LLC cost in Delaware in 2026
The default for venture backed startups. Usually unnecessary, and quietly expensive, for a small local business.
Updated August 2026
Educational estimates only. The figures on this page are general market research, not legal advice, and no attorney client relationship is created by using this site. Cost of Legal does not provide, broker or arrange legal services, and does not sell or pass on your details to anyone. Confirm current fees with the relevant government office or a licensed professional before you spend money.
Delaware charges $110 to file a Certificate of Formation. Every LLC then owes a flat $300 annual franchise tax, due by 1 June, and must keep a registered agent with a Delaware address, which costs money unless you live there.
Delaware earns its reputation on law, not price. It has a specialised Court of Chancery, decades of case law on company disputes, and documentation that investors and their lawyers already know. That is genuinely valuable when equity is being issued and priced.
Delaware LLC fees at a glance
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate of FormationPaid once to the Division of Corporations. | $110 |
| Annual franchise taxFlat amount, due 1 June each year. | $300 |
| Registered agentRequired, since the agent must have a Delaware address. | $50 to $300 a year |
| Late franchise tax penaltyApplied after the June deadline. | $200 plus interest |
First year, doing it yourself
$460 to $710
First year with a formation service and paid agent
$560 to $1,010
Every year after that
$350 to $600
Ranges assume a registered agent service at $100 to $300 a year where one is used, and a formation service package of $0 to $300 on top of state fees. If you operate from another state you also register there as a foreign LLC and pay that state's fees, so you carry two sets of costs, not one.
Why venture backed companies choose it
Investors want familiar documents and a predictable court. A Delaware entity removes a negotiation and a legal review from every funding round, and standard financing paperwork assumes it. If you plan to raise institutional money, forming here saves later conversion costs.
Why most small businesses should not
A consultancy or a shop that serves customers in one state gains nothing from Delaware law and pays twice for the privilege. Total cost typically lands between $500 and $1,000 a year once the home state registration and the agent are counted, against maybe $60 for a single state filing in Wyoming or Georgia.
- Delaware does not hide ownership from tax authorities or courts
- Delaware does not exempt you from tax where you actually earn
- Delaware does add a second annual filing and a second annual fee
Run your own numbers
The calculator lets you change the formation route, the registered agent choice and expedited filing, then shows first year and ongoing totals as line items.
Open the LLC formation cost calculator