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Julia Rittenberg,
Julia RittenbergContributor
Julia is a writer in New York and started covering tech and business during the pandemic. She also covers books and the publishing industry.
Cassie Bottorff
Cassie BottorffEditor
Cassie is a deputy editor collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. Focusing on bringing growth to small businesses, she is passionate about economic development and has held positions on the boards of directors of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a content operations manager and copywriting manager.
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Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that include estates, probate, finance, business, bankruptcy and more. Her website is www.BretteSember.com.
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Brette Sember, J.D.
Brette Sember is a retired attorney who has been writing and editing law and legal topics for more than 25 years. She is the author of more than 40 books, is a nationally recognized expert on divorce and family law and has a depth of experience that include estates, probate, finance, business, bankruptcy and more. Her website is www.BretteSember.com.
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Updated: Nov 30, 2023, 5:26pm
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Table of Contents
- What Is a Business Entity?
- Search by Name
- Search by File Number
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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When you start a business in Delaware, you must first make sure your business name is available. The state government of Delaware keeps a database of businesses registered there, so it’s easy to key in potential names and find out what’s already registered. Delaware is a popular state to register a business (over 180,000 were formed there in 2020), so it’s important to be nimble and creative when deciding on a name to register for your business.
Learn how to use the Delaware business entity search to quickly find a business entity in the state. You can find corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and more.
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What Is a Business Entity?
A business entity is the manner in which you organize and register your business. Registering as an LLC or a corporation means you can officially start doing business in Delaware, and the state legally recognizes your business as a unique organization.
What Is an LLC?
LLC stands for limited liability company. As opposed to a sole proprietorship, setting up an LLC allows you to separate your personal and business liabilities. Organizing your business as an LLC also makes it easy to track business expenses for taxes. Registering your LLC requires a small fee.
If you don’t have the time to complete the paperwork, professional LLC services are available to help you with this process.
Setting Up an LLC in Delaware
Choosing to set up an LLC in Delaware is very popular because there is no sales tax in Delaware. After you settle on a business name, you have to file paperwork with the state and also include a filing fee of $75.
An LLC in Delaware also requires a registered agent to receive documentation on behalf of your business. The registered agent just needs to be a person with an address in Delaware who is available during all business houses. You can be the registered agent yourself if you can make this commitment. If you prefer, you can use a registered agent service.
Search by Name
Once you have a proposed name for your business, you need to do a Delaware business entity search to determine if that name is in use already. It is important to search by that exact name to ensure no other business has registered it with the Delaware Division of Corporations.
You may also want to try a few variations, just to ensure that there’s nothing too similar to what you’d like to name your business.
LLC Naming Convention
When starting an LLC in Delaware, the name has to include LLC, L.L.C. or Limited Liability Company in the name. It can’t be too similar to an existing business in order to avoid confusion. An LLC business name also can’t include words that are similar to a state or federal agency nor use the words “corporation” or “bank” unless it actually is a bank under state laws.
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Search by File Number
Businesses in Delaware also have an official file number when they’re registered with the state. You can use the search function to look up businesses by their file number if you want to know the official information they have on file with the state.
Bottom Line
With all the businesses incorporated in Delaware, it’s important to make sure you have a unique name for your business. It’s easy to search and make sure you have an original name, and if you haven’t thought of a name yet, you can get ideas from what’s already out there.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Delaware LLC information public?
The name, file number, address and phone number are public in the registry with the state.
How do I find out if a company is registered in Delaware?
If you think a business is registered in Delaware (even if it doesn’t operate there), you can use the Department of State’s Division of Corporations database and search for it by its official name. Since it has to be registered with the state, you should be able to find it. Try a few variations if you don’t see it on the first try.
How much does it cost to file an LLC in Delaware?How much does it cost to file an LLC in Delaware?
Delaware charges $90 to domestic entities submitting a Certificate of Formation and $200 to foreign entities to complete a certificate of registration.
Is my LLC in Delaware required to pay franchise tax payments and file an annual report?
Delaware LLCs do not need to pay franchise tax or file an annual report. Instead, LLCs are required to pay an annual tax, called the Alternative Entity Tax, of $300 each year.
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