LLC Cost in Delaware


Delaware LLCs are relatively inexpensive — especially when you consider that an LLC can protect your personal assets and help grow your business. That’s why forming an LLC is the best choice for most small businesses. 

The cost to form an LLC in Delaware is $90. This covers the primary cost of officially registering your LLC with the state.

Read our LLC Cost in Delaware guide below to learn more about LLC costs and other fees associated with all Delaware businesses.

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You can form an LLC yourself and save a little money or use a professional service and save a lot of time. 

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How Much Is an LLC in Delaware?

Delaware LLC Filing Fee: $90

To form an LLC in Delaware, you'll need to file a Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Division of Corporations. The Division charges a $90 fee to process and record this document. 

The Certificate of Formation can be filed online or by mail by completing and submitting a Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company

You can complete this process yourself with our How to Start an LLC guide or use an LLC formation service.

Registered Agent Fee

Every Delaware LLC must appoint a registered agent. Your Delaware registered agent must be a resident of Delaware and must be available to receive service of process during normal business hours at a designated street address.

You can be your own registered agent in Delaware, or you can use a registered agent service for a minimal cost.

Recommended: Get free registered agent services for one year when you form an LLC with Northwest ($29 plus state fees).

Delaware Annual Tax: $300

Delaware does not require LLCs to file an annual report; however, a domestic or foreign LLC is required to pay an annual tax of $300. The LLC annual tax can be paid online

The annual taxes for the prior year are due on or before June 1. Failure to pay the required annual taxes will result in a penalty of $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty.

Cost to Register a Foreign LLC in Delaware: $200

LLCs registered in another state that want to expand into the state of Delaware must register as a foreign LLC in Delaware.

The cost of registering a Delaware foreign LLC is $200. You can register a foreign LLC in Delaware by filing a Foreign Certificate of Registration.

Business Licenses and Permits

Your business might need federal, state, and local permits/licenses to legally operate in Delaware, depending on your industry and geographical location. This is true whether you form an LLC or any other type of business structure.

Learn more about state and local licensing in our Delaware business license guide.

Other Delaware Business Filing Fees

There are fees associated with other, optional business filings in Delaware.

‘Doing Business As’ (DBA) Name

When an LLC is registered with the state, the LLC’s name is also officially registered. But some business owners choose to file also for a DBA name, known variously as a trade name or fictitious name in Delaware. 

Registering a DBA name requires completing a Registration of Trade, Business & Fictitious Name Certificate. The Registration Certificate may be completed online or by printing the certificate form and filling it out. Before submission, the Registration Certificate form must be notarized. 

The completed form should be submitted to the Prothonotary's Office for each county where the LLC will transact business either in person or by mail. The cost is $25 payable by check or money order to the State of Delaware.

Learn more in our Delaware DBA guide.

Certified Document Copies 

You can get certified copies of your Delaware business documents by Submitting a Request to the Delaware Division of Corporations. The request may be submitted electronically through the Document Upload Service Information. Requests can be submitted by mail by completing a Certification Request Memo.

Payment can be made by check or by submitting credit or debit card information. Certified copies cost $50 each.

Certificate of Status 

In Delaware, a Certificate of Good Standing comes in two forms: a Short Form Certificate of Good Standing and a Long Form Certificate of Good Standing. Short Form Certificates cost $50, while Long Form Certificates cost $175.

You may either submit your request using the Document Upload Service or mail in your request using a Certification Request Memo.

A Certificate of Good Standing is often required by banks and lenders.

Recommended: Learn more about LLC formation services in our Best LLC Services review.

How to Start an LLC in Delaware

Forming an LLC yourself is easy; just follow the five steps below.

Five Basic Steps to Start an LLC in Delaware

Step 1: Name Your Delaware LLC

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

Step 3: File a Certificate of Formation

Step 4: Create an Operating Agreement

Step 5: Get an EIN 

Step 1: Name Your Delaware LLC

When you name your Delaware LLC, you’ll need to choose a name that:

  1. Is available for use in the state of Delaware
  2. Meets Delaware naming requirements
  3. Is available as a web domain

Check web domain (URL) availability with GoDaddy:

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Not sure what to name your business? Check out our free LLC name generator.

