Delaware LLC Cost

The minimum cost to establish a Delaware LLC is $90, which covers the fee for filing the Certificate of Formation.

However, the overall cost can vary significantly depending on various factors, such as on whether you hire professional services or opt for expedited processing.

In this detailed Delaware LLC Cost guide, we’ll explore all the potential expenses involved in setting up and maintaining an LLC in the state.

More than 84% of our readers form their LLC through a professional service to save time and avoid mistakes.

Northwest ($29 + State Fees)

How Much Does a Delaware LLC Cost

You can find a summary of the key costs associated with forming an LLC in Delaware in the table below. 

	LLC Cost Summary
Requirement	Fee
Certificate of Formation	$110-$200
Registered Agent	$0-$150+
LLC Name	$0-$100

Delaware LLC Filing Fee ($90+)

The first step you’ll need to take towards legally establishing an LLC is filing the Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Secretary of State.

This typically costs $110 to submit by yourself if you’re forming a domestic LLC (i.e., if you’ll be operating from within Delaware), whereas if you are registering a foreign LLC, the filing fee will increase to $200.

Having said that, if you opt to hire an LLC formation service, your total cost will be marginally higher as it will include a small service on top of the aforementioned state filing fees.

Prices for such services generally start at around $29, but can go as low as $0 or significantly higher depending on the provider you choose and the extra features you add. 

Have a look at our in-depth review of the best and most affordable LLC Formation Services in 2024. 

Delaware Registered Agent ($0-$150+)

Every LLC in Delaware is required to designate a registered agent as part of the formation process.

Your registered agent is an individual or entity that’s responsible for receiving legal documents, tax notices, and official correspondence on behalf of your business.

You can serve as your own registered agent, which incurs no additional cost. However, many business owners opt to hire a professional registered agent service in order to ensure compliance with state regulations and minimize the risk of missing critical legal documents.

The cost of these professional registered agent services varies, typically ranging between $125 and $300 annually depending on the provider, level of service, and additional features you go for.

Delaware LLC Name ($0-$100)

While there is no direct fee associated with naming your LLC, there are two optional costs related to the overall process. 

Reserving a Name

If you are not ready to file your formation documents but want to ensure that your chosen name is not taken by another business, you can reserve it for up to 120 days for $75.

This can either be done by filing a Name Reservation Application by mail or online through the Delaware Division of Corporations website.

Note: Before you reserve a name, it’s important to check that it’s actually available beforehand in order to avoid wasting your money. This can be done quickly and easily via the Delaware Division of Corporations’ name search tool.

You should also check that a similar URL is available for your business’s website by performing a quick domain search.

Doing Business As (DBA) Name

If you plan to operate your business under a different name than the one officially registered, you will need to file for a DBA name using a Registration of Trade, Business & Fictitious Name Certificate.

This costs $25 to file and must be submitted to the Prothonotary’s office in each county where your business will operate. 

Since DBA name registrations do not expire, you won’t need to renew these filings once you’ve submitted them.

Delaware Business License

All domestic and foreign LLCs based within this state will need to obtain a Delaware business license from the Division of Revenue in order to operate legally.

The fee for this license is typically around $75 for your first business location, though additional fees may apply if you operate from multiple locations or if your business falls under the specific categories that require special permits.

Moreover, depending on where your business is located within Delaware, you may also need to secure local city or county business licenses — which have their own fees and regulations.

To check the local licensing requirements in the area your LLC will operate, you can get in contact with your local government office. 

Optional Delaware LLC Formation Costs

On top of the standard costs outlined above, there are several optional expenses that you may incur during the formation of your Delaware LLC.

Delaware LLC Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is a critical document that outlines the structure, management, and operating procedures of your LLC.

While Delaware does not legally require LLCs to draft one of these, it’s highly recommended as it helps to prevent disputes among members by providing clarity on their different roles and responsibilities within the company.

You can write an operating agreement yourself at no cost using the prolific templates and guidelines that are available online. Alternatively, you can hire a professional service or attorney to create a customized operating agreement for your LLC.

Expedited Delaware LLC Filing

If you need your LLC formed quickly, Delaware offers expedited filing options that speed up the processing time of your formation documents.

While standard processing time can take up to two weeks, you can shorten this to one of the following options for an additional fee:

• 24-Hour Processing: $50
• Same-Day Processing: $100
• Two-Hour Processing: $500
• One-Hour Processing: $1,000

These expedited services can be particularly useful if you need to begin business operations immediately and cannot afford to wait for the standard processing period.

Note: Be sure to see the expedited services section on the Delaware Division of Corporations website for a more in-depth look at these services.

Delaware Professional Licenses

Delaware requires certain businesses to obtain a professional license in order to operate legally.

These professional licenses can vary widely in their cost depending on the profession, generally falling somewhere between $50 and several hundred dollars. As an example, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license costs $175.

It’s essential to check with the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation in order to determine the specific licensing requirements and associated costs of your profession.

Certified Certificate of Status

A Certificate of Status, also known as a Certificate of Good Standing, is often required by banks, lenders, and potential business partners to verify that your LLC is in compliance with state regulations.

In Delaware, you can obtain this certificate by using the Delaware Division of Corporations’s Document Filing and Certificate Request Service and paying one of the following fees:

• Short Form Certificate: This document provides basic information such as the entity’s name and status ($50).
• Long Form Certificate: This more detailed document, which includes information like the LLC’s filing history and any name changes ($175).

Certified Copies of Business Documents

If you need certified copies of your LLC’s formation documents or other official papers, you can request them from the Delaware Division of Corporations.

This costs $50 per document, with an additional $2 per page for the copies. Expedited processing is also available for an extra charge — including a $60 fee for same-day service or $50 for 24-hour service.

Ongoing Costs to Maintain a Delaware LLC

Beyond the initial formation expenses, maintaining your LLC in Delaware involves several recurring costs.

We’ve outlined the main ones for you to be aware of below.

Annual Franchise Tax

All Delaware LLCs are required to pay an annual franchise tax of $300 by June 1 in order to maintain their good standing with the state. This is typically done online using the Delaware Corporations Information System (DCIS).

It’s important to note that this tax is mandatory regardless of whether or not your LLC is actively generating income. If you fail to pay the franchise tax on time, you’ll be liable to pay a $200 late fee plus interest of 1.5% per month on the outstanding balance.

Note: It’s important to be aware that, unlike corporations, LLCs don’t need to submit their annual reports along with this tax.

Registered Agent Maintenance

If you decide to use a professional registered agent service, you’ll need to renew this annually by paying a fee that ranges between $125 and $300.

While it is possible to serve as your own registered agent, many business owners find it beneficial to continue using a professional service in order to ensure ongoing compliance and timely handling of important documents.

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Delaware LLC vs Other States 

Delaware is renowned for its business-friendly legal environment, which includes relatively low filing fees and the absence of a state sales tax. 

These factors, along with the state’s well-developed business law infrastructure, make Delaware an attractive option for forming an LLC.

However, it is important to consider where you will primarily conduct business. If your LLC will operate mostly in another state, forming your LLC there might be more practical. This is because this simplifies compliance with local laws and reduces the administrative burden of managing an LLC across multiple states.