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How Much Does an LLC Cost in Delaware?
An LLC in Delaware costs $490 in Year 1: a $90 state filing fee plus $400 in recurring state fees ($400 / year franchise tax) for the first year. After that it costs $400 per year, for a 5-year state total of $2,090. That makes Delaware the 4th most expensive state to form an LLC — the national average Year 1 cost is $220 and the median is $160.
Delaware LLC Fee Breakdown
| Fee | Cost |
| State filing fee (one-time) | $90 |
| Recurring state fees — $400 / year franchise tax | $400 / yr |
| Year 1 total (filing fee + first year) | $490 |
| 5-year total (filing fee + 5 × annual) | $2,090 |
How Delaware Compares to Other States
- Rank: Delaware is the 4th most expensive state to form an LLC — #48 of 51 jurisdictions by 5-year state cost ($2,090).
- Year 1 vs the nation: $490 in Year 1 — $270 more than the national average of $220 (median $160).
- 5-year vs the nation: $2,090 over five years, against a national average of $586 and a median of $350.
- Franchise tax: yes — Delaware's recurring charge is a franchise tax ($400 / year franchise tax), already included in every total on this page.
- Cheapest in the US: Arizona at $50 over 5 years. Most expensive: California at $4,120.
Delaware LLC Annual Fees & Franchise Tax
Delaware charges $400 per year in recurring state fees ($400 / year franchise tax). Over five years that is $2,000 in recurring fees alone — $2,090 including the one-time filing fee.
Yes. Delaware charges an LLC franchise tax, and it is already included in the numbers on this page: $400 / year franchise tax ($400 per year). It forms part of the $490 Year 1 total and the $2,090 5-year total.
How to Form an LLC in Delaware (Step by Step)
- Choose a name. Pick a distinguishable name that includes "LLC" and check it is available on the Delaware Secretary of State website before you file.
- Appoint a registered agent. Name a person or service with a physical street address in Delaware who can receive legal mail during business hours — be your own for free, or hire one (see our registered agent guide).
- File your formation document. File the Articles of Organization (called a Certificate of Formation in some states) with the Delaware Secretary of State and pay the $90 filing fee.
- Create an operating agreement. Not filed with the state, but it records who owns what and how the LLC is run — banks and partners will ask for it.
- Get an EIN. Apply free on the IRS website in about 10 minutes — see our EIN guide. You need it to hire, pay taxes, and open a business account.
- Open a business bank account and stay compliant. Keep business money separate (see our business bank account guide), then keep up with Delaware's recurring fees — $400 / year franchise tax — so the LLC stays in good standing (see our annual reports guide).
Good to Know About Delaware LLC Costs
Delaware's flat annual LLC tax is $400 from tax year 2026 (raised from $300 by HB 400, due June 1) — the price of its famous business court system. Great for startups raising venture capital; usually unnecessary — and more expensive — for a small local business, which also has to register in its home state.
File on the official Delaware Secretary of State site →
Fees verified against official state sources — last checked October 26, 2026.
Delaware LLC Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Delaware?
The state filing fee in Delaware is $90. Adding the first year of recurring state fees ($400 / year franchise tax) brings the Year 1 state cost to $490. Optional extras — a registered agent service, an operating agreement template, or a formation service — cost extra, but the state itself charges $490 in Year 1.
How much does an LLC in Delaware cost every year?
Delaware charges $400 per year in recurring state fees ($400 / year franchise tax). Over five years that is $2,000 in recurring fees alone — $2,090 including the one-time filing fee.
Does Delaware charge LLCs a franchise tax?
Yes. Delaware charges an LLC franchise tax, and it is already included in the numbers on this page: $400 / year franchise tax ($400 per year). It forms part of the $490 Year 1 total and the $2,090 5-year total.
Do I need a registered agent for an LLC in Delaware?
Yes. Every LLC in Delaware must name a registered agent with a physical street address in the state who can receive legal and official mail during business hours. You can be your own agent if you live in Delaware and are reliably available, or hire a service — typically around $125 per year — to keep your own address off the public record.
What is the cheapest way to form an LLC in Delaware?
File it yourself on the official Delaware Secretary of State website, linked on this page. Filing direct costs just the $90 state filing fee (plus the $400 / year franchise tax recurring fee) and skips formation-service markups. Use the free LLC cost calculator on this site first so you know your exact Year 1 and 5-year totals before you file.