy says the required limits are $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Walmart Inc., its subsidiaries and its affiliates must be listed as additional insured.
  • Even below that threshold, Walmart encourages sellers to maintain insurance.
  • Keep Wallet FDIC coverage and seller-shipping protections separate from seller liability insurance. They are not the same thing.
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 sale

  • Finish entity or fictitious-name setup.
  • Get the EIN.
  • Open the bank account.
  • Resolve the Virginia marketplace-only versus registration or ST-10 branch that applies.
  • Check local permits and Richmond zoning if applicable.
  • Re-check current public Walmart qualification, registration, fee, payout, WFS, and policy pages before applying.

Before first live launch

  • Finish business verification, payout, listing, shipping, and returns setup.
  • Confirm category, GTIN, return-address, and fulfillment assumptions.
  • Start with low-risk items you can document and support.
  • Make sure the Richmond branch is cleared if the business operates within city limits.

Monthly

  • Reconcile sales, fees, refunds, return charges, and shipping cost.
  • Review cash reserves for taxes.
  • Review margins after actual referral and fulfillment charges.
  • Review account notifications, performance metrics, and compliance issues.

Quarterly

  • File Virginia sales-tax returns on the cadence assigned to you if you are registered.
  • File Virginia withholding and unemployment returns on the cadence assigned if you become an employer.
  • Review whether operational changes created a new direct-sales or local-permit branch.

Annual or periodic

  • Pay the Virginia LLC annual registration fee in the anniversary month.
  • Renew or update local licenses on the city schedule. In Richmond, business-license renewals are due by March 1, and licenses expire on December 31.
  • Re-check live Walmart referral-fee, WFS, payout, policy, and insurance pages before scaling or changing how you sell.
Back to top Next: Common mistakes
Avoid these Common mistakes These are the repeated beginner errors called out in the research pack. Everyone 7 mistakes

Common Mistakes New Operators Make

  • Treating Walmart Marketplace like a direct Shopify store instead of a marketplace-facilitated channel
  • Assuming Walmart collection automatically resolves the Virginia ST-10 resale branch
  • Adding direct off-platform sales without reopening the Virginia dealer-registration question
  • Launching before Richmond BPOL, CZC, and home-occupation rules are clear
  • Pricing inventory before checking the live referral-fee table
  • Buying approval-heavy or prohibited inventory before checking the category rules
  • Mixing personal and business money

Practical first-launch recommendation

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

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

Important practical note:

Virginia is cleaner than New York for pure marketplace-only collection, but that cleaner rule does not automatically give you ST-10 resale treatment and it does not cover later direct sales outside Walmart.

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 43 rows

Source group

Statewide Start

Virginia Business One Stop

State start-here page

Form / portal Business One Stop
Fee None for the page
Timing First planning step
Who needs it Everyone

Useful for startup routing, local-license reminders, and state-agency coordination.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

State business portal

Form / portal Online registration
Fee None stated for registration
Timing Before tax registration or early planning
Who needs it Everyone

Virginia Tax says registration gives you your Virginia tax account numbers and sales-tax certificate if you registered for retail sales or use tax.

Open official link

Virginia.gov

State small business support hub

Form / portal Resource hub
Fee None for the page
Timing Optional
Who needs it Founders needing routing help

Public Virginia.gov hub pointing to Business One Stop and other state business resources.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Choice and Formation

Virginia SCC

Compare business types

Form / portal New-business guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing First decision
Who needs it Everyone

SCC startup guidance covers names, filings, and fee basics.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Formation hub

Form / portal Forms & Fees / CIS
Fee Varies
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Filing entities

Use SCC forms and the Clerk's Information System for Virginia entity filings.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Default entity formation filing

Form / portal Articles of Organization of a Virginia Limited Liability Company (LLC1011)
Fee $100
Timing At formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public SCC instructions show the filing fee and required name, principal-office, and registered-agent information.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Immediate post-filing requirement

Form / portal Next-step guidance
Fee None identified
Timing Immediately after formation
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Public sources reviewed here did not identify a separate Virginia LLC publication requirement or initial report filing.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Ongoing entity maintenance

Form / portal Annual registration fee payment
Fee $50
Timing Anniversary month
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

SCC uses anniversary-month timing. The page mixes last day of month and last business day wording, so re-check the live page before acting close to the due date.

Open official link

Source group

Sole Proprietor and Local Name Filings

Virginia Business One Stop

Sole proprietor baseline

Form / portal FAQ guidance
Fee None for the sole-proprietor baseline
Timing First setup step
Who needs it Sole proprietors

Business One Stop says sole proprietorships register the business name through a fictitious-name or DBA filing with the SCC if they are not using the owner's name.

Open official link

Virginia SCC Clerk's Office

Fictitious-name filing

Form / portal Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name
Fee $10
Timing Before using a trade name
Who needs it Sole proprietors or LLCs using a different public name

Virginia centrally files assumed or fictitious names through the SCC Clerk's Office instead of a county-only DBA system.

