Legal Checklist

Entity formation

• ☐ Choose business name and check SCC, USPTO, and domain availability.
• ☐ File Virginia LLC with State Corporation Commission (scc.virginia.gov).
• ☐ Obtain federal EIN from IRS (irs.gov).
• ☐ Draft operating agreement (single-member or multi-member).
• ☐ Appoint registered agent (business address or third-party service).

Tax registration

• ☐ Register for Virginia sales tax permit via Virginia Tax Online Services.
• ☐ Register for local business license in the city/county where the warehouse is located (Loudoun, Prince William, or town of Haymarket/Gainesville).
• ☐ Set up quarterly estimated income tax payments if profitable.
• ☐ Understand use tax on out-of-state inventory purchases.

Local permits & zoning

• ☐ Confirm zoning allows retail/wholesale sales at chosen warehouse location.
• ☐ Obtain certificate of occupancy or business license from county/city.
• ☐ Schedule fire marshal inspection for paint/chemical storage and egress.
• ☐ Confirm ADA accessibility requirements for public showroom area.
• ☐ Signage permits if exterior signs exceed local size limits.

Environmental / safety (paint & adhesives)

• ☐ Understand VOC limits for paints and coatings sold in Virginia.
• ☐ Store flammable liquids (solvents, adhesives, some paints) per fire code.
• ☐ Keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) on file for all chemical products.
• ☐ Plan spill containment and disposal for paint waste.

Insurance

• ☐ General liability insurance.
• ☐ Commercial property / inventory coverage.
• ☐ Commercial auto if operating a delivery vehicle.
• ☐ Workers' compensation once you have employees (required in Virginia for 3+ employees).
• ☐ Inland marine / cargo coverage for inventory in transit.

Contracts & operations

• ☐ Lease agreement reviewed by attorney; verify NNN/CAM terms.
• ☐ Customer terms & conditions (returns, deposits, special orders).
• ☐ Trade account application and credit terms agreement.
• ☐ Installer referral agreement (limit liability; independent contractor status).
• ☐ Privacy policy and terms of use for website.

Expanding to DC or Maryland

• ☐ DC: register business entity, get DC business license, collect DC sales tax if applicable.
• ☐ Maryland: register with SDAT, obtain state and county business licenses, collect MD sales tax.
• ☐ Note: you can ship/deliver to customers in DC/MD from a Virginia warehouse, but nexus rules for sales tax may apply.

Key agencies & links

Agency	Website	Purpose
Virginia SCC	scc.virginia.gov	LLC/corporation registration
IRS	irs.gov	EIN, federal taxes
Virginia Tax	tax.virginia.gov	Sales tax permit
Loudoun County Biz	loudoun.gov/business	Local business license (Leesburg area)
Prince William County	pwcgov.org/business	Local business license (Gainesville/Haymarket area)
USPTO TESS	uspto.gov/trademarks/search	Trademark search