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The State Corporation Commission is a state agency with regulatory authority over many business and economic interests in Virginia. Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) is regulatory agency whose authority encompasses utilities, insurance, state-chartered financial institutions, securities, retail franchising, and railroads. It is the state's central filing office for corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability companies and Uniform Commercial Code liens.

The following is a list of business types for different business activities. A limited liability company (LLC) is an unincorporated association of one or more members (the owners) who share in the profits and losses of the company's business. It is managed in accordance with an operating agreement by one or more members (member-managed) or by one or more managers (manager-managed). A professional LLC is an LLC that is organized for the sole and specific purpose of rendering the professional service of pharmacists, optometrists, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, practitioners of the healing arts, nurse practitioners, practitioners of the behavioral science professions, veterinarians, surgeons, dentists, architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, certified landscape architects, certified interior designers, public accountants, certified public accountants, attorneys-at-law, insurance consultants, audiologists, speech pathologists or clinical nurse specialists. A corporation is an artificial person or legal entity managed by a board of directors. There are two types of corporations in Virginia, stock corporations and nonstock corporations. A professional corporation is a stock or nonstock corporation that is organized for the sole and specific purpose of rendering the professional service of pharmacists, optometrists, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, practitioners of the healing arts, nurse practitioners, practitioners of the behavioral science professions, veterinarians, surgeons, dentists, architects, professional engineers, land surveyors, certified landscape architects, certified interior designers, public accountants, certified public accountants, attorneys-at-law, insurance consultants, audiologists, speech pathologists or clinical nurse specialists. A limited partnership, which is a type of partnership distinct from a general partnership, is formed by two or more persons with at least one general partner and one limited partner. The general partners exercise control over the management of the limited partnership's business. A general partnership (sometimes simply referred to as a “partnership”) is an association of two or more persons to carry on, as co-owners, a business for profit. A registered limited liability partnership (sometimes referred to as a limited liability partnership) is a status granted to a general partnership or a limited partnership that has registered for such status in the jurisdiction of its formation. A business trust is an unincorporated association whose governing instrument, sometimes referred to as a declaration of trust, provides that one or more trustees will manage property or conduct for-profit business activities on behalf of one or more beneficial owners.

This dataset includes all business entities registered with SCC. The information for each business includes business name, principal address, mailing address, officer name, entity status, type and creation date.

The Virginia Open Data Portal serves to extend access to Commonwealth data empowering our constituents to interpret, analyze, and transform our data into actionable intelligence. Secure and appropriate data sharing is fundamental to the success of our society because information supports engagement. Commonwealth data is a strategic asset that when leveraged, can drive innovation, increase quality of life, and promote economic growth. The Commonwealth of Virginia is committed to continue growing the number of open datasets available through the portal facilitating public participation and engagement.