Open official link

Virginia Business One Stop

Local business-license lookup

Form / portal Local finance, revenue, permit, or zoning office contact
Fee Varies
Timing Before opening at a Virginia physical location
Who needs it Businesses with a local office, home base, or inventory location

Business One Stop says business licenses are issued by the city or county where the business is based.

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, and founders who want an EIN

IRS direct 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

IRS reference page for the paper EIN application.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Marketplace-only versus direct-sales rule

Form / portal Marketplace seller guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Before and after launch
Who needs it Marketplace-only sellers and mixed-channel sellers

Virginia Tax says sellers whose Virginia sales are all through a marketplace facilitator generally do not need to register to collect Virginia sales tax.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

General retail-sales registration rule

Form / portal Registration guidance
Fee None for the page
Timing Before direct taxable sales
Who needs it In-state dealers and other registered sellers

Public page says individuals and businesses making sales with one or more physical locations in Virginia are generally in-state retailers and register as in-state dealers.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Dealer registration

Form / portal Online registration or Form R-1
Fee None stated for registration
Timing Before direct taxable sales or when a Virginia tax account is required
Who needs it Founders needing registered-dealer status

Virginia Tax says new businesses generally register online unless they fall into a paper R-1 exception.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Retail sales-tax certificate and return baseline

Form / portal Form ST-4 and Form ST-1 context
Fee None for the page
Timing During registration and filing
Who needs it Registered dealers and other registered sellers

Public page says ST-1 replaced older sales-tax returns starting with the April 2025 filing period.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace / Marketplace Learn

Walmart marketplace-facilitator collection posture

Form / portal Public tax guides
Fee None for the pages
Timing Before and after launch
Who needs it Walmart Marketplace sellers

Walmart's public guide says Virginia marketplace collection began on July 1, 2019. The public addendum says Walmart is the marketplace facilitator and seller or taxpayer of record for applicable marketplace-facilitator-law taxes, while the seller remains responsible for correct tax designations and non-marketplace branches.

Open official link

Virginia Tax / Virginia Business One Stop

Resale or exemption certificate

Form / portal Form ST-10
Fee None for the form
Timing After registration or when otherwise valid
Who needs it Sellers buying inventory for resale

ST-10 is written for use by a Virginia dealer. Business One Stop says using a Virginia resale certificate generally also requires registration to collect Virginia sales tax from buyers in the state.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Recordkeeping guidance

Form / portal Recordkeeping requirements
Fee None for the page
Timing Ongoing
Who needs it Registered taxpayers and employers

Virginia Tax says businesses should keep tax records for at least 3 years from the due date or filing date, whichever is later.

Open official link

Source group

Entity Tax Maintenance

IRS

Entity tax treatment

Form / portal Guidance page
Fee None for the page
Timing During planning and annually
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

IRS explains default disregarded-entity treatment unless an election changes it.

Open official link

Virginia SCC

Recurring Virginia entity fee

Form / portal Annual registration fee
Fee $50
Timing Anniversary month
Who needs it single-member LLC founders

Distinct from sales-tax, withholding, or employer obligations.

Open official link

Source group

Federal Reporting

FinCEN

BOI status

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

As of April 26, 2026, domestic U.S.-created entities are exempt from BOI reporting under the March 26, 2025 interim final rule.

Open official link

Source group

Employees, Payroll, and Insurance

Virginia Employment Commission

Employer registration

Form / portal Online iFile/iReg or T-FC-27
Fee None stated
Timing When first becoming an employer or when liability criteria are met
Who needs it Businesses hiring employees

VEC says T-FC-27, Report to Determine Liability, is required by law if you have or had employees.

Open official link

Virginia Tax

Withholding registration

Form / portal Employer withholding account
Fee None stated
Timing When paying wages subject to federal withholding
Who needs it Businesses paying wages in Virginia

Virginia Tax says if federal law requires withholding, Virginia withholding generally applies too.

Open official link

Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission

Workers' compensation

Form / portal Coverage through carrier, approved self-insurance, or other authorized path
Fee Premium-based or varies
Timing Before or at hiring when threshold is met
Who needs it Employers regularly employing more than 2 workers

Public VWC guidance says required coverage cannot be waived for ordinary employees.

Open official link

Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission

Exemption certificate if applicable

Form / portal Rejection of Coverage for eligible executive officers or LLC managers
Fee None identified
Timing Only when eligible and after valid coverage exists
Who needs it Eligible executive officers or LLC managers

Not a general substitute for required coverage.

Open official link

Source group

Platform Setup

Walmart Marketplace

Public qualification and getting-started page

Form / portal Join Marketplace and getting-started overview
Fee No public setup fee identified
Timing Before application
Who needs it All applicants

Public qualification list says the seller needs business tax ID or business license number, with SSN not accepted, supporting business documents, ecommerce history, GTIN or UPC coverage, compliant catalog, and WFS or another B2C U.S. warehouse with returns capability.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

Step-by-step seller registration guide

Form / portal Seller Profile and 5-step onboarding flow
Fee No public monthly plan fee identified
Timing During application
Who needs it New Walmart Marketplace sellers

Public page dated February 11, 2026. The fuller public onboarding sequence is verify business, choose payout method, add market details, manage fulfillment, and set up catalog.

