Delaware LLC Cost

The minimum state cost to start an LLC in Delaware is $110. Keeping it in good standing then costs $300 a year in report fees, plus any entity-level tax. Here is the full breakdown.

One-time formation costs

Recurring costs

Total over five years

Assuming you file every required report on time, act as your own registered agent, and exclude entity-level taxes and optional extras, five years of state fees in Delaware add up to about $1,610: $110 to form plus $1,500 in report fees. First-year state fees alone are about $410.

Optional professional services

• Formation services: many charge $0 to $299 on top of the state fee, and some upsell items you can do free
• Operating agreement: free to write yourself, or a few hundred dollars for an attorney-drafted version
• Registered agent: about $50 to $300 per year if you do not serve yourself
• Accounting and tax preparation: depends on complexity and is often the largest ongoing cost

How Delaware compares

Delaware's LLC filing fee is $110, $10 above the national median of $100. 27 of the 51 jurisdictions (50 states and DC) charge less to file. Filing fees are only part of the picture, so the table below sets Delaware beside five states founders often consider.

Forming outside the state where you live and work rarely saves money. A business operating in Delaware that forms elsewhere generally still has to register as a foreign LLC in Delaware and pay both states' fees. Our best states for an LLC guide explains when an out-of-state filing makes sense.

Delaware specific notes

Delaware is the most popular state for incorporation among VC-funded startups. The Court of Chancery is a specialised business court with substantial precedent on corporate disputes.