Delaware Division of Corporations

How Much Does a Corporation Cost in Delaware?

Forming a corporation in Delaware means filing the Certificate of Incorporation with the Delaware Division of Corporations. The calculator below separates official government fees from estimates, and fixed costs from variable ones.

Entity type

LLC Corporation

An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a state entity type — both LLCs and corporations may qualify for it.

Registered agent

Act as my own agent — $0Generally allowed if you have an in-state address and are available during business hoursHire a service — about $200/yrMarket estimate (typically $100–$300/yr), not a state fee

Processing speed

First-year government fees — Delaware Corporation

$109

Official state fees

Certificate of Incorporation filing fee (minimum)$109

Ongoing fixed fees

Annual report feeDue March 1 each year, beginning the year after incorporation$50 / yr

Franchise tax (minimum, authorized-shares method)Due March 1 each year with the annual report$175 / yr

≈ $225/yr annualized for comparison — actual payment schedule shown above.

Five-year outlook

Fixed government fees (5 yrs)$1,009

Estimated total (5 yrs)$1,009

Varies by business — excluded from totals

Additional formation filing tax based on authorized capital. Applies only when authorized capital exceeds the minimum bracket (1,500 no-par shares). Use the Division's filing fee calculator for an exact figure.
Franchise tax above the minimum. Depends on authorized shares (authorized-shares method) or assumed par value capital. Use the Division's franchise tax calculator for an exact figure.

Educational estimate based on official fee schedules verified July 12, 2026 — not legal or tax advice. Fees, rules, and processing times change; confirm with the state or a qualified professional before relying on them.

The numbers behind this page

Every figure comes from the typed data record for Delaware, verified July 12, 2026 against the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Formation fees — Delaware Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Certificate of Incorporation filing fee (minimum) Minimum total for a corporation authorizing up to 1,500 shares of no-par stock. The filing tax scales with authorized shares and par value, so corporations authorizing more capital pay more.	$109	One-time	Official state fee
Additional formation filing tax based on authorized capital Applies only when authorized capital exceeds the minimum bracket (1,500 no-par shares). Use the Division's filing fee calculator for an exact figure.	Varies	Conditional	Official state fee

† Partially verified — corroborated but not confirmed on a machine-readable official page.

Recurring & conditional obligations — Delaware Corporation
Fee	Amount	Schedule	Type
Annual report fee $200 penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest if the report and franchise tax are late.	$50	AnnualDue March 1 each year, beginning the year after incorporation	Official state fee
Franchise tax (minimum, authorized-shares method) $175 is the minimum under the authorized-shares method (maximum $200,000, or $250,000 for large corporate filers). The assumed-par-value method has a $400 minimum. Corporations with many authorized shares owe more; totals here use the $175 minimum.	$175	AnnualDue March 1 each year with the annual report	Official state fee
Franchise tax above the minimum Depends on authorized shares (authorized-shares method) or assumed par value capital. Use the Division's franchise tax calculator for an exact figure.	Varies	Variable	Official state fee

Filing process & processing times

File online through the Division of Corporations' Document Upload Service, by fax, or by mail.

Processing options for Delaware Corporation filings
Option	Typical turnaround	Added fee	Notes
Standard processing	10–15 business days	None	Turnaround varies with filing volume; the Division posts current processing times
24-hour expedited service	1–1 business days	$50	Listed fee is the documented minimum; some filing types are quoted $50–$100
Same-day expedited service	0–1 business days	$100	Listed fee is the documented minimum; some filing types are quoted $100–$200
Two-hour expedited service	Same day	$500
One-hour expedited service	Same day	$1,000

Processing times are estimates based on currently available official guidance and change with filing volume — they are not guaranteed.

Registered agent costs

Every Delaware Corporationmust continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. Acting as your own agent costs $0 where you meet the state's eligibility rules; commercial services typically run $100–$300 per year. The calculator uses $200 — the midpoint of that range — when you choose a hired service.

Midpoint of the typical advertised price range for national commercial registered-agent services as of July 2026 (e.g. Northwest Registered Agent $125/yr, ZenBusiness $199/yr, LegalZoom $249/yr). Budget providers advertise below this range and premium corporate-service firms above it. Serving as your own agent costs $0 where you meet state eligibility rules.

Worth knowing about Delaware

Delaware requires every entity to maintain a Delaware registered agent; businesses without a physical Delaware address must hire one, making the agent a practically unavoidable cost for out-of-state owners.
Delaware's appeal is mainly its Court of Chancery and settled corporate case law — advantages that matter most to venture-backed corporations, not necessarily to small businesses operating in their home state.

Delaware Corporation cost FAQs

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Delaware?

The Delaware Division of Corporations charges $109 to file the Certificate of Incorporation. That figure excludes optional services and any variable taxes, which depend on your circumstances.

What are the ongoing costs of a corporation in Delaware?

Delaware corporations generally must pay the annual report fee of $50 per year (due March 1 each year, beginning the year after incorporation) and the franchise tax (minimum, authorized-shares method) of $175 per year (due March 1 each year with the annual report). In addition, additional formation filing tax based on authorized capital and franchise tax above the minimum may apply depending on your revenue, assets, or activity — these are variable, so they aren't included in fixed totals.

How long does it take to form a corporation in Delaware?

Standard processing generally takes about 10–15 business days. Expedited options are available: 24-hour expedited service for $50, same-day expedited service for $100, two-hour expedited service for $500, and one-hour expedited service for $1,000. Processing times change with filing volume, so confirm current turnaround with the state before relying on a date.

Do I need a registered agent for a corporation in Delaware?

Yes. Every Delaware corporation must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state to receive legal and official mail. You can generally act as your own agent at no cost if you meet the state's eligibility rules, or hire a commercial service — typically $100–$300 per year. Whether serving as your own agent is practical depends on your circumstances, including privacy and availability during business hours.

How does the Delaware additional formation filing tax based on authorized capital work for corporations?

Applies only when authorized capital exceeds the minimum bracket (1,500 no-par shares). Use the Division's filing fee calculator for an exact figure. Because the amount depends on factors like revenue or assets, it is shown separately and never folded into the fixed totals above. Consult a qualified tax professional about how it may apply to you.

What this page doesn't cover

Federal, state, and local taxes beyond the fixed fees shown — income-dependent taxes are listed as variable obligations and never included in exact totals.
Business licenses, local permits, industry-specific registrations, and DBA filings.
Attorney, accountant, or filing-service fees beyond the labeled registered-agent estimate.
Whether a corporation — or Delaware — is the right choice for your situation. FormedIn provides general educational information, not legal, tax, accounting, or financial advice, and nothing here recommends an entity type or formation state for any specific person.

Fees, rules, deadlines, and processing times change. Confirm current requirements with the Delaware Division of Corporations and consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or tax professional about your specific circumstances.

Sources

Delaware data last verified July 12, 2026.

Corporate Fee Schedule— Delaware Division of CorporationsOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
Annual Report and Tax Instructions— Delaware Division of CorporationsOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
Expedited Services— Delaware Division of CorporationsOfficialaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost? 2026 Guide— RegisteredAgentCost.comaccessed July 12, 2026
How Much Does a Registered Agent Cost?— ZenBusinessaccessed July 12, 2026