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent

Delaware LLCs are required to appoint a registered agent to receive service of process. Business owners can hire a registered agent service or appoint any Delaware resident that is 18 years or older and is available during normal business hours at a specified address to receive service of process.

Recommended: Northwest offers one full year of registered agent services with their $29 (plus state fees) LLC formation package.

Step 3: File a Delaware Certificate of Formation

To form an LLC in Delaware, you must file a Certificate of Formation with the Division of Corporations. 

The Certificate of Formation can be filed online or by mail by completing and submitting a Certificate of Formation of a Limited Liability Company

For a closer look at the filing process, check out our Delaware Certificate of Formation guide.

Step 4: Create an LLC Operating Agreement

Delaware does not require an LLC to have a written operating agreement. Nevertheless, it is good practice to have one.

An operating agreement outlines the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC, ensuring that all members are on the same page and reducing the risk of conflict down the line.

Learn more in our Delaware LLC Operating Agreement guide.

Step 5: Get an EIN

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS to identify businesses for tax purposes. Think of an EIN as a Social Security number for your LLC.

To learn how to get an EIN for free, visit our How to Get an EIN Number guide.

LLC Cost in Delaware FAQ

What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Delaware?

The cheapest way to start an LLC in Delaware is to handle the registration process individually. In order to do this, you will need to follow these steps:

  1. Name your LLC
  2. Choose a registered agent: This can be a registered agent service or an individual.
  3. File the Delaware Certificate of Formation: The filing fee for this is $90 and can be done online or by mail.
  4. Create an LLC operating agreement: This is usually not a legal requirement, but it is highly recommended.
  5. Get an EIN: This is basically your business’s Social Security number (SSN).

How much does an LLC cost per year in Delaware?

There are no annual report fees in Delaware. Having said that, LLCs are required to pay an annual tax of $300 to the Division of Corporations. The LLC annual tax can be paid online

The annual taxes for the prior year are due on or before June 1. Failure to pay the required annual taxes will result in a penalty of $200.00 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty.

For a more in-depth analysis, see our How Much Does an LLC Cost? article. 

How much does an LLC license cost in Delaware?

An LLC is not a business license, but a business entity. Forming an LLC in Delaware includes a filing fee of $90. There are no annual report fees. 

You may be required to pay additional fees if you choose to pay for a registered agent service, an LLC formation service, or an LLC attorney.

See our How to Start an LLC in Delaware for more information on registering your business as an LLC.

Do LLCs pay taxes in Delaware?

LLCs are a “pass-through” tax entity. This means that the LLCs profits are “passed through” directly to its owner(s), who then pay income taxes independently. 

This is advantageous compared to a corporation’s tax structure because it means that LLC members are not taxed twice.

Having said that, readers should keep in mind that LLCs are very flexible when it comes to how they can be taxed, and — depending on the specifics — they can choose to be taxed as a pass-through entity, a C corp, and an S corp. 

For more information, see our How Is an LLC Taxed guide. 

What are the tax benefits of an LLC?

The tax benefits of an LLC will depend on how you choose to be taxed, as well as on whether you are operating as a single or multi-member LLC. 

Generally speaking, LLCs can choose to be taxed in several different ways, including:

  • As a sole proprietorship or general partnership
  • As a C corporation
  • As an S corporation

See our Single-Member LLC Taxes guide for a detailed overview of the tax benefits of having an LLC as a small business. 

Do I need to open a business bank account for my LLC?

Even though you do not necessarily “need” to open a bank account for your LLC, this is generally highly recommended for several reasons. 

For one, having a separate bank account can allow you to maintain your LLC’s corporate veil — meaning that you will not risk losing your limited personal liability under the law. A business bank account also offers financial benefits, including the ability to build business credit more quickly and access to larger business loans. 

Interested in opening a business bank account? See our review of the best banks for startups in 2024.