Open official link

Marketplace Learn

Complete onboarding in Seller Center

Form / portal Business details, payment, and store-setup guides
Fee None for the page
Timing During onboarding
Who needs it New sellers

Public guide says payment setup must be completed within 30 days, both fulfillment paths need a verifiable return address, and WFS billing methods are verified in 2 to 3 business days.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace / Marketplace Learn

Payout setup and payment-hold structure

Form / portal Wallet or third-party payout provider path
Fee No hidden fees for Wallet page itself
Timing Before first payout
Who needs it New sellers choosing a payout method

Keep this provider-agnostic. The public payment-hold policy, last updated December 10, 2025, says U.S. sellers are held up to 14 days and non-U.S. sellers up to 21 days until 90 days have passed since the first shipped order and the seller has received $7,500 in payments. Wallet supports only one payout method at a time and uses the same settlement cycle as other methods.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

Platform pricing

Form / portal Pricing page
Fee Zero setup, monthly, or hidden fees per public page
Timing At signup and before pricing
Who needs it All sellers

Public page says referral fees vary by category and product type and are deducted only when a sale completes.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

Brand or IP program

Form / portal Brand Portal
Fee None for the portal page
Timing Optional
Who needs it Brand owners

Public page says an active USPTO trademark registration is required for each brand registered.

Open official link

Source group

Fulfillment, Logistics, or Store Operations

Walmart Marketplace

Seller Center operations overview

Form / portal Seller Center guide
Fee None for the guide
Timing Before launch
Who needs it All enrolled sellers

Public guide says Seller Center handles item setup, performance monitoring, order tracking, shipping preferences, and storefront-management tasks.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

Fulfillment overview

Form / portal WFS overview
Fee Varies by use
Timing Before launch
Who needs it Sellers considering Walmart fulfillment

Public page says WFS has no minimum requirements at this time, handles customer support and returns, and works for candidate items up to 500 pounds and 120" x 105" x 93" including packaging.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

WFS pricing and storage

Form / portal WFS pricing page
Fee Varies
Timing Before pricing or scaling
Who needs it Sellers considering WFS

Public page lists current storage-fee structure, including $0.75 per cubic foot from January through September and an added $1.50 per cubic foot after 30 days during the October through December peak period.

Open official link

Marketplace Learn / Walmart Marketplace

Category, compliance, or product restriction guide

Form / portal Policy index, public guide, and policy PDF
Fee None for the pages
Timing During sourcing or setup
Who needs it All sellers

Public policy index includes liability insurance, payment activities, and selling limits. Public guide says one prohibited item can deny the application. Public quickstart policy PDF lists pre-approval examples like fragrance, luxury brands, software, cell phones and accessories, Halloween and select seasonal products, and custom content.

Open official link

Walmart Marketplace

Public performance pages

Form / portal Public performance pages
Fee None for the pages
Timing During launch and ongoing
Who needs it All sellers

Public performance pages show current policy-compliance expectations. The Seller Success Formula page says that for WFS orders, WFS controls the performance standards and those metrics are not available in Seller Center.

Open official link

Source group

Insurance Checkpoint

Marketplace Learn

Platform insurance threshold or requirement

Form / portal Public liability-insurance guide
Fee Premium varies
Timing Re-check before or as sales scale
Who needs it Operators with physical-product risk

Public guide last updated December 12, 2025 says a COI with general liability and product liability coverage is required if the seller exceeds $100,000 in GMV in any 12-month period or is notified directly by Walmart. The public rule uses $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate limits and requires Walmart as additional insured.

Open official link

Source group

Richmond Branch

City of Richmond Department of Finance

City tax or permit warning

Form / portal BPOL guidance and business-license branch
Fee Varies
Timing If the business is in Richmond
Who needs it Richmond-based businesses

Public 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, and in most cases a license is required before conducting business in the city.

Open official link

City of Richmond Planning and Development Review

City filing information

Form / portal Certificate of Zoning Compliance through the Online Permit Portal
Fee Varies
Timing Before Richmond home-based operation or before license renewal when applicable
Who needs it Richmond home-based or local-premises businesses

Public zoning materials say residential home-occupation business-license requests use the residential CZC path through the portal.

Open official link

City of Richmond Planning and Development Review

City fee sheet

Form / portal CZC fee sheet
Fee $50.00 for Home Occupation
Timing Before CZC filing
Who needs it Richmond home-based businesses

Current public zoning fee sheet was revised December 10, 2025 and says the fee schedule is effective July 1, 2024.

Open official link

City of Richmond Planning and Development Review

City home-occupation rules

Form / portal Home Occupation Rules
Fee None for the rules PDF
Timing Before home-based operations
Who needs it Richmond home-based businesses

Public rules say only household members may work on the premises, there may be no 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.

Open official link
Back to top