How to Start an LLC in Delaware
Our Delaware LLC formation package is $199 plus the state's $110 filing fee — we prepare and file the paperwork. Every Delaware LLC also needs a registered agent on record; that's $99/year, invoiced as its own separate line.
Set up a Delaware LLC by filing one document, attaching a qualified agent, and committing to the ongoing tasks that keep the entity active. Filing costs $90 at the state level, processing runs about 5-10 business days, and the post-formation budget is modest but ongoing. What follows is the step-by-step, the real cost picture, and where we slot in.
Start Your Delaware LLC — $199
We do the paperwork and file it with Delaware Division of Corporations for $199. The state takes about 5-10 business days to return the approval.
Start Your Delaware LLC — $199
The Delaware LLC, Briefly Explained
An LLC is the business structure that gives small business owners limited personal liability and pass-through taxation without the formality of a full corporation. Statewide in Delaware, most new businesses default to the LLC structure because it gives real protection without corporate-level paperwork.
Delaware LLC Pricing
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Our LLC formation service | $199 one-time |
| State filing fee (Delaware Division of Corporations) | $90 one-time |
| Registered agent (required for every Delaware LLC) | $99/year |
| State annual report fee | $300/year (Annual Tax) |
We bill $199 for our filing service. State fees are paid to Delaware Division of Corporations separately. The agent product is $99 annually.
Important Delaware-specific notes: LLCs pay $300 annual franchise tax (due June 1), not a traditional annual filing. No annual filing filing required. Expedited tiers: 24-hour $50, same-day $200, 2-hour $500, 1-hour $1,000. $200 penalty + 1.5%/month interest for late payment.
Step-by-Step: Forming Your Delaware LLC
1. Choose Your Delaware LLC Name
Delaware requires the entity name to include an LLC indicator and to be different enough from any business already in the state's records to avoid confusion. Use Delaware Division of Corporations's online business entity search to validate availability. It's a free check that saves time later.
Names cannot suggest a bank, insurance company, or governmental body unless you carry the proper license. Most filings are simpler if you just avoid those terms.
2. Name a Registered Agent
Delaware mandates a registered agent for every limited liability company: an individual or company with a real address in the state available during the regular workday. Delaware Division of Corporations records the agent's name and address in its public entity database — these details aren't private.
For $99 a year, our agent plan operates in Delaware. Our information appears on the public record so yours doesn't have to.
3. File the Formation Paperwork with Delaware Division of Corporations
This is the action that creates the entity: file Articles of Organization at Delaware Division of Corporations paying $90 at submission. On the form you'll list the entity name, the entity's principal location, the registered agent's contact details, management type (members vs. Managers), and the names provided for the LLC's organizers.
Online filing through the state's filing portal is the standard channel and usually moves faster than paper submissions.
Standard processing takes about 5-10 business days. Rush filing may be available for additional state fees.
4. Document the Operating Agreement
Although Delaware does not require an operating agreement in the state's records, having one in place is essential for routine business operations. It establishes who owns what share, how money is distributed, who decides what, and what happens when members come or go. If no agreement exists, Delaware's statutory defaults govern. Those defaults aren't designed for your specific business.
5. Pull an EIN from the IRS
The Employer Identification Number functions as the IRS-issued tax ID for the LLC. It's referenced by banks, payroll services, and the IRS. Visit IRS.gov and apply at no cost. Expect about ten minutes online; the EIN issues at the end.
Paid services for EINs are a poor use of money — the IRS gives EINs away for free through a quick online form.
6. Maintain Compliance Going Forward
After Delaware Division of Corporations approves your formation, the maintenance work begins:
- Sustain the registered agent designation tied to a Delaware address year in and year out
- Submit the annual filing filing when it's due each year
- Run the LLC with clear separation between LLC-side and personal-side finances (separate cards, separate ledgers)
- Take care of federal tax filings along with state requirements every year
Delaware Division of Corporations can dissolve LLCs that fall out of compliance. After dissolution, the liability shield disappears until you reinstate.
Hand it off? $199 flat and we file your Delaware LLC on your behalf.
The Delaware Registered Agent Rule
Delaware law makes the registered agent a requirement for every LLC, with no exemption available. What the agent must do:
- Hold Delaware street-address coverage (P.O. Box-only setups don't work)
- Be at the address during the regular workday to handle legal service
- Get legal documents and state notices to you rapidly so no compliance deadline is missed
Many people form an LLC partly for privacy. Everyone with access to Delaware Division of Corporations's public entity database can see it.
$99 annually is what our agent plan costs. Use our details on the filing and your home address stays off the state record.
Common Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Delaware?
$90 to Delaware Division of Corporations covers the formation filing. That's a fairly typical filing fee at the state. Above the formation cost, the annual filing charges $300/year (Annual Tax).
How long does it take to form an LLC in Delaware?
Expect 5-10 business days of waiting between filing and approval.
Does Delaware require an annual report?
Yes. Plan on $300/year (Annual Tax) per year for the annual filing.
Do I need a registered agent for my Delaware LLC?
Yes. Delaware requires a designated agent at a Delaware physical address from formation onward. It's a continuous obligation, not a one-time setup.
Can I form an LLC in Delaware if I live in another state?
Yes. Delaware doesn't restrict LLC ownership to residents. What you do need is an in-state agent. We cover that at $99 per year.
Begin Your Delaware LLC
Filing directly with Delaware Division of Corporations is fully available by submitting through the state's filing portal. $90 is the state filing fee. A Delaware registered agent is still required.
We're the agent you list on the form. At $99 a year, you get our address on the filing, scans the day mail arrives, and a heads-up before every state deadline.
Start Your Delaware LLC — $199
Just the agent, no formation? Our agent plan on its own costs $99/year.
Got other questions about Delaware LLCs or how our service handles the agent role? See the FAQ or contact us throughout the business day.
Ready to file your Delaware LLC?
$199 covers formation and filing; the Delaware registered agent runs $99/year, billed on